Il-Kunsill Malti għas-Settur tal-Volontarjat (MCVS) għadu kif nieda l-iskema Small Initiatives Support Scheme (SIS) 2024, li hija mfassla biex tgħin finanzjarjament għaqdiet volontarji fuq proġetti żgħar li jistgħu jagħmlu differenza fil-komunitajiet lokali.

Il-baġit totali għall-iskema mħabbra huwa ta’ €180,000, b’żieda ta’ €60,000 fuq is-sena ta’ qabel li kienet stabbilita għal €120,000. Kull applikazzjoni sottomessa għandha tkun ta’ mhux anqas minn €1,000 fit-talba tagħha u mhux aktar minn €5,000 għall-proġetti (Action 1) u mhux aktar minn €4,000 għall-attivitajiet (Action 2). L-applikazzjonijiet ser jintlaqgħu sa nofsinhar tal-Ġimgħa 7 ta’ Lulju 2023.

Ser isiru wkoll laqgħat ta’ informazzjoni fil-jiem li ġejjin sabiex ikunu ta’ gwida għall-applikanti matul il-proċess tal-applikazzjoni. Għaldaqstant l-għaqdiet volontarji huma mistiedna jiżviluppaw l-aħjar applikazzjonijiet tagħhom billi jattendu il-laqgħat ta’ informazzjoni u anki jikkonsultaw il-linji gwida inklużi l-prijoritajiet, li għal din is-sena huma l-volontarjat, il-faqar u l-inklużjoni soċjali, l-edukazzjoni, l-arti, il-kultura u l-isport, u r-riċerka. Minn din is-sena, l-għaqdiet jistgħu jissottomettu applikazzjoni għal proġett jew inizjattiva li tiġi implimentata fuq numru ta’ xhur (Action 1) jew inkella attività jew avveniment one-off (Action 2).

Waqt l-attività tat-tnedija, il-Ministru għall-Inklużjoni, il-Volontarjat u d-Drittijiet tal-Konsumatur Julia Farrugia Portelli, stqarret kif fit-tliet snin li għaddew ġew approvati 105 proġett minn għaqdiet volontarji u li bejniethom ibbenefikaw minn €320,000. Dawn apparti l-iskema l-oħra, Volontary Organisations Projects Scheme (VOPS), li minnha bbenefikaw 139 proġett b’total ta’ €2.2 miljuni.

Il-Ministru Farrugia Portelli saħqet kif 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. Bħala Gvern ser  inkomplu mhux biss nsaħħu lill-għaqdiet volontarji iżda naħdmu lkoll flimkien biex nibnu settur volontarju sostenibbli għal-lum u għal għada.

Is-Sinjura Gertrude Buttigieg, Chairperson tal-Kunsill, qalet li l-għan tal-Kunsill huwa li permezz tal-iskemi diversi nkomplu nsaħħu l-kapacità tal-għaqdiet volontarji fil-ħidma tagħhom fid-diversi oqsma. Das-sostenn huwa importanti sabiex l-istess għaqdiet isaħħu u jkattru l-ħidma fil-komunitajiet tagħna.

Is-Sur Mauro Pace Parascandalo, Kap Eżekuttiv tal-Kunsill, stqarr li permezz ta’ dawn il-fondi qed inkomplu nsostnu lis-settur tal-Volontarjat, fejn għaqdiet volontarji jistgħu iwettqu inizjattivi u attivitajiet fil-komunitajiet tagħhom illi mingħajr dawn il-fondi ma jkunux jistgħu jattwawhom. Min-naħa tal-MCVS, dan dejjem jibqa’ jsir b’impenn lejn proċess sħiħ ta’ trasparenza u kontabilità tal-fondi pubbliċi​.

L-iskema ta’ finanzjament tas-SIS hija inizjattiva mmexxija mill-Kunsill Malti għas-Settur tal-Volontarjat fi ħdan il-Ministeru għall-Inklużjoni, il-Volontarjat u d-Drittijiet tal-Konsumatur. Aktar informazzjoni tista’ tinkiseb fuq vofunding.org.mt.

SIS funding scheme now open – assists voluntary organisations in projects and activities

The Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector (MCVS) has just launched the Small Initiatives Support Scheme (SIS) 2024, which is designed to assist enrolled Voluntary Organisations (VOs) looking for funding on small projects that can make a real difference to their local communities.

The total budget for the SIS scheme being launched is €180,000, with an increase of €60,000 over the previous year which was set at €120,000. Each application submitted should be not less than €1,000 in its request for funding, and not more than €5,000 for projects (Action 1) and not more than €4,000 for activities (Action 2). Deadline for submission of applications is noon of Friday 7th July 2023.

Information meetings will also be held in the coming days to guide applicants during the application process. Therefore, organisations are advised to develop their best applications by attending the aforementioned information sessions and consulting the guidelines including the priorities, which for this year are volunteering, poverty and social inclusion, education, arts, culture and sports, and research. From this year, organisations can submit a project application to implement a project or initiative over a number of months (Action 1) or to hold a one-off activity or event (Action 2).

During the launch event, the Minister for Inclusion, Voluntary Organisations and Consumer Rights Hon. Julia Farrugia Portelli, emphasised how in the past three years 105 projects by voluntary organisations were approved and that between them have benefited from €320,000. Apart from this, through the other scheme, Voluntary Organisations Projects Scheme (VOPS), 139 projects benefited from a total of €2.2 million.

Minister Farrugia Portelli stressed how every new project that will be materializing will be improving, or strengthening, some aspect of our lives, whether environmental or social. The Government will not only continue to strengthen voluntary organisations but will also work together to build a sustainable voluntary sector for today and for tomorrow.

Mrs. Gertrude Buttigieg, Chairperson of the Council, said that the aim of the Council is that through the various schemes we continue to strengthen the ability of the voluntary organisations in their work in their various fields. This support is important so that the same organisations strengthen and increase the work in our communities.

Mr. Mauro Pace Parascandalo, Chief Executive of the Council, stated that through these funds we are reinforcing our support the Voluntary Sector, where voluntary organisations can carry out initiatives and activities in their communities that without these funds they will not be able to implement them. Through MCVS, this is always done with a commitment to a public funds process which is completely transparent and accountable.

The SIS funding scheme is an initiative led by the Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector within the Ministry for Inclusion, Voluntary Organisations and Consumer Rights. More information can be obtained from vofunding.org.mt.