Maltacamp 2025
Every summer, since 1984, the Order of Malta organises a joyful holiday camp, known as Maltacamp, for around 500 young people from 18 to 35 years old with disabilities and their volunteer helpers of 25 different countries in Europe and beyond.
This year, between the 10th to the 17th August, the Netherlands will be hosting guests and volunteers, in Castle De Berck, for the 40th Malta Camp.
It will be an unforgettable experience of cohesion beyond boundaries for all young guests and volunteers with amazing possibilities for activities, together with sports games and spiritual gatherings.
During the week, they are not only serving their guests but are also there to become friends, in order to share extraordinary moments together. These are not only holidays for guests but it will also be a holiday for all participants.
Being able to meet so many different people in a week is rare. 25 countries, around 500 unique people with their own backgrounds is something that happens once in a lifetime. Be ready to taste specialties of each country, discuss about many subjects, pray in all languages, and party with everyone!
Sports, parties, and activities will go along with holy masses, and a silent night to elevate your body but also our spirits. Fraternity and faith are very important for the Order of Malta in order to fulfill its mission in the world of today.
The Maltese contingent, which departed Malta early this morning, consisting of 20 helpers and guests, is led by Team Leader Dr Julia Micallef. Mgr Claude Portelli is the Spiritual Director and Dame Rachel Barthet is the Team Nurse.
The Grand Master, greeting all those present, reminded them that over the course of the week “The Order’s young people, and the special individuals they will be with, will experience the grace that comes from sharing their lives and love with each other. This will be the personification of Psalm 139, in which the psalmist recognised that every person, no matter their physical or mental frailties, is ‘wonderfully made’, that they are created in God’s very image, that they are God’s beloved.”
This is why, added Fra’ John T. Dunlap, “the international camp for disabled young people must validate these truths for its participants. It must join its voice to the many other sweet and kind voices that in their everyday life invite our campers – teachers, parents, friends, family, strangers, and others – to accept their belovedness as a gift, a grace from the Father, no matter their human frailties.”
Since its inception in 1984, this international camp has offered a significant holiday experience to disabled young people aged between 18 and 35, together with volunteers from 25 different countries, in Europe and beyond.
Along with this international event there are the numerous summer camps organized by the Order of Malta’s Grand Priories, Associations and voluntary bodies at a national level, both in Europe and on other continents.
On Tuesday morning the Maltese contingent was honoured with the presence of the Grand Master during the celebration of the team’s private mass.
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