A country singer has released a new song about his younger brother with Down syndrome, celebrating the differences they have and urging for inclusion and acceptance.
John Paul Von Arx said on his website that he released the song and music video, which features his brother Sam, to “bring hope to parents expecting a baby with Down Syndrome and express [his] solidarity with families of people with special needs.”
Read the full article here.
The gift of a woman including her skills, intuition, nurturing, talents and maternity need to be appreciated daily. On the 8th of March, annually, we pay tribute to women. On this day, the world stops and gives women coming from all walks of life, ages, races, nationalities, cultures, and social backgrounds the acknowledgement and merit they deserve.
Life Network Foundation Malta joins in the celebration of all women from conception to natural death. This year, we are restricted to celebrating online.
We have messages from Pro-Life women which we will be broadcasting via social media.
Last year, through our support branch Life Line, we had the privilege to assist women who were facing crisis pregnancies. The women chose life and we celebrate saving the lives of over 30 babies.
We are horrified to see that in 2021, with the equality battle cry full on, sex-selective abortion in other countries still leads to the death of millions of babies. A five-year study by the publication Down to Earth shows that almost 23.1 million females are missing due to sex-selective abortions in 12 Asian and European countries. Generations of women are being wiped out before they take their first breath, depriving us of mothers, sisters, nurses, teachers, doctors, scientists and explorers.
Let us, therefore, celebrate all women on women’s day – including the baby girl in the womb – who is the woman of tomorrow.
Happy Women’s Day!
Life Network Foundation Malta
www.staging-lifenetwork.stagingcloud.co
#ProWomenProLife
Click here to view our video clip with messages from Pro-Life women celebrating Women’s Day https://fb.watch/45vcXw50Y7/
Il-mara, bil-ħiliet, l-intuwizzjoni, il-kapaċità li trabbi, it-talenti u l-maternità għandna napprezzawha kuljum. Kull sena, fit-8 ta’ Mejju, nonoraw lill-mara. Bħal-lum id-dinja tieqaf u tagħti r-rikonoxximent u l-ġieħ mistħoqq lin-nisa mill-isferi kollha tal-ħajja, ta’ kull età, razza, nazzjonalità, kultura u sfond soċjali.
Life Network Foundation tissieħeb maċ-ċelebrazzjoni tan-nisa kollha mit-tnissil sal-mewt. Din is-sena jkollna bilfors niċċelebraw online biss. Għandna messaġġi minn nisa favur il-ħajja li se nxandru permezz tal-media soċjali.
Parti mill-missjoni tagħna hija l-nagħtu l-ħiliet neċessarji lin-nisa li qegħdin jistennew tarbija – u li nsaħħuhom. Is-sena li għaddiet, permezz tal-fergħa tagħna li tipprovdi l-appoġġ, kellna l-privileġġ li ngħinu lil diversi nisa li t-tqala kienet se titfagħhom fi kriżi. Dawn in-nisa għamlu għażla favur il-ħajja u nistgħu niċċelebraw il-fatt li tletin tarbija ġew salvati.
Hija sitwazzjoni tat-tkexkix li fl-2021, minkejja l-ħafna kliem u l-battalji favur l-ugwaljanza bejn is-sessi, l-abort selettiv abbażi ta’ sess qed iwassal għall-mewt ta’ miljuni ta’ trabi. Studju ta’ ħames snin mill-pubblikazzjoni msejħa Down To Eath turi li hemm kważi 23.1 miljun mara fi tnax-il pajjiż Ażjatiku u Ewropew li, minħabba l-aborti selettiv, qatt ma kellhom ċans jitwieldu. Ġenerazzjonijiet ta’ nisa qegħdin jinqerdu qabel ma jroddu l-ewwel nifs, u l-umanità qiegħda tiċċaħħad minn ommijiet, aħwa, infermiera, għalliema, tobba, xjenzati u esploraturi.
Mela, f’Jum il-Mara ejjew niċċelebraw lin-nisa kollha, inkluża t-trabi nisa fil-ġuf – li hija l-mara ta’ għada.
