"I got married in December and spent my honeymoon at one of the swab test centres. Because of the situation we are in we did not think it was wise to travel. As soon as I got married the cases increased dramatically. Etienne, my husband, supported my decision to go back to work immediately after we got married so I could help my colleagues. He said go, they need you. It is good to know that all the people who work in these centres have sacrificed a lot for the Maltese population. There are people who take everything for granted. Some have no idea what our work involves and are not aware of the dedication there is behind it. We try to make miracles. We spend long hours seeing people. We are afraid too. Just keep in mind that after having come in contact with people who come to swab, and some of them are positive, we have to go back home to our families with the thought that we could have contracted it ourselves. We take all the necessary precautions. In fact we do a swab test every day to make sure that we are not spreading the virus, even out of respect to those who come to test. I am one of the swabbing centre co-ordinators. My colleagues and I started out as swabbers and now we are training others. In the morning I work as a speech therapist and after that I continue working in the swab centre. We take everything extremely seriously. We are a good team, and collaborate together, we work well together and we do everything willingly. You find those who do not appreciate our work and it saddens me because here, as professionals we strive to be of service, help and support to all those who come to test. We are all exhausted but proud of what we are doing. People need to do their share too, get vaccinated, go for the booster, respect social distancing and wear face masks. We have to look forward and better times shall come. It was a honeymoon that never was but that I shall remember. I am hoping that we can go on honeymoon in Summer, if the situation improves...in the hope that I am no longer needed here." - Maria _ #thepeopleofmalta #peopleofmalta #Respect #swab #swabtest #frontlineworkers #maltesepeople #maltese #malta #covidtimes #honeymoon #humanstories

"I have been a widow for 21 years but my son and I took over my husband's work. He died young, when he was 46 years old. I started working with him when I was dating him at 16 and I am still here today when I am over sixty years old. Can you imagine when he passed away, I still had young children, I had to keep working to support them and at the same time do this work. I start working before 1am in the morning in the bakery and keep at it till late in the evening. I am already delivering by 5am. We do everything in this bakery, from bread, to ftajjar (flatbread) to honey rings. I am used to this and love working, more than enjoying myself. There are very few bakeries that deliver bread with vans and women doing it even less. Today's women do not want to work like this, they are more concerned about their make up and nails." - Anna _ _ _ #thepeopleofmalta #Respect #love #job #passion #womenempowerment #women #peopleofmalta #bread #hobz #maltesepeople #maltesebread #goodfood #malta #work

"God gave me a talent. I am an ex-dockyard worker and today I am a fishmonger. I was never an art teacher or student. About 11 years ago I attended a particular statue exhibition with my wife and that day I told her that I was off to buy clay and produce better work than that on exhibit. I knew nothing and had never done anything of the sort. My first work was the Our Lady of Mount Carmel. For the first year, every month, I worked on the statue of a saint. My wife always encouraged me and believed in me. I learnt to do this on my own. I asked, searched, experimented and above all worked and learnt the techniques of using clay. One of my earliest works was Caravaggio's Beheading of St John. I never prepared a sketch. It's all in my head, I see a photograph or a picture and I transform it using clay. When it is done and completely dry I take it to the kiln. It saddens me when artists like me do not find guidance or someone to speak up for them and are not given a chance or some kind of acknowledgement." - Mario Borg _ #thepeopleofmalta #peopleofmalta #art #talent #artist #sculpture #sculptor #sculptures #clayart #statue #statuecollectors #maltesepeople #maltese #mosta #malta

"My wife and I got married a few days ago. Because of Covid we could not go abroad so we decided to take some time off here. We are out together as a family. And as is the custom once we came here we stopped for a pastizz and a ftira. It is the time to stay close as a family and we took the opportunity to spend some time together." - Carl Diego, McKenzie & Kimberly _ _ #thepeopleofmalta #maltesepeople #maltese #happy #family #love #ftira #pastizzi #rabat #honeymoon #newlyweds #malta #holidays

THANK YOU for following The People of Malta on Facebook and Instagram. We wish you all a HAPPY NEW YEAR 😊 _ #2021 #2022 #thepeopleofmalta #TPOM #maltagozo #maltese #maltesepeople #humanstories #streetphotography #malta #happynewyear

"I am going to the cemetery with these flowers because today would have been my mother's birthday. She died 25 years ago, but every year, on her birthday, I take a bouquet of flowers. I visit her often at the cemetery , but today is a special day." - Maria _ _ #thepeopleofmalta #peopleofmalta #maltesepeople #people #humanstories #maltese #flowers #streeyphotography #malta #flowers #malta🇲🇹 #rip #love

"Whenever I have a dream, I have the will power to make it come true. Futsal is my passion. Eleven years ago I made my dream come true - I started the Futsal school in Malta. I have been involved in futsal for the past 20 years, I saw it in its beginnings in Malta and I was also part of the National Maltese Futsal team. I started playing in 1998/9 as a goaler. I had participated in the reality TV show Net Stars and took part in the first Gozitan futsal tournament. Even though I was injured I still maintained an interest and was the assistant Futsal coach with Michal Striz. I was also the under-17 national coach for the FISEC games. When I used to go abroad I used to ask myself: "Why is there such a huge difference when compared to foreign teams?". That is when I started planning on what could be done and against all odds I started a project to establish a Futsal school - @maltafutsalschool with Jeanbert Gatt. The first on our island. Nobody had believed in this project, but from my experiences abroad I learnt that there was a future for Futsal. I had a vision and I am now reaping the benefits of the seeds I sowed. Malta is also benefitting from this because I believe that for a player to be successful as a footballer, Futsal could be the first step. The school welcomes both boys and girls aged 3 to 12 years. They train at the Basketball Pavillion in Ta Qali. There is a huge interest for this game. Futsal compliments footbal. We are now being amalgamated with the Malta Football Association where I shall be taking care of the U/13 and U/16 teams. I am also the assistant coach for the U/17 Mosta football. If I believe in something which I think is positive I pursue it, do not give up and do it well. In 2020 I also established a motoring school - @pisanimotoringschool It transpired that, without any need for advertising, the children who had learnt with me and trusted me, were now growing and asking me to teach them how to drive. Word travels fast, requests for my services were rising and I had to increase my fleet. - @jonathanpisani _ #thepeopleofmalta #peopleofmalta #maltesepeople #malta #futsal #football #determation #goals #motoring #Respect #maltese

