Servizz Għozza: a service under the Directorate of Student Services [MEDE] for pregnant students and young people
Għajnuna ‘l ommijiet Żgħażagħ għal żgħożija Aħjar
Servizz Għozza – 21 243869 Frederick Maempel Square Qormi QRM 1515
September 2013
Servizz Għozza is a government service under the auspices of Directorate of Student Services and the Ministry of Education and Employment. It is a free service for young girls and boys, who become pregnant, and their families. It is also available to other students who are in post-secondary education or other persons over 16 who are in this situation and need support and are out of the education system.
We offer an educational programme of self-development and personal and health awareness for the pregnant student and the baby covering topics as healthy eating, knowledge of pregnancy, healthy sexuality, relationship issues, dealing with relationships in the family, sexually transmitted diseases, contraception, social benefits and legal issues pertaining to youth pregnancy, visits by professionals such as midwife, paediatrician, social worker, employment officer and career advisor, priest and lawyer.
We offer support, family therapy and counselling during the pregnancy and after to the girl, the partner and the family. All students are encouraged and supported to continue their education and they receive a certificate of attendance for participating in the programme at Servizz Għozza.
We have six programmes aimed at the pregnant school girl, their parents, students in secondary schools [classroom intervention in schools] and seminars to parents of students aged 11 to encourage them to have conversations with their children about puberty and sexuality issues. We also have a mother and baby day where mothers attend until their child is 3 years old. We address educational issues through a pilot project titled School and Me
We organise prevention seminars for students in secondary schools. This project is titled ‘il-boyz… bandiera bajda …jew le?’ This is a seminar aimed at boys in secondary school aged 14 to 16 in state colleges to create awareness of the reality of pregnancy from the male point of view.
It is projected that this seminar be offered to girls as well.
We are a team of four professionals – the officer in charge/counsellor and family therapist, and three guidance teachers.
This Service has been running for the past 20 years and has recently moved from Floriana to new premises in Qormi just next to the primary school in the San Gorg parish area.
In your professional capacity we urge you to refer students and their families who are in this situation as we are receiving referrals when students are 6 or 7 months pregnant and they would only partially benefit from this programme which is available to students.
Should you or a group of colleagues like to visit the premises or we hold an information meeting we would be happy to organise this.
You may contact us on 21 243869, 21 480380 or or for referrals or further information. Please pass on this information to prospective clients who may be referred by the professional or self-referral.
Jenny Zammit
Oic Servizz Għozza