By Savithri Rodrigo
(Commonwealth Union)_TV Malta broke new ground recently when it introduced Sri Lankan-Italian writer, performer and activist for Persons with Down Syndrome as the first presenter with Down Syndrome to anchor ACTION!, a children’s educational series on the world of filmmaking and media. The programme, in collaboration with the Malta Films Studios and PBS (Malta’s National Broadcasting Station: Public Broadcasting Services Limited), had Angela Bettoni go behind the scenes of a wide variety of foreign and local films, series and programmes together with co-presenter Brandon Terribile.
21-year-old Bettoni, who sits on the Executive Committee of the Commonwealth Children and Youth Disability Network and is one of ten members in the Young People Disability Rights Forum of Malta’s Commission for The Rights of Persons with Disability is also one of four young people to receive the the Artivisti Award for Activism through the Arts from the Arts Council of Malta and Agenzija Zghazagh (Malta’s Youth Agency) for 2021-2022.
Celebrating World Down Syndrome Month in October, two excerpts from Bettoni’s yet unpublished and fifth book Inner Demons were read at an exclusive event held at the Concert Hall of the Malta Society of Arts. Among the invitees was the President Emeritus of Malta Marie Louise Coleiro Preca. The readings were a part of the Dissemination Project of the Artivisti Award.
A prolific dance and theatre performer, Bettoni has been a part of the inclusive theatre Chickenshed, the Opening Doors Theatre Group, which is a theatre group for adults with intellectual disabilities and Automaniacs which was a performance for children. It was doubly exciting for Bettoni therefore to have her story narrated by the Artistic Director of her former drama school Lorraine Aquilina of the School of Performing Arts, in addition to the SOPA students and two of Bettoni’s friends with Down Syndrome who are members of the Opening Doors Theatre Group.
Inner Demons, loosely based on Bettoni, has a main character with Down Syndrome which lines were read by Bettoni herself. The book was reviewed extensively by renowned Maltese author Leanne Ellul who said: “Thank you Angela for writing this novel full of colour and life! Well done!”
Bettoni is an inexhaustible advocate for inclusion of persons with Down syndrome – travelling widely, speaking on talk shows, sharing ideas, experiences, and knowledge, and empowering other to advocate for equal rights. The very first student with Down Syndrome to complete her Ordinary Level examination in Malta, she is one of those who is unafraid to reach out to key stakeholders – whether at the highest decision-making level or to the youngest who lives in a world of uncertainty – to bring about positive change.
