A New Step Forward for Inclusive Rowing in Malta
This project has been funded by the Komunitajiet Aktar Inklussivi Scheme managed by the Ministry for Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector (MIV).
At Siġġiewi Rowing Club, we believe that rowing should be accessible to everyone. We are proud to be running the our “Immorru Qadfa, Flimkien, u b’Mod Sigur” project, an initiative that will help us make rowing safer, more accessible and more inclusive than ever before.
For years, our Club has worked to create an environment where children, adults, senior citizens, athletes, para-athletes and individuals with disabilities can train, learn, socialise and thrive together. Inclusion is not a separate programme for us—it is part of our identity.
This project is being made possible through the support of the Ministry for Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector under the Komunitajiet Aktar Inklussivi Scheme 2025, a scheme that enables voluntary organisations like ours to transform ideas into meaningful action and create lasting benefits for the communities they serve.
Why This Project Matters
One of the most beautiful aspects of rowing is that it brings people together. At our gym, and on the water, age, background and ability become secondary. What matters is teamwork, trust, communication and the shared experience of moving forward together.
As our inclusive rowing programmes continue to grow, particularly those involving persons with disabilities, senior citizens and newcomers to the sport, it has become increasingly important to strengthen the safety and support systems that allow everyone to participate with confidence.
Through this project, Siġġiewi Rowing Club will acquire, amongst other things, a dedicated motorised safety and accompanying boat, digital rowing monitors to support coaching and participant safety and oars that can be shared by all participants.
These resources will allow us to provide safer and more effective group sessions while ensuring that every participant receives the guidance, support and reassurance they deserve.
Inclusion in Action
What makes this project particularly special is that it was shaped by the people it aims to support. Our members, including athletes with disability, play an active role in identifying the need for enhanced safety and monitoring, sharing their experiences and helping the Club develop solutions that would make participation more enjoyable, empowering and accessible.
The project will continue to be implemented with the involvement of our members, volunteers, coaches and partner organisations, including the Malta Paralympic Committee, ensuring that inclusion remains at the centre of every decision we take.
More Than a Sport
For many people, rowing is much more than exercise: It is an opportunity to improve physical and mental wellbeing, build confidence, develop friendships and become part of a supportive community.
We regularly welcome individuals who are seeking rehabilitation, improved health, greater social interaction or simply a positive activity that helps them reconnect with themselves and others. Through rowing, people discover what they can achieve—not what they cannot.
The additional safety measures introduced through this project will allow even more individuals to experience these benefits in a secure and supportive environment.
A Shared Achievement
As a volunteer-led organisation, Siġġiewi Rowing Club depends on the dedication of its members, families, coaches and supporters. We are therefore deeply grateful to the Ministry for Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector for recognising the value of inclusive sport and for supporting initiatives that create genuine opportunities for participation and empowerment.
The support provided through the Komunitajiet Aktar Inklussivi Scheme 2025 will leave a lasting legacy, helping us continue our mission of promoting rowing as a sport for everyone—regardless of age, ability or experience.
Together, we are proving that inclusion is not simply about access.
It is about belonging.
And on the waters of Malta’s Grand Harbour, everyone has a place in the boat.
This project has been funded by the Komunitajiet Aktar Inklussivi Scheme managed by the Ministry for Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector (MIV).
This project/publication reflects the views only of the author, and MIV cannot be held
responsible for the content or any use which may be made of the information contained therein.
Siggiewi Rowing Club 