Ta’ Saura National Empowerment Hub
A State of the Art Inclusive Hub for Children and Young People with Disabilities
A historic Rabat site will be transformed into a state-of-the-art, inclusive and empowering hub for children and young people with disabilities and their families, while remaining open to and serving the wider community.
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About the Project
Nestled atop the hill of Rabat, Malta, the Ta Saura National Empowerment Hub is poised to transform a treasured piece of Malta's history into a living legacy of inclusion, empowerment, and hope.
This initiative is designed to be a world-class model for inclusive, safe, and empowering spaces, primarily for children and young people with disabilities, while remaining open to the wider community to experience and promote effective inclusion.
The Hub will break away from conventional templates. It is envisioned as a space that believes in the abilities, skills, and potential of every individual, providing opportunities for personal, social, and professional growth.
This inclusive approach ensures that the Hub is not segregated: it will remain a safe, non-judgmental space where children and young people with disabilities are empowered, while simultaneously demonstrating best practices in inclusion to the wider community.
What the Hub Will Offer
Music, Arts & Sensory Therapy
Music, dance, art, sensory therapy and a dedicated Centre for Music and the Arts.
Social Enterprise & Job Training
Training in hospitality, catering, gardening, retail, front desk management, digital skills, therapeutic farming and pottery.
Family Support & Respite
Family support services, practical guidance and respite-focused support for children, young people and families.
Youth Social Club & Inclusion
Youth spaces supporting poverty projects, digital inclusion, social connections and community participation.
Gym, Recreation & Wellbeing
A specialised gymnasium, outdoor recreational spaces and wellbeing activities that build confidence and resilience.
Learning & Community Spaces
A learning hub, specialised library, NGO meeting spaces and community rooms for shared use.
Events, Halls & Galleries
Concert hall, art gallery and multi-purpose halls for concerts, conferences, exhibitions and community events.
Reflection, Heritage & Harmony
Interfaith prayer, relaxation spaces, cultural preservation and places for reflection and harmony.
The Story
A place of refuge
A benefactor named Dr. Nicholas Saura endowed his estate and wealth to establish what would become a hospice for those suffering chronic illness.
A formal place of care
As regulations for the hospice's operations were formalized by Bishop Molina in 1680, the site became a place not only of medical refuge but of spiritual shelter.
Serving generations
It was managed by the Sisters of Charity, who, for centuries, cared for its residents with dedication. Over the years, Dar Saura evolved into a home for the elderly.
A building ready for renewal
By the early 2020s, it became clear that the building, while beautiful and rich in heritage, could no longer meet modern standards of care without renovation.
A new chapter begins
The building was entrusted to The Malta Trust Foundation by the Archdiocese of Malta on a 65-year commodatum agreement.
A Place of Empowerment
It aims to serve up to 1000 children and young people and their families.
The Hub will provide more than services: it will offer a space in which talents can flourish.
It will stand as a model of genuine inclusion, recognising each child’s untapped potential.
The Youth Social Club will provide support through projects addressing poverty, digital inclusion, and respite care.
The Hub will serve as a space where all individuals are valued and provided with the opportunity to flourish.
Progress To Date
The project has moved from vision to structured planning, with the historic site entrusted to The Malta Trust Foundation and the groundwork being developed for a sustainable, inclusive national hub.
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01
Site entrusted for long-term social impact
The Ta’ Saura site has been entrusted to The Malta Trust Foundation through a long-term agreement, enabling the Foundation to plan for a lasting national empowerment project.
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02
Inclusive vision and concept developed
The concept has been shaped around a fully inclusive hub for children and young people with disabilities, their families, and the wider community.
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03
Programme areas identified
Core areas such as music, arts, skills training, social enterprise, family support, youth participation, recreational spaces, and community use have been identified.
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04
Partnership approach established
The project is being developed through collaboration with stakeholders, experts, benefactors, and partners who can support the restoration, development, and long-term operation of the Hub.
2026 Priorities
The 2026 focus is to continue moving the Ta’ Saura National Empowerment Hub from concept into practical implementation, while protecting the historic character of the site and strengthening the project’s social purpose.
Restoration and accessibility planning
Advance the planning needed to restore the historic building and ensure that accessibility and inclusion are embedded throughout the site.
Programme design
Continue developing the Hub’s programme model across the arts, skills training, family support, youth spaces, social enterprise, and community participation.
Partnerships and funding
Strengthen partnerships and fundraising efforts to support the project’s development, implementation, and long-term sustainability.
Governance and implementation
Continue setting up the structures, oversight, and implementation pathways needed to ensure that the project is delivered responsibly and sustainably.
Alignment with Rights and Strategies
United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Promotes accessibility, inclusion, and empowerment.
UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
Supports the rights of children to education, play, development, and participation.
European Disability Strategy 2021–2030
Advances accessibility, equal opportunities, and social inclusion.
Malta’s National Disability Strategy
Aligns with national objectives for integration and empowerment of people with disabilities.
TMTF’s Guiding Principles
Advocates for spaces that respect dignity, potential, and agency for all, removing barriers to participation and personal development.
Together, we can transform Ta’ Saura into a beacon of hope and opportunity, building a society that values inclusion, empowerment, and the full potential of every child and young person — open to the wider community.