Awguri, f’Jum il-Mara!
Life Network Foundation.
#ProWomenProLife
Agħfas hawn biex tara l-filmat bil-messaġġi minn nisa favur il-ħajja jiċċelebraw Jum il-Mara
Being in a crisis pregnancy, finding yourself alone, lost and not knowing what to do or nowhere to turn to is no easy task.
All calls and chats are kept confidential and anonymous. Life Line Malta crisis pregnancy support has opened its doors in 2018 and has been offering help by being there for the mother, the father and their families in any support that is needed. Our professional counselors and skilled listeners are ready and available to help you if you are facing a crisis pregnancy, a negative diagnosis or trying to find healing after an abortion. In the years that Life Line Malta has been operating we assisted mothers from different ages, background and cultures. Life Line Malta is ready to help anyone who is in need of our services and support. Our aim is to empower women during and after their pregnancy, with the ultimate goal to help them grow into becoming a better woman and mother.
Since its inception, Life Line Malta has offered its support to over a hundred families, who in some way or another needed emotional help or material help.
The 24/7 online chat assists and supports women in need. A team of skilled listeners are available through our helpline to give continuous guidance. A vital cornerstone in our support services is the counselling branch, through our dedicated counsellor who walks alongside and supports all the mothers, fathers and family throughout the pregnancy and after childbirth. Together with the team and the counsellor we walk the whole journey with the family.
Dar Tgħanniqa T’Omm offers shelter to mothers in a crisis pregnancy right up to the child’s first birthday. On the 22nd of January 2021 the shelter celebrated its second year of operation. The aim of the shelter is for the mother and child to seek residence with us. In the time the mother would be residing at ‘Dar Tgħanniqa T’Omm’, our staff together with the help of our volunteers would be there to support and assist the mother in all that she needs prior to the baby’s birth and also after the child is born.
At Life Line Malta, through its progamme ‘SaveOne post abortion healing’, we also offer an effective healing process to women, men, and couples as well as family members who are carrying the pain of an abortion in their life.
Sunday the 21st of March 2021 marks World Down Syndrome Day—a day to acknowledge people with Down Syndrome and their valid contribution to society.
Until the mid-twentieth century, people with Down Syndrome were commonly institutionalised, with many of them passing away at a young age due to health problems which were largely left untreated. In recent decades, however, attitudes towards them began shifting due to growing advocacy from parents, medical staff, and various organisations. People with Down Syndrome and other conditions were increasingly accepted into society, an integration which significantly increased their life expectancy to more than double. In fact, many of them live long and relatively healthy lives well into their sixties and seventies.
Today, people with Down Syndrome lead accomplished and ordinary lives. They receive their education in mainstream schools and universities. They are able to work, volunteer, marry, and live independently. They can vote and offer a beneficial and valid contribution to society. Many speak out publicly about their condition, creating awareness through their personal backgrounds. They demonstrate that their abilities are not restricted by their condition and that they are valuable members of today’s world.
Sadly, there are countries which do not validate the lives of people with Down Syndrome and other disabilities. In Iceland, nearly a 100% of women who confirm that their unborn child has Down Syndrome choose to abort their baby. The percentage of termination after diagnosis of this condition in Denmark is 98%; in France, 77%; in the United States, 67%. These percentages are shocking and heartbreaking. Iceland boasts of eradicating the condition, but in reality this practice is merely terminating the lives of the people with the condition. If expectant mothers and parents-to-be were instead offered more support and given information about what life with a person who has Down Syndrome entails, there would be fewer of them resorting to abortion.
Here in Malta, approximately five to seven babies are born with Down Syndrome annually. Our society has come a long way in accepting this condition with all the challenges it may bring. A measure of uncertainty and misinformation may occasionally be encountered locally, especially when it comes to slower child development. However, parents of children with Down Syndrome feel that the policy of inclusion here in Malta enhances their interaction with other children and aids greatly in their education. There is a lot of support from government and private organisations, which offer therapy, financial benefits, and other assistance to families. Discrimination against people with the condition has indeed gone down significantly, and they are nearly invariably treasured by Maltese society.
