Press Release

Cross Culture International Foundation (CCIF) 168, Palm Street. Paola

Tel. +356 79801199

Email: info@ccifmt.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 10/01/2019 Learning the Maltese Culture in English is improving the cultural competences of Third Country Nationals MCAST, Paola – The Student House in MCAST Campus in Paola is the building where every Saturday, as from the 12th January, free Cultural Orientation and English classes will be provided to a mix of participants from over 10 nationalities. The initiative is part of a project by CCIF, “Improving The Cultural Competences of Third Country Nationals” (ITCCTCN). Registered participants to the course reflect the multicultural reality of Malta, with nationalities such as Brazilians, Colombians, Egyptians, Libyans, Somalis, Sudanese, Venezuelans, Serbians, showing the need and the importance for initiatives such as this project, which are also there to support any action taken by the authorities in their effort to implement the integration process of Third Country Nationals in Malta. It would be tempting to point out that, in fact, the government has just launched its integration policy, offering more or less similar services that this project is implementing. Yet an important element is to be taken into account: the schedule. It is impossible to match everyone’s time table and inevitably, some people will be left out. This element, and many others, were in favor of CCIF for the 25% Co Funding granted by the Ministry of education, in order for the applicant to meet the donor requirements. During the award ceremony held last November 30th in Valletta, Parliamentary Secretary Hon, Dr Grima says: “The Government has at heart to support NGOs because they play a vital role in the society, by ensuring that every human being living in Malta enjoys his basic human rights in order to be able to prospect himself and also his family.” Talking about the aim of the project, project Coordinator, Mrs Hedwig Bvumburah, says: “Depending from where you are coming from, Cultures are different and people are used of certain ways of life, but they have to acclimatize and get used to the way things are done here in Malta, so that they stay within the confine of law.” In fact, an important chapter of the training is “Adapting foreign traditions to conform to and respect local Maltese culture”. The curriculum of the training is comprised of Elementary and Intermediate English, with vocabulary related to the cultural Orientation. The project ITCCTCN is part-financed by the European Union. Co-financing rate: 75% EU Funds; 25% Beneficiary Funds Sustainable Management of Migration Flows

More information can be found on the project's blog: https://itcctcn.wixsite.com/website

Cross Culture International Foundation's mission is to enhance international understanding and friendship through Education, networking, volunteering, youth exchange programs and cultural and humanitarian activities. Funded and Chaired in 2012 by Alec Douglas Bvumburah, CCIF has run over (10) international projects. CCIF is a Tuition Center. Licence Number 2018-18 Contact: Project Media Office: Regine Psaila Tel: 79097824 Email: regine.ccifmt@gmail.com ###