Voluntary organisations given around €1 million in funds for 87 community projects
Around €1 million in funds have been allocated to voluntary organizations to implement 87 new projects throughout this year, a statement by the Inclusion Ministry read.
These funds are part of the Voluntary Organizations Project Scheme (VOPS) and the Small Initiatives Scheme (SIS), administered and led by the Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector (MCVS).
The statement read that the selected projects range from those focusing on inclusion through music and arts, inclusive sports projects for children with disabilities, infrastructural projects within community buildings, research, and a wide variety of other projects, including those related to culture, environment, and education.
Over 700 projects have been implemented through these two schemes since their establishment, with funds totalling €7.8 million, it said.
The grants to voluntary organizations were presented by Inclusion Minister Julia Farrugia
Portelli, alongside the Chairperson of the MCVS Gertrude Buttigieg, the CEO of MCVS, Mauro Pace Parascandalo, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry Nancy Caruana, and Commissioner for Voluntary Organizations Jesmond Saliba.
Farrugia Portelli emphasized the importance of these schemes in providing assistance to voluntary organizations, highlighting that they are crucial for them to implement projects in our communities.
“Government recognizes the need for a strong voluntary sector, as it believes it is a fundamental pillar in our society, so schemes like SIS and VOPS will remain robust over time,” she said.
Farrugia Portelli said that society as a whole benefits from every project emerging from these funds.
Apart from the many schemes that government supports on a regular basis, Farrugia Portelli said that government is determined to make volunteers’ lives easier through laws that continue to reduce excessive bureaucracy.
Buttigieg congratulated the organizations that successfully applied for these funds to implement their projects.
She assured her listeners that the Council would continue to assist these organizations and oversee the implementation process to ensure that funds are used for the benefit of both the association and society.
Pace Parascandalo mentioned how the competition for these funds continues to increase, and how projects of quality are being selected for the community’s benefit.
More information can be found at maltacvs.org. All voluntary organizations eligible for the funds, including those under VOPS and SIS, are registered and compliant with the Commissioner for Voluntary Organizations.