"Here I can hide. This is where I rest. I make statues and pasturi (crib figurines). Everything is done freehand. I do not use a cast making each figurine and scene unique. There is no other exact replica. I am self-taught. I have always loved art, in fact it all started with painting. I believe that God gave me a talent and I have always strived to improve this over time. These past two years I started making pasturi. I start with clay, which I let dry. Then I bake in a kiln and paint. Sizes vary from 3cm to 45cm. But I concentrate more on the 12cm ones. You will not find many who are able to work on such small figurines. The most beautiful thing about a crib is when a client gives me a free hand to create the figurines. It gives me immense satisfaction when the pasturi are done and the client is happy. This is not a money-making hobby. I wish to continue improving and contribute towards making this Maltese craft more appreciated. We have the mentality of admiring Italian and Spanish craftsmanship and look down on Maltese crafts. We have a large number of very capable artists and hobbyists." - Darren _ #thepeopleofmalta #peopleofmalta #talent #art #christmas #christmastime #pasturi #traditional #traditions #milied #clay #clayfigurine #clayfigure #maltese #maltesepeople #malta #crib

"The community police are there for prevention, to educate and make ourselves available to people. We are police sergeants from different localities and today we are in Gozo to distribute gifts and sweets and make sure we are always close to the community. We go around a number of towns and villages in Malta, all year long, not only during Christmas time. The concept of community police is evolving and growing. We are working to nurture an element of trust from the public towards police. During this holiday season, our appeal is always don't drink and drive." _ #maltapolice Community Policing Teams _ #thepeopleofmalta #community #communitypolice #police #maltese #malta #Respect #law #christmas #gozo #maltaandgozo #pulizija #grazzi #thankyou

“Since my legs are starting to fail me I need to take care of them. So whenever I can I try to avoid coming up and down the stairs. Maria is my neighbour and friend. She is going shopping and stopped by to check whether I needed anything. Here we think of our neighbours and look out for each other, even though things have changed and there are a large number of new people whom I barely know. We are two Marias, that's how we are called." - Maria and Maria _ #thepeopleofmalta #peopleofmalta #maltesepeople #maltese #friendship #friends #neighbours #Respect #help #villagelife #maltin #malta #mosta #maria

"A ftira biz-zejt (Maltese flatbread with olive oil, tomato paste and a variety of Mediterranean ingredients) or a ftira with steak and eggs. Those are the most popular requests that workers have during the day. And with the ftira, a cup of coffee or tea. The younger ones prefer a soft drink instead of a warm drink. The ftira with tomato paste, oil, tomatoes, beans, capers and and pickled vegetables goes down a treat with most of those who come here. Nowadays most prefer it slightly grilled before consumption so it is warm and crunchy. It makes a huge different as to which bakery the ftira is purchased from. When I go to collect them from the bakery in the morning, they are still warm and fragrant. They make your mouth water when they are still warm." - Alison _ #thepeopleofmalta #peopleofmalta #ftira #maltesepeople #maltesefood #bread #maltesebread #foodlovers #goodfood #malta #zebbug #bakery #good

"I combined my passion for running together with running shoes to create the page @run_shoe_bible . But, apart from that, and even more important, this Christmas together with my friend Daniel Mangion we wish to help children who cannot afford to buy running shoes and we are collecting money for this. The slogan we are making use of is "Let's help kids run after their dreams." I am an athlete who loves sports and I train everyday. Over the years I have had injuries and often, when an athlete is injured they blame their shoes. After one such injury I started studying running shoes; the model, the material and shape. Now, through run_shoe_bible I can give reviews on running shoes that are on the market, especially running shoes that are being newly launched. I do this to help runners who ask for my advise. I can safely say I am the first running shoe reviewer in Malta. I purchase a variety of running shoe models and makes and try them out myself because I believe that to give proper advise I need to try something first hand. These are my babies, I take care of them well and clean them after every run. Since every running shoe can only last a number of miles it needs to be changed frequently so runners who need to buy a large number of shoes need to find the perfect pair for them. But does this perfect running shoe exist? I believe in "Mens Sana in Corpore Sano" - a healthy mind in a healthy body. That is why I try to motivate people to run more, because it keeps you healthy both in body and in mind. It is important to instill in our children the love of sport at a young age. Through the initiative to collect funds to purchase running shoes for children we are also encouraging this. Daniel and myself, as two athletes, wished and wanted to do an act of kindness. We wanted to do something connected with athletics for children. Those who wish to donate to purchase running shoes for children may do so by using Revolut +356 99828239 up to the 20th of December." - Greg Degabriele _ #thepeopleofmalta #runner #run #maltesepeople #running #shoes #shoeporn #runningshoes #sneakers #sports #help #donate #Respect #maltese #malta #athlete #athletics