“The Government has given more than € 1.7 million in direct financial aid during the last five years to three Gozitan NGOs working in the social sector to assist them to continue their work in this field,” Chris Said the Minister for Justice, Dialogue and the Family, said today.
The Minister, who was on a visit to the Arka Foundation in Ghajnsielem, said that the three NGOs who had benefited were the Arka Foundation, Dar Guzeppa Debono and the OASI Foundation
Aid granted by the Fund for Non Governmental Organisations (NGO Fund), aims to assist organisations working in the social field. In the last five years, from this fund, the NGOs of Malta and Gozo were given grants totalling € 11.7 million, the Minister said.
Dr Said thanked all the NGO organisations for the most useful service that they provide, he explained how during this legislature the Government had continued to assist NGOs in various ways, this included increasing the financial aid financial conferred by this fund by € 1.9 million in 2008 to € 3.1 million in 2012, with the Government aiming to boost the allocation to organisations for this year to € 4 million.
The Arka Respite Centre, run by the Arka Foundation, was officially opened on 3rd December, 2000. It has three levels and can accommodate 32 clients in 19 bedrooms, eleven of which are en-suite. It is fully air-conditioned centrally heated and equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, including two therapeutic baths, two large heated pools, a jacuzzi, a gym, and wheelchair-friendly facilities.
Dr Said said that “the Government contributes financially to a number of disabled persons permanently living in this house. The Government assistance also covers payment for professional assistants who provide a service there.” Currently there are 18 persons living at the Centre with a disability and very regularly this home offers its services to disabled persons from Malta as well as overseas.
The OASI Foundation, a philanthropic organisation was founded in 1991 with the aim of providing services in the field of Preventive Education, in the Immediate Intervention and Treatment and Rehabilitation from drugs, alcohol and other dependencies. Through these three services the OASI reaches over 85,000 people a year between students, children, youths, adults and families.
The OASI is most known for its specialisation in the field of Care and Rehabilitation where about 1,000 people a year, which includes patients and their family members make continuous use of an intensive programme of care and therapy support . OASI said that the present Government is a great support in this regard through its assistance.
2 Comments To "‘1.7 million in direct aid to 3 Gozitan NGOs during last 5 years’"
#1 Comment By S Galea On February 15, 2013 @ 11:03 am
It is really a pity that Mr Said and his government nearly always choose to help the SAME 3 “charities”, thus ignoring the other equally important NGOs. It is quite well-known in Malta that one of the recipients above CHARGES A LOT for the services provided and well wishers are most often left in the dark. A similar mistake was recently made by the selection board of L-Istrina and the President. Maybe it is time for the so called Commisioner of Volunteers to check how these funds are distributed (if he still exists). It would be also a good suggestion for Mr Said to look up how many other NGOs exist on his island of Gozo.
#2 Comment By Peppi On February 15, 2013 @ 12:47 pm
At a shalt parliament there is no ministers of justice dialogue and family but only Misers