Aktar għotjiet għal għaqdiet volontarji biex iwettqu proġetti ambjentali u soċjali fil-komunità
Il-Kunsill Malti għas-Settur tal-Volontarjat (MCVS) fi ħdan il-Ministeru għall-Inklużjoni, il-Volontarjat u d-Drittijiet tal-Konsumatur ta kważi €1 miljun f’fondi lill-għaqdiet volontarji biex iwettqu 87 proġett ġdid fil-komunità, bħala parti mill-Iskema tal-Proġetti tal-Organizzazzjonijiet Volontarji (VOPS) u l-iSmall Initiative Support Scheme (SIS).
Waqt iċ-ċerimonja annwali, għaqdiet volontarji li jvarjaw minn setturi bħas-saħħa, mużika, sport, edukazzjoni, kultura u drittijiet ċivili kienu ppreżentati bl-għotjiet rispettivi tagħhom. Il-proġetti jvarjaw minn tisħiħ tal-inklużjoni għall-persuni b’diżabilità, għarfien dwar ambjent sostenibbli, u l-promozzjoni tal-arti u l-kultura fl-ibliet u l-irħula tagħna fost oħrajn.
L-għaqdiet volontarji kollha huma reġistrati mal-Kummissarju għall-Organizzazzjonijiet Volontarji biex kienu eliġibbli għall-fondi.
Il-Ministru għall-Inklużjoni, il-Volontarjat u d-Drittijiet tal-Konsumatur Julia Farrugia Portelli qalet li dawn is-87 proġett fil-komunità se jfissru differenza pożittiva fil-ħajja ta’ kull wieħed u waħda minnha. “Dan l-investiment ta’ ftit anqas minn miljun ewro huwa xhieda ċara tal-fiduċja kbira li l-Gvern għandu fl-għaqdiet volontarji u fil-voluntiera. Nemmnu bis-sħiħ li kull proġett ġdid li se jkun qed jimmaterjalizza se jkun qed itejjeb jew isaħħaħ xi aspett minn ħajjitna sew jekk hux ambjentali kif ukoll jekk huwa soċjali. Kommessi li nkomplu mhux biss nsaħħu lill-għaqdiet volontarji iżda naħdmu lkoll flimkien biex nibnu settur volontarju sostenibbli għal-lum u għal għada.”
Il-Kap Eżekuttiv tal-Kunsill Malti għas-Settur Volontarju Mauro Pace Parascandalo qal li filwaqt li permezz ta’ dawn il-fondi nkomplu nsostnu lis-settur tal-Volontarjat, dan isir b’impenn lejn dik li hi trasparenza u kontabilità bil-fondi pubbliċi.
L-għotjiet lill-għaqdiet volontarji ġew ippreżentati mill-Ministru Julia Farrugia Portelli, u Mauro Pace Parascandalo, Kap Eżekuttiv tal-MCVS fil-preżenza tas-Segretarju Permanenti tal-Ministeru għall-Inklużjoni, il-Volontarjat u d-Drittijiet tal-Konsumatur Nancy Caruana, u Jesmond Saliba, Kummissarju għall-Għaqdiet Volontarji.
More grants for voluntary organizations to carry out environmental and social projects in the community
Almost €1 million was awarded in grants to volunteer organisations by The Maltese Council for the Voluntary Sector (MCVS), within the Ministry for Inclusion, Voluntary Work, and Consumer Rights, to carry out 87 new community projects. The projects fall within the Volunteer Organisations Projects Scheme (VOPS) and the Small Initiative Support Scheme (SIS).
During the annual ceremony, volunteer organisations from various sectors including health, music, sports, education, culture, and civil rights were presented with their respective grants. The projects vary from enhancing inclusion for people with disabilities, raising awareness of sustainable environments, promoting arts and culture in our towns and villages, among others.
All volunteer organisations were registered with the Commissioner for Volunteer Organisations to be eligible for the funds.
The Minister for Inclusion, Voluntary Work, and Consumer Rights, Julia Farrugia Portelli, said that these 87 community projects will make a positive difference in the lives of many people.
“This investment is clear evidence of the great trust that the government has in volunteer organisations and volunteering. We firmly believe that every new project that materialises will either improve or strengthen some aspect of our lives, whether it is environmental or social. We are committed to not only supporting volunteer organisations but also working together to build a sustainable voluntary sector for today and tomorrow.”
The Executive Director of the Maltese Council for the Voluntary Sector, Mauro Pace Parascandalo, said that while the funds will continue to support the voluntary sector, transparency and accountability with public funds will be a priority.
The grants were presented to the volunteer organisations by Farrugia Portelli together with Pace Parascandalo, in the presence of Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Inclusion, Voluntary Work, and Consumer Rights Nancy Caruana, and Commissioner for Volunteer Organisations Jesmond Saliba.