Since the start of the One-Tablet-per Child project, almost 11 500 tablets have been distributed. In addition, the project has provided training courses for teachers and other educational staff, digital content, virtual reality headsets, exam reader pens, AI tools to assess students as well as info sessions for parents. With an ESF+ budget of €13.5 million during the 2021-2027 funding period, One-Tablet-per Child will focus on secondary schools, aiming to reach over 18 000 students and over 6 000 teachers. 

The European Social Fund’s support has enabled the Richmond Foundation to extend services, ensuring people receive targeted assistance as early as possible. Co-financed courses for early detection of mental health issues among teenagers and young adults increase the chances of persons with mental health issues to successfully integrate into society. The training is accessible to all, educational staff, parents and young people themselves. Nearly 50-75% of mental health issues are generally present between 15-20 years old, and active and early treatment is thus vital to establish the care network those affected need to thrive in their communities.  

Commissioner Schmit also met representatives of the Foundation for Social Welfare Services, which implements the ESF co-financed project on Home-Based Therapeutic Services. These services support families and individuals who experience violence, poverty, abuse, physical and mental illness, as well as concerns related to child abuse and neglect. Working to preserve families and households, they offer a shift from a medical focus to a more holistic approach integrating social support, psychotherapy, and parenting skills programmes, thus avoiding situations where children have to be placed in institutions.  

The new ESF+ 2021-2027 in Malta is committed to improving social inclusion and supporting vulnerable groups. The EU will invest €124.4 million in ESF+ funds in Malta to support projects promoting education and training, access to employment and healthcare. Out of this total budget €32.5 million (26.1%) will be dedicated to social inclusion interventions such as the active inclusion of persons with disabilities, measures for disadvantaged children, implementing the EU Child Guarantee, and anti-discrimination measures to facilitate the integration of third-country nationals.  The ESF+ investments will support Malta in achieving its 2030 social targets of raising the employment rate to 84.6%, increasing adult learning participation to 57.6% and reducing the number of people at risk of poverty and social exclusion by 3.3%.