Life Network Foundation values every human life, whether in the womb or out of it. The protection of children in the womb is essential, even more so when an unexpected diagnosis leads to a crisis pregnancy due to fear or uncertainty. Life Network Foundation will continue to offer support and raise awareness about Down Syndrome and other conditions, because every single person is unique and deserves to be celebrated and loved.
Happy World Down Syndrome Day!
Life Network Foundation Malta
www.staging-lifenetwork.stagingcloud.co
Il-Jum Dinji tad-Down Syndrome 2021
Il-Ħadd 21 ta’ Marzu 2021 huwa il-Jum Dinji tad-Down Syndrome – jum li fih nirrikonoxxu lill-persuni bid-Down Syndrome u l-kontribut siewi li jagħtu lis-soċjetà.
Sa nofs is-seklu għoxrin, il-persuni bid-Down Syndrome kienu sikwit jinżammu f’istituzzjonijiet u ħafna minnhom kienu jmutu ta’ età żgħira minħabba problemi ta’ saħħa li, ħafna drabi, ma kinitx tingħatalhom kura għalihom. Imma fi żmien iktar reċenti, l-atteġġjamenti lejhom bdew jinbidlu minħabba li l-ġenituri tagħhom, il-ħaddiema mediċi u l-organizzazzjoni varji bdew jaqbżu għad-drittijiet tal-persuni b’Down Syndrome. Iktar ma għadda ż-żmien iktar is-soċjeta’ bdiet taċċetta lill-persuni b’Down Syndrome u b’kundizzjonijiet oħra. Din l-integrazzjoni tawlet ġmielu l-ħajja tagħhom tant li bdew jgħixu d-doppju li kienu jgħixu qabel – u aktar. Fil-fatt, ħafna jgħixu ħajja twila u relattivament f’saħħitha u jaqbżu s-sittin u s-sebgħin sena.
Illum, il-persuni bid-Down Syndrome jgħixu ħajja bħal kulħadd, bis-suċċessi tagħha wkoll. L-edukazzjoni tingħatalhom fl-iskejjel normali u fl-universitajiet. Jistgħu jgħixu, jagħmlu l-volontarjat, jiżżewġu u jgħixu m’mod indipendenti. Jistgħu jivvutaw u joffru kontribut validu u ta’ ġid lis-soċjetà. Ħafna jitkellmu fuq ħajjithom apertament u bl-esperjenzi personali tagħhom juru xi tfisser li tkun bniedem b’dik il-kundizzjoni. Juru wkoll li l-kundizzjoni tagħhom ma taffettwax il-kapaċitajiet tagħhom u li huma membri siewja tad-dinja tal-lum.
B’sogħba kbira infakkru li hemm pajjiżi li għalihom il-ħajja ta’ persuni bid-Down Syndrome u diżabiltajiet oħra ma jiswewx wisq. Fl-Islanda kważi 100% tan-nisa li jkunu jafu li t-tarbija fil-ġuf se jkollha d-Down Syndrome jiddeċiedu li jagħmlu abort. Fid-Danimarka 98% itemmu l-ħajja tat-tarbija fil-ġuf wara dijanjosi bħal din; fi Franza 77%, u fl-Istati Uniti 67%.Dawn il-perċentaġġi huma xokkanti u ta’ qsim il-qalb. L-Islanda tiftaħar li qerdet din il-kundizzjoni, imma fil-verità din il-prattika teqred il-ħajja ta’ dawk li għandhom din il-kundizzjoni. Kieku l-ommijiet u l-missirijiet li jkunu qegħdin jistennew tarbija jingħataw akatr appoġġ u informazzjoni dwar xi ġġib tfisser li tgħix ma; persuna bid-Down Syndrome, ikunu anqas dawk li jirrikorru għall-abort.
