Malta is an island nation in the Mediterranean Sea, lying between North Africa and Sicily in southern Europe. The capital of Malta, Valletta, is the smallest in Europe in terms of geography and population. In the past decade, the minimum wage in Malta has risen by 29%, yet rising living costs have left one in five people at risk of poverty.

Without significant government action, such as raising the minimum wage by more than the current average of 3% annually, this number might grow significantly in the next 10 years. To address this issue, numerous charities and organizations across the country focus on combating poverty through various initiatives, including alleviating food insecurity and providing educational services. Here are five charities and nonprofit organizations helping to reduce poverty in Malta.

Foodbank Lifeline Foundation

Established in 2018 by Reverend Kim Hurst, the organization started as an unofficial program to feed roughly 30 families that attended Saint Andrew’s Scots Church in Valletta. Due to the rising demand for food, Hurst formed the organization to help combat food insecurity throughout Malta. The organization relies on food donations and distributes the food in parcels on the islands of Malta and Gozo. Currently, the Foodbank Lifeline Foundation provides much-needed food security to more than 300 families in Malta and Gozo.

Foundation for Educational Services

Created in 2001 by Malta’s Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation, the organization provides various child care services across Malta. The initiative currently operates 13 childcare centers across Malta, aiming to give babies and toddlers a chance to develop a lifetime of learning in a fun, caring and stimulating environment. Foundation for Educational Services also provides various after-school programs for children on the islands of Malta and Gozo whose parents are at work.

Malta Foundation for the Well-Being of Society

Formed in 2014 by the then-president of Malta, Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, the organization primarily focuses on fostering child participation in Maltese life. The organization does this through various projects, like The Right to Play and “The Children’s Manifesto.” In addition to these projects, the organization has established “Children’s Councils” throughout Malta, where children have a voice in their local communities.

Aditus

Established in 2011 by Neil Falzon, Nicola Mallia and Carla Camilleri, the organization primarily focuses on human rights in Malta. Aditus is “called on to monitor, report and act on access to human rights in Malta.” The organization works on projects and campaigns that revolve around migration and transition into life in Malta, like the #DontLetThemDrown hashtag campaign. In addition, the organization campaigns throughout Malta on issues like housing accommodations for those at risk of poverty and rights for undocumented people and families in Malta.

Caritas Malta

Founded in 1968, the organization focuses on charity and volunteer work for Malta’s impoverished citizens. Its most successful project, “New Hope,” focuses heavily on substance abuse and rehabilitation, family services and a prison inmate program.

However, the organization also provides other forms of social welfare, including employment assistance programs and counseling. The organization researches and outlines the various ways people live in poverty in Malta and details how the cost of living in Malta impacts all facets of Maltese life through its reports.

Conclusion

These five charities and nonprofit organizations are, among many others, dedicated to reducing poverty in Malta. Despite the challenges faced by some, the people of Malta have demonstrated a strong sense of community, working together to support and uplift one another.

– Julius Millan

Julius is based in New York, NY, USA and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons