“Follow me, I will make you fishers of men” (Mt 4:19). This is the motto of the 37th Malta Camp, the Order of Malta’s International Summer Camp for disabled children held in Bassano Romano, from July 30th to August 6th, at the Monastery of San Vincenzo Martire.

It was launched in 1983 and it has been held in in several European Countries, each year attracting an ever increasing number of guests and Volunteers.

After 3 long years of waiting and 11 years since the last time, Italy is once again hosting a week of vacation and volunteering for hundreds of young disabled people from all over the world, involving about 450 members, including staff, volunteers and guests from over 22 Countries.

To ensure that all this project took shape, the Organizing Committee, composed of young volunteers from the three Grand Priories of Italy, in close collaboration with ACISMOM – National Association of Italian Knights of the Order of Malta and with the logistical support of CISOM – Italian Relief Corp of the Order of Malta, has been working for the last three years in organizing all the activities, the trips, the spiritual moments, the guests, the accommodation as well as every other detail of this incredible experience, all in full logistic and health security.

The Maltacamp 2022 is an event full of activities, such as games, workshops and shows as well as trips and excursions to learn about some of the wonders of the surrounding area such as Castel Gandolfo, the Pope’s summer residence, the Colosseum, the Borghese Gallery, the Palazzo del Freddo, Cinecittà World and many others around Rome and Viterbo. On Tuesday, August 2nd, the entire Maltacamp group will meet in Rome for the Solemn Mass in the Vatican, celebrated by H.E. Card. Silvano Maria Tomasi. On Thursday, August 4, the participants will spend the day in Tarquinia, in the Adventure Park Riva dei Tarquini and will have the opportunity to take a swim in the sea on the adjacent beach.

Maltacamp is definitely an opportunity for everyone to have fun and share, to live together without barriers, neither physical nor cultural, but it is also a great opportunity to get closer and try to really live the values of the Christian Faith and the Order of Malta’s charisms.