F’Malta jitwieldu bejn ħames u sebat itfal bid-Down Syndrome kull sena. Is-soċjetà tagħna għżamlet progress kbir u din il-kundizzjonai, b;isfidi kollha li ġġib magħha, taċċettaha. Kultant niltaqgħu ma; xi ftit inċertezza u informazzjoni żbaljata, speċjalment minħabba li fit-tfulija l-iżvilupp isir b’pass inqas mgħaġġel. Però il-ġenituri ta’ tfal bid-Down Syndrome iħossu li, hawn Malta, il-politika ta’ inklużjoni tkattar it-taħlit ma’ tfal oħra u tgħinhom ħafna fl-edikazjoni tagħhom. Hemm ħafna appoġġ mill-Gvern u għaqdiet privati li joffru terapija, benefiċċji finanzjarji u assistenza oħra lill-familji. Id-diskriminazzjoni naqset b’mod sinifijattiv, u s-soċjetà Maltija kważi dejjem tgħożż ħafna lill-persuni b’din il-kundizzjoni.
Life Network Foundation, www.staging-lifenetwork.stagingcloud.co, tagħraf is-siwi ta’ kull ħajja umana, kemm fil-ġuf u kemm barra. Il-ħarsien tat-trabi fil-ġuf huwaessenzjali, aktar u aktar meta jkun dijanjosi mhix mistennija li twassal għal kriżi fit-tqala minħabba biża’ jew inċertezza. Life Network Foundation se tkompli toffri l-appoġġ u tqajjem kuxjenza fuq id-Down Syndrome u kundizzjonijiet oħra minħabba li kull persuna hija unika u jistħoqqilha li tkun ċelebrata u maħbuba.
Awguri, Dinji tad-Down Syndrome 2021!
Life Network Foundation
Il-Ġimgħa 11 ta’ Ġunju, 2021
Għażiż Membru tal-Parlament Ewropew,
Qegħdin niktbulek f’isem il-Fondazzjoni Life Network Malta, fondazzjoni li taħdem sabiex il-ħajja ta’ kull kreatura umana tkun protetta matul il-ħajja kollha tiegħu jew tagħha.
Kif taf, fit-23 ta’ Ġunju, l-Parlament Ewropew sejjer jivvota fuq l-hekk imsejjaħ Rapport Matic, propost mill-Kumitat tan-Nisa.
Dan ir-rapport huwa edizzjoni ġdida tar-Rapport Estrela li fl-2013 kien ippropona l-abort bħala dritt fundamentali tal-bniedem. Il-Parlament dakinhar ġustament irriġetta dak ir-Rapport, l-aktar abbażi tal-prinċipju tas-sussidjarjetà peress li materji relatati mal-abort huma mħollija, skont it-Trattati, f’idejn u fil-ġuriżdizzjoni esklussiva tal-Istati Membri.
Ir-Rapport jirrakkomanda finanzjament mill-Istat għall-abort kif ukoll li jitneħħa d-dritt li professjonista jkun jista’ jeżenta ruħu minn xi proċedura jew trattament minħabba oġġezzjoni ta’ kuxjenza rigward it-terminazzjoni ta’ tqala.
L-oġġezzjonijiet ewlenin tagħna bħala fondazzjoni favur il-ħajja huma dawn li ġejjin:
Aħna għalhekk bir-rispett kollu, nappellawlek sabiex teżerċita d-dritt tiegħek li tivvota kontra l-adozzjoni ta’ dan ir-Rapport. In vista tal-fatt li l-maġġoranza kbira tal-Maltin huma kontra li l-abort jitqies bħala dritt fundamentali tal-bniedem, huwa sewwa u xieraq li inti tesprimi d-diżapprovazzjoni u t-tħassib tiegħek meta r-Rapprt jitressaq għall-votazzjoni mill-Parlament Ewropew
Aħna qegħdin għad-dispożizzjoni tiegħek għal kull mistoqsija li trid tagħmel jew informazjzoni li inti tkun tixtieq minn għandna.
