Bormla: A Struggling Community

“Bormla: A Struggling Community” is a landmark, mixed methods study in which JosAnn Cutajar presents the current situation of the people of this impoverished, historical, European city in the Maltese Islands. Measures that can be taken by the community, the nation and politicians are also presented, to heal the social ills of this city. Research study after research study has shown that communities living in places stigmatized by policy makers, the media and the general population, develop coping skills to acquire alternative resources for their social well-being. In Maltese society, resources are often deployed by policy and decision makers who remain not cognizant of the differential needs of communities living in different places. Policies which look neutral on paper are anything but neutral when applied. In this study, Cutajar gives voice to the unheard people of Bormla, brings their needs to the forefront and provides effective resources for change.