Blue Door Education (BDE) is an NGO in Valletta, Malta. Its team of compassionate volunteers are dedicated to providing free literacy, language and life skill classes for adult refugees and asylum seekers, and adult migrants with a social worker referral. BDE was founded on the belief that education enables upward social mobility, and each additional skill can mean higher income, leading to better access to nutritious food, sanitation, healthcare and accommodation. Ultimately, its practical support helps refugees and asylum seekers to rebuild their lives with dignity, equity and confidence.
Founded in 2013, Blue Door Education’s mission has always been to provide flexible, judgment-free education that meets learners exactly where they are, helping them to actively participate in their new host country. To achieve this, it offers English language classes ranging from literacy to CEF B2+ (intermediate), which take place both in person and online. Volunteers also teach offsite in refugee camps and safe houses for unaccompanied minors, in collaboration with AWAS.
BDE runs five weekly classes by women for women, from literacy to CEF B2+ (intermediate). Migrant mothers and/or victims of sex trafficking and/or gender-based violence are an especially marginalised group in Malta and are often left behind. By providing a safe space as well as free childcare during lesson time, the team ensure that migrant women and mothers have the chance they deserve to learn and take part in community activities.
Courses are delivered on everyday IT skills, for example how to navigate Google drives and improve proficiency in gmail, docx and sheets, all delivered using a smartphone. These courses provide a practical pathway to accessing the digital world while making the most of the limited technology available. Plus, BDE has delivered a range of wider projects based on the needs of its students: From services around childcare and menstruation products, through to health literacy and knowing your rights.
Blue Door Education is Malta’s largest and most consistent provider of quality non-formal adult learning and community programmes. Accessible via its famous blue door, BDE is often the first point of contact for refugees in Malta, providing the linguistic tools and social support necessary for successful integration. With a team of just two part-time staff members and 45+ volunteers, BDE supports over 250 students. Its immediate priority is securing the income needed to continue this work.
Support from the Foundation will go towards core staff salaries, an area that is particularly challenging to fund in Malta. Building on this support, BDE aims to develop a sustainable staffing solution that aligns compensation with the actual workload required to run its services.
BDE’s long-term roadmap involves transitioning from a school with limited hours into a permanent Full-Time Community Learning Hub. This "Always Open" model would include on-site integration services where partner NGOs offer pro-bono services, such as legal and medical advice, in a trusted environment. BDE aims to develop this gradually over the coming years, to ensure the safety, quality and impact of its educational services.
