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Twinning Agreement with Tolfa:  Full Report

A delegation from the town of Tolfa, which is situated in the province of Rome, came to Ghajnsielem to start talks, which will later develop into a twinning between the two communities. The delegation made of Mayor Alessandro Battilocchio and three other councilors arrived on Saturday 7 December and left on Wednesday 11. The Ghajnsielem Local Council prepared a full programme for the occasion.

Day 1 (7 December)

The Tolfa delegation met the Ghajnsielem Local Council members including the Administrate Secretary Mr. Dolindo Cassar and the clerk Mrs. Bibiana Sultana at the Council premises. Mayor Francis Cauchi introduced all the members to the Italian delegation and briefly discussed the functioning of Ghajnsielem Local Council and the twinning between Tolfa and Ghajnsielem. Mayor Alessandro Battilochio thanked Mr. Cauchi for the interest they showed regarding the twinning with Tolfa and presented a framed photograph showing the beautiful town of Tolfa. Afterwards the two Councils attended the Ceremony of ‘Gieh Ghajnselmiz Award’ during a social evening held at the Youth Parish Center Maria Lauretana. The award is presented to that person in recognition of his sterling service to the community. This year mayor Francis Cauchi presented the award to Spiro Cauchi for his role in music and also as a singer. Mayor Francis Cauchi invited the mayor of Tolfa Signor Alessandro Battilocchio to make a speech for the occasion. 

Day 2 ( 8 December )

The delegation from Tolfa and the Council of Ghajnsielem opened an exhibition at the Ghajnsielem Football Club. Various plans and designs including some models were exhibited by student future architects of the second year from the University of Malta. The assignment was on the refurbishing of our main square Pjazza Madonna ta’ Loreto. The delegation was then introduced to the committee of Ghajnsielem Football Club in which the secretary Mr. Gino Cauchi presented the mayor of Tolfa with a plaque to commemorate the occasion. Mr. Cauchi also gave the Tolfa delegation a tour of the club whilst explaining its main functions.

In the afternoon the delegation was taken for a tour around the many interesting places of the village. Fortress Chambray from outside was the first visit of the delegation in which they also enjoyed a panoramic view of the quiet bay of Xatt l-Ahmar. From Chambray the delegation was taken to visit the Gozo Heliport and the oldest chapel in Gozo the Santa Cecilia Chapel including the nearby Santa Cecilia Tower. The old parish church was also included in the tour in which they had also the opportunity to enjoy a panoramic view of the village from the roof. The last two visits for the day were the beautiful church dedicated to the patron saint of St. Anthony. This church is run by the Franciscan Friars and for the occasion the mayor of Tolfa was presented with a small token. The chapel situated on a small hill facing Mgarr harbor and dedicated to the Our Lady of Lourdes was the last visit. Here the delegation met Father Tarcisio Attard who gave a brief history of the chapel. 

Day 3 ( 9 December )

The delegation was invited to visit the Respite Center. This Foundation is a non-profit organization with a mission to create awareness and promote the needs on rights of disabled persons and to provide them with the necessary education, therapeutic services and training support. Mr. George Aquilina gave a full explanation how this organization works while touring the premises with the delegation. In the afternoon Archpriest Joseph Zerafa welcomed the mayor, Alessandro Battilochio and his delegation in his home. This was a very cordial meeting and Father Zerafa gave a full description of how the Parish Church in Ghajnsielem works towards the community.

Just a few meters from Archpriest’s home the delegation paid a visit to The Eden Foundation. They were shown around and informed how this organization works by Mrs. Grace       . This is another non-profit organization which works in protection with people with development disabilities to help them achieve full inclusion to the best of their abilities by gaining mainstream education, employment and leisure activities, leading to an independent life.

The following visit was at the workshop of L-Ghaqda ta l-Armar. The group leader, Mr. Rudolph Cauchi, explained in detail the preparation of different ornamented objects exhibited on the streets for the village feast in August. The delegartion was also taken to the main square to visit the big crib being erected by the same youths for Christmas.

From the main square the delegation was taken to Saint Joseph Band Club. The Mayor Alessandro was introduced to the President of the society Loreto Scicluna and the committee. The President thanked the Mayor and his delegation for the interest they showed during their stay in Ghajnsielem and asked them to sign their guest book. Later they were taken around the premises and presented with some gifts for the special occasion. Mayor Alessandro Bartilochio addressed all those present and thanked all the people of Ghajnsielem for the hospitality they showed with his delegation during their stay in our village. The Mayors of Tolfa and Ghajnsielem opened another exhibition of sculpture and paintings provided by local artists.

Day 4 ( 10 December )

Mr. Frank Tabone, a teacher from our school, met the Italian delegation at the Local Council. He talked about the possibility of a twinning between the primary schools of Tolfa and Ghajnsielem. After a short discussion about this possibility the delegation paid a visit to the primary school Anton Cassar. The headmistress Mrs. Josephine Bonnet introduced all the teachers and the Tolfa Mayor and his delegation were shown around the school by visiting every classroom during the teaching lessons.

From the primary school the delegation was taken to visit some interesting places in Gozo such as the Ggantija Temples in Xaghra, the beautiful Bay of Dwejra and Ta’ Pinu. Their last visit was The Gozo Heritage in Ghajnsielem. This is a fascinating old building; a mixture of museum and good entertainment introduces the visitor, in leisurely fashion, to 7,000 years of Gozitan history. Life-size sculptures set in period environments animated by the latest electronic techniques give the visitor a ringside view of the chequered historical saga of Gozo.

In the afternoon the Tolfa delegation and Ghajnsielem Local council met at the Council premises for an official talk regarding the twinning. Here both the delegation and the Council expressed their ideas especially on social and cultural activities and all that interests between the two towns.

Mayor Alessandro invited a delegation from Ghajnsielem Local Council to pay a visit to Tolfa town in order to attend social and culture activities and see the way of life of the people of Tolfa. The Mayor also informed the council that a larger delegation should visit Tolfa during the summer months in order to start cultural exchanges between the two towns.

In the afternoon both councils attended a concelebrated mass at the Sanctuary Church for the liturgical feast dedicated to the patron saint of Our Lady Of Loreto. Soon after the mass the delegation also took part in the outside festivities including fire displays and a march by the local band St. Joseph along the streets adjacent to the church.