Inselli ghalik,
Dr. Miriam Sciberras BChD (Hons) MA Bioethics
Chairman | Life Network Foundation Malta
L-ewwel Night to Shine f’Malta ser isir fit-13 ta’ Frar 2021. Il-programm virtwali se jinkludi diversi artisti li ser jingħaqdu f’messaġġ ta’ tama għal persuni li jgħixu b’diżabilita. It-trażmissjoni tista’ tkun segwita mid-dar tal-persuna kif ukoll mid-djar għal persuni b’diżabilita. It-tim ta’ voluntiera ser iqassam gift bags b’xejn fuq bażi first come, first served, lill-ewwel 150 persuna li jkunu rreġistraw sal-Ħamis, 11 ta’ Frar 2021 f’nofsinhar.
It-Tim Tebow Foundation hija mpenjata li taqdi u li tiċċelebra persuni b’diżabilita. Twaqqfet minn Tim Tebow, sportiv Amerikan, u timmira li żżid l-outreach tagħha permezz ta’ erba’ inizjattivi ewlenin, jiġifieri Night to Shine, Shine On, International Education and Resource Centres u International Special Needs Coalitions. Il-Fondazzjoni tqis li l-għan tagħha mhux sempliċiment kożmetiku iżda hija mpenjata li tipprovdi l-essenzjali u kura spiritwali għal tfal abbandunati u li m’għandhomx fejn jgħixu. Dan oltre li tipprovdi għal tfal bi bżonnijiet mediċi profondi. Il-Fondazzjoni hija wkoll impenjata tiġġieled kontra t-traffikar tal-bnedmin.
Night to Shine se jiċċelebra s-seba’ anniversarju tiegħu. Fl-2020, ipparteċipaw 721 knisja u 34 pajjiż li għal lejla waħda ngħaqdu biex issir in-Night to Shine għal madwar 110,000 mistieden onorat bl-appoġġ ta’ 215,000 voluntier. Għalkemm din is-sena se jsir virtwalment, aħna ħerqana li naqdu u niċċelebraw lil tant persuni uniċi.
Illum ngħixu f’soċjetà li tilqa’ d-diversità u toffri opportunitajiet lil kulħadd. Iżda għal dawk b’diżabilita, il-ħajja tista’ tkun pjuttost iebsa. Il-membri tal-familja għandhom bżonn l-appoġġ ukoll. Nisa tqal bi prenatal diagnosis negattiva jiffaċċjaw biża’ u għandhom bżonn l-għajnuna. Is-solidarjetà, il-komunikazzjoni u l-inkoraġġiment jistgħu jagħtu ftit aktar tama u jiffaċilitaw il-ħajja ta’ tant nies.
The first Night to Shine Malta 2021 is set for Saturday 13th February at 6.00pm. The local virtual programme will feature diverse performers coming together as well and includes messages of hope for people living with disability. The transmission can be followed from private residences as well as the various homes for disabled persons. Our team of volunteers will also deliver free gift bags, on a first come, first served basis, to the first 150 people who register for the online event until Thursday 11th February by noon.
The Tim Tebow Foundation is committed to serving and celebrating people with disability. Set up by American football player, Tim Tebow, the foundation is increasing its outreach via four key initiatives: Night to Shine, Shine On, International Education & Resource Centers, and International Special Needs Coalitions. The Foundation, far from being merely a window dressing event, is committed to providing life’s essentials as well as spiritual care for homeless and abandoned children around the world in addition to children with profound medical care needs. It is also working to fight against human trafficking in all its’ forms.
Night to Shine 2021 will, this year, celebrate its seventh anniversary! Last year’s event saw 721 churches across the USA and 34 countries from around the world come together on one night to host Night to Shine for approximately 110,000 honoured guests through the support of 215,000 volunteers! This year, although Night to Shine 2021 will be limited to a virtual experience due to COVID-19, we remain pleased and excited at the prospect of serving and celebrating with as many people with disabilities as possible in this new and unique way!
Today we live in a society that embraces diversity and offers opportunities to all. However, for the person living with disability, life can often be harsh and very lonely. Family members need support too. Pregnant women with a negative prenatal diagnosis face fear of the unknown and need support. Social communication, solidarity, and encouragement as well as hope can help to make the lives of all these individuals that little bit easier.
