“Dar Imelda is a safe home for my mother and that makes my thoughts rested.
Whenever I asked something as regards within my mother, support and help were everytime there. “
Family member of Resident
Author: silvester.vella@gmail.com
Turning the Tide – from dependency to independence
Mark* had a long history of substance abuse, which led to impulsive, risk-taking behaviors and a prolonged stay at the national hospital for mental health recovery. His parents were deeply worried about him, but after significant improvements, his medical team decided he was ready to regain independence and reintegrate into the community.
At Dar Victoria, we accepted Mark and worked with him to create a personalized care plan. His family provided strong support throughout, and we helped strengthen these ties, which played a key role in his progress.
Today, Mark functions well in society, independently managing tasks such as laundry, maintaining his living space, and attending appointments. His family is overjoyed with the remarkable transformation in his mental health and overall well-being.
Mark’s next goal is to fulfil his dream of volunteering at an animal shelter, where he hopes to give back by helping animals in need.
Nurturing Potential – A Journey of Growth
John* arrived at Dar Victoria as a young man struggling with social skills and daily living tasks, which deeply impacted his self-esteem and confidence. Initially withdrawn and unsure of himself, John found it difficult to engage with others. However, through regular outings and the support of our dedicated staff, he began to make gradual improvements.
A key moment in John’s journey was when we encouraged him to take a course focused on building skills for the work environment. This experience significantly boosted his confidence, helping him gain a sense of purpose and belief in his abilities.
John’s passion for cooking emerged as he began assisting staff in the kitchen. Today, he regularly helps prepare Sunday meals for the home, taking pride in his growing skills.
John’s transformation is a testament to the power of trust, encouragement, and the right support, showing that meaningful change is always possible.
Paul Scerri
Mr Paul Scerri has been employed with FSIB since 2007, and he has been mainly responsible of administrative duties at our Head Office. As from 2022, Mr Scerri became the foundation’s Health and Safety Officer while also focusing on the overall general maintenance and safety of all our premises. In his free time, Paul is also involved in social, cultural and religious activities particularly those organised in Valletta.
Neyra Lopez
Ms Lopez graduated with a degree in Psychology in 2020 and has joined the team in 2024 as a Support Worker at Dar Imelda. Throughout her work experience she has been able to assist residents in providing emotional and social support in order to achieve an independent quality of life. In her free time Neyra enjoys watching movies.
Kimberley Xuereb
Ms. Kimberley Xuereb always had a passion for the social sector, particularly for the most vulnerable sectors in society. She completed her Bachelor of Psychology (Honors) in 2016. Upon the completion of her undergraduate degree she started working with Fondazzjoni Suret il-Bniedem as a Support Worker at Dar Victoria. After a few months as a Support Worker Ms. Xeureb was selected for the role of Home Coordinator of Dar Imelda and Paul Debono, which was going to be inaugurated in a few months time. During this time, she was involved in the logistical preparations of a new service, the recruitment of the team, identifying the resident group and in creating the network required to establish the service within various sectors in the field. Ms. Xeureb is by far proud of her 7 year experience as the Coordinator of this Home and perceives this experience as the most rewarding. Being part of this project has continued to drive her to strive to keep up the level of services that Fondazzjoni Suret il-Bniedem offers. Between 2021 and 2022, Kim read for her Masters in Business Administration. Here, she continued to enhance her knowledge in the management field and eventually was able to reflect this in her work as well. In 2024 she embarked on a new journey as the Head Office and Logistics Coordinator. Although the residential setting is still very close to her heart, her interest and skills seem to have shifted to a more operational and logistical nature. Kim is still involved within the services but within her new role she is now putting together the services and operational aspects in a more intertwined manner. In her free time, Kim enjoys spending time outdoors, especially when it comes to camping and exploring nature.
Andrew Cauchi
Mr. Andrew Cauchi is a dedicated member of the professional team with a diverse academic and career background. He initially graduated with a Diploma in Telecommunications and later pursued studies in Business Management from the University of Malta at the age of 40. His passion for social work and community support has always been a driving force. Seeing his career as a true vocation, he moved away from the telecommunications sector to join Fondazzjoni Suret il-Bniedem in 2014. He spent eight years as the Coordinator of the males homeless shelter. At Dar Leopoldo, Andrew made a significant impact in helping vulnerable individuals integrate into the community. In 2022, Andrew transitioned to the organization’s Head Office, where he now serves in Human Resources and Finance, bringing a unique blend of compassion, leadership, and business acumen to his role. In his free time Andrew serves in several parishes all over Malta in the area of animating Liturgical functions. He has also contributed with composing and authoring of various spiritual hymns.
Tracey Vella
Ms. Tracey Vella started pursuing her passion for working in the social field in 2011 when she enrolled at Mcast for her first Diploma. Over the years, she earned an honors degree in Health and Social Care Management and later pursued a Master’s in Community Action and Development at the University of Malta. Her academic growth was complemented by hands-on experience in various social environments, both locally and abroad. In 2017, she joined Fondazzjoni Suret il-Bniedem as a Home Coordinator. In this journey with Fondazzjoni Suret il-Bniedem she has served three different residences. This path has been immensely rewarding for Ms. Vella as she approaches each day as a new opportunity to empower others and help them improve their life circumstances. Tracey uses music as her outlet. She is a professional clarinet player and plays this instrument in different settings.
Sarah Bondin
Ms. Sarah Bondin graduated from the University of Malta with a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2002. She worked in various social care fields with non-governmental organisations including direct work with homeless women, children on the autism spectrum and young-people in out-of-home care, the latter as a Coordinator of a Home for unaccompanied minors asylum seekers. She obtained a Post-Graduate Certificate in Systemic Thinking from Tavistock Clinic in 2005 which she mostly applied in organisational settings, first as Head of Care and later as Service Manager for the Agency for the Welfare of Asylum Seekers. In her work in the field of migration she particularly focused on unaccompanied minors and vulnerable asylum seekers. She was a national expert on age and vulnerability assessment and as part of the senior management team she was also responsible for the development of services and the strategic development of the agency. She served as an expert on the development of a curriculum for reception workers at the European Asylum Support Office. Ms. Bondin continued her studies by reading for a Masters of Arts in Policy, Management and Government at the University of York where she graduated in 2013. In 2015 she started her journey as Director of The President’s Trust (later The Malta Trust Foundation) till early 2024 when she joined Fondazzjoni Suret il-Bniedem. Ms. Bondin is also a part-time lecturer of psychology at the Institute of Applied Health Sciences at MCAST. She enjoys travelling, reading and swimming and is a mother to a young teenager.
“Dar Victoria provides a supportive and safe environment for male patients suffering from severe and chronic mental illness. Without this residential home, many of the current residents would still be institutionalized in our mental health hospital since they need 24/7 support to live in the community.
The staff at Dar Victoria are dedicated and professional and go out of their way to help their patients. The staff help them with their day to day challenges and ensure that the patients have a good quality of life.
As a psychiatrist who works with patients suffering from severe and chronic mental illness, I am very thankful to the service that Dar Victoria offers to our patients.’”
Dr. Dimech, Consultant General Adult Psychiatrist, Mental Health Services Malta