Sixteen local charitable organisations this morning received more than €250,000 to carry out projects in poor countries.
Cheques were presented by Foreign Minister Tonio Borg to representatives of organisations which carrying out humanitarian projects in Africa, Asia and South America.
Dr Borg explained that Malta's overseas development aid was administered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He said that Malta wanted to see developing countries achieve economic and social progress and provided assistance on the basis of “fighting poverty through development”.
The assistance was given to the following organisations:
Kull Bniedem Ħija (KBĦ)
A project by Fr Victor Scicluna to provide the purchase of equipment for a training centre in Sigomere, Kenya and to cover tuition fees for one year. The programme training will consist of six workshops of training in ICT Literacy Skills, Textile Tailoring, Carpentry, Hairdressing, and Arts and Crafts. MFA funding for this project amounts to €13,128.
Missionary Congregation of the Sisters of St Joseph of the Apparition
A project in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia to build a Study Centre that would serve as multi-purpose building for educational programmes, such as the teaching of ICT skills. This Centre would also provide accommodation and shelter for children who would be undergoing urgent medical attention. The proposed building will enable the Congregation to provide humane treatment to unfortunate children with access to basic services in a congenial and loving environment. MFA funding for this project amounts to € 18,000.
Mission Fund (Malta)
Mission Fund is embarking on construction project to provide a 20-bedroom hostel complete with kitchen and sanitary facilities to accommodate medical personnel and paramedics at the Makiungu Hospital in the Singida Region of Tanzania run by the Medical Missionaries of Mary(MMM). This project will increase the accommodation capacity for staff who specialise Non-Communicable Diseases(NCDs) in the Singida Region. The funding for this project amounts to € 18,000.
Daughters of the Sacred Heart
The proposal put forward by The Daughters of the Sacred Heart is to complete a school project with the construction of eight classrooms that would accommodate around 320 pupils, a library and an office. This building would be as an extension to the nursery school for which co-financing was provided by the Ministry last year. The target of this project is to provide primary education to children and youths in Busa, a suburb of Dar Es Sallaam, Tanzania. The funding for this project amounts to €18,000.
St Paul's Bay parish
The proposal put forward by “Parroċċa Marija Addolorata” Kunvent San Frangisk, San Pawl Il-Baħar on behalf of the ASSISI SNEHALAYA HIV/AIDS REHABILITATION CENTRE in Kerala, India is to finance the necessary capital requirements. This centre is a care/support home and research centre for HIV/AIDS infected people. The Home caters for the medical and psycho-social needs of inmates and for those that are infected with HIV/AIDS who have no shelter. The funding for this project amounts to € 18,000.
CAMYouths
CAMYouths’ project involves the extension of a primary and middle school in a Community Centre in Lahore, Pakistan. The project has an educational purpose and is aimed to mitigate social problems by providing education to the poor and enhance their prospects for a better future. The project targets particularly young women and children in the Asif Town, Lahore.
The proposed Community Centre will provide day-care facilities for women with children that will provide these women with educational training. MFA funding for this project amounts to € 18,000.
SOS Malta
This is a project proposal put forward by SOS MALTA for rain water harvesting in Namagoma village in the Masaka district in Uganda. The objectives of this project are to advance the living conditions of the poor in the village, to improve personal hygiene and community health by enhancing access to safe drinking water and sanitation facilities, and to empower women by providing income generating skills training and encouragement towards the setting up of small cooperatives. MFA funding for this project amounts to € 18,000.
St Jeanne Antide Foundation
This is a project by the St Jeanne Antide Foundation for the demolishing and rebuilding of a rural Health Clinic for the poor located in Chak which is in the Faisalabad district, Pakistan. This Health Clinic was structurally damaged in the 2005 earthquake and it is planned that the existing structure will be completely demolished and a new clinic would be build. The clinic will continue to target the poor and provide emergency treatment to sick people. MFA funding for this project is of € 15,964.
Fr Anton Grech (Parish Priest in Izabal, Guatemala)
Fr Anton Grech is proposing the extension of a fish farm project in his parish of Izabal in Guatemala for sustainable development. In 2007, Fr Anton Grech with the assistance of Maltese volunteers from the Mission Fund started a fish farming project in another parish which was a successful endeavour for the local population of Jalapa. The project aims to provide much needed employment opportunities and to improve the standard of living of the local population. It also aims to incorporate training courses in fishing and to increase expertise in the fish farming trade. MFA funding for this project amounts to € 18,000.
Missjoni Etijopja
Missjoni Etijopja is carrying out a housing project in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia from which this Organisation benefited from last year’s ODA. Due to the financial crisis that hit Ethiopia, the financial estimates for the existing project were re-assessed and some changes where made to reduce expenses. Since the project started, a number of units have been completed and others are currently built. There were alterations to the original plan and this was achieved by increasing the size of the blocks from 4 to 8 units and houses constructed as to provide basic and secured standard to the local population. MFA funding for this project amounts to € 18,000.
Signum Fidei Malta
The Signum Fidei Malta is proposing a project entitled ‘Malta Signum Fidei Project Sri Lanka’, the main objective is to allow children affected by the recent civil war to resume and complete their education in a safe environment. This project will evolve around three facilities which are Mannar Hostel for Boys; LCES (Lasallian Centre for Educational Services) which is in Colombo and Mannar Orphan Boys House, Sri Lanka. MFA funding for this project amounts to € 18,000.
KOPIN
KOPIN is proposing a project in Ethiopia to support the EDA Medical Centre in its efforts to provide health services to the impoverished communities of Akaki Kality, Sub-City, Ethiopia. MFA funding for this project amounts to € 18,000.
INIZJAMED
This is a project proposal put forward by Inizjamed, to support three educational institutions in the slums of Nairobi, Kenya. The objectives are to provide support to slum educational institutions in Nairobi and to create a sustainable environment for education, orphan care and community support measures. The beneficiaries of this project would be the students and staff of three educational institutions located in the slums of Kenya’s capital Nairobi, and the related communities. In all, approximately 850 girls and boys and 50 staff members will directly benefit from the project’s outcomes. MFA funding for this project amounts to € 18,000.
Fr Nicholas Schembri Farrugia MSSP
Fr Schembri Farrugia is to upgrade an existing parish complex with the construction of dormitories and a dining room in his parish. The parish complex has been serving as a centre for various activities for youth meetings, day retreats, sports and senior citizens activities. Through this project, the community will focus on two other priorities which are youth and the formation for women emancipation. The project consists of eight rooms furnished with beds, showers and toilets. It is also projected to the construct a kitchen, a dining room and two other rooms. MFA funding for this project amounts to € 18,000.
Missionary Society of St. Paul (MSSP)
The Missionary Society of St. Paul is setting up Youth Formation Centres in the Philippines which would be equipped with computer units which would be essential for their students who are studying ICT skills. This project consists of purchasing computers; printing units and network setups. The estimated cost for this project is of €4,000.
Aldea Infantil Sagarad Familia
The Director of Aldea Infantil Sagarad Familia, Fr Frank Cortis is projecting the renovation of a dormitory and study quarters for his children’s home in the city of Arequipa, Peru. MFA funding for this project is of € 7,218.