Embajadores del Año Europeo

Joseph M. Camilleri

Malta

Joe Camilleri, twieled fil-1952 f’Malta. Joe studja fil-Kulleġġ Stella Maris, Gzira. Studja l-Ingliz fl-Università ta’ Malta u wara tħarreġ bħala għalliem fil-Kulleg ta’ l-Arti, Xjenza u Teknoloġija. Fl-1977 reġa’ lura Stella Maris College din id-darba bħala għalliem tal-lingwa u lettura Ingliza lill-istudenti ta’ bejn l-14 u 19 ‘l sena. Bejn l-1989-1994 ħadem fic-Ċentru għat-Tagħlim bid-Distanza ta’ l-Università ta’ Malta. F’April ta’ l-1994, Joe assuma l-kariga ta’ Chairman tal-Kummissjoni Nazzjonali Persuni b’Dizabilità. Joe jagħti sehemu fuq programmi tar-radju u televizjoni, jikteb artikli f’ġurnali u gazzetti, huwa membru ta’ diversi kumitati u bordijiet u jorganizza diversi lectures u korsijiet dwar Oqsma tad-Dizabilità. Joe żviluppa nuqqas ta' mobilità severa fl-età ta’ sentejn u nofs. Joe huwa miżżewweġ lill-Davinia u għandhom żewġt itfal : Florinda u Sophie-Marie.

• “… li x-xogħol jagħti dinjità aktar sħiħa lill-persuna; persuni b'diżabilità għandhom potenżjal li m'huwiex qiegħed jintuża; ekonomikament, l-pajjiz tagħna għandu ħafna x'jirbaħ meta persuni b'diżabilità jiġu mħeġġa sabiex isibu xogħol addattat.”
• “Over the years my body, and less frequently my mind, have been probed, pummelled, penetrated, exhibited and discussed as if I were not there. I need hardly add that assessments generally find me insufficient, incomplete --- incompetent. I always feel that I reached the nadir when, at the age of 21 I was hospitalised and during the whole time I was officially identified as number 17!”
• “Disability for me has come to mean, not so much dwelling within a biologically impaired body, as a sense of self ownership. Ultimately, defining myself as a person with disability implies never being apologetic about my differences, but valuing them as intrinsic elements of myself which I am proud of.”
• “The finest reminder is a living memorial: that of a society founded on the principals of equal opportunities, social justice, Christian values, above all, a society which includes us all.”

Joe was chosen as an ambassador because over the years he has become associated in people’s mind with the struggles and aspirations of disabled people in the Maltese islands. He is also seen by many as a role model.