Armed with tools, paintbrushes and gardening tools, some 30 employees from the Bank of Valletta IT team woke up to a completely different day of work as they donated their time to a much appreciated helping hand at St Joseph’s Home, Sta Venera.

By working with local caring organisations such as residential homes, the Bank provides tangible support to children and adults facing difficult social situations. The works carried out by volunteers range from redecoration and painting to general maintenance work. The final aim of the Bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility is to improve the residents’ quality of life.

“This event is now becoming a regular one for the Home: Every year, BOV staff literally take over sections of the Home, and spread out to do different tasks: from cleaning, to cooking for the boys resident at the Home, painting and other electrical work.  The staff’s familiarity with the Home, and their endorsement of the Home’s mission makes this day of voluntary work something I look forward to: It is like having close friends helping out. BOV staff members even rope in other family members and bring their children with them on the day, which turns this activity also into a social event, celebrated with a meal cooked by the volunteers themselves,” said Home director Fr Frankie Cini.

Since it opened, St. Joseph’s Home has welcomed over 2,300 children who have stayed, some for months, others for years, seeking shelter from poverty and the loss of their parents. In the last 40 years, the Home has also welcomed children coming from situations which call for them to be taken out of environments which could cause the children harm. At present the Home takes up to 18 children in three different apartments, and fosters a space where boys find help to achieve independence in young adulthood.