For the fifth consecutive year, the World Children’s Day event taking place on Sunday, 19 November at McDonald’s Malta will provide a fun-packed day for all and at the same time raise funds for the McDonald’s Eden Foundation Children’s Fund. World Children’s Day, a global event that sees the participation of over 30,000 restaurants in 121 countries, has become the largest annual fund-raising event worldwide, with all the proceeds in Malta going towards the Eden Foundation. On Sunday, McDonald’s Malta will be contributing Lm1 from every Extra Value Meal sold to the McDonald’s Eden Foundation Children’s Fund. The Malta Independent interviewed Eden Foundation president Dr Josie Muscat, during which he spelled out his thoughts on Sunday’s event



How did the Eden Foundation become involved in this event?

As you might know, we are constantly on the lookout for activities to raise the much-needed funds to continue our mission with the 400 kids and adults taking part in one of the foundation’s programmes. Thanks to McDonald’s Malta, and managing director Melo Hili, the Eden Foundation is the beneficiary of this important activity.



What are your expectations for the day?

As in previous years, we will leave it to the generous Maltese and Gozitan public to make this day a success. I can assure everyone that the day will be packed with activities for all the family.



What are the main challenges facing The Eden Foundation today?

Our numbers keep rising. We are facing new, unforeseen challenges as our children grow up. These are adding weight to our already limited budget. We depend mostly on donations and fund-raising and it is becoming even more difficult and challenging. I wish one could concentrate more on the quality of programmes. Think-ing how to raise money takes up most of our time.



How will the Eden Foundation use the money that will be collected on the day for the McDonald’s Eden Foundation Children’s Fund?

The Eden Foundation adapts and adjusts to modern methods of treating children with mental disabilities. As the number of our children keeps growing, and as our children grow, new programmes are set up. We have to constantly provide new space and materials which, unfortunately, are extremely expensive. To accept new recruits, we require more staff and this means added wages to our Lm750,000 yearly bill.



The main sponsor and organiser of this event is McDonald’s Malta. In what ways has it helped Eden Foundation over the years?

Were it not for the help we received from McDonald’s and other businesses and companies over the years, The Eden Foundation would have never managed to be what it is today. It is thanks to these companies that The Eden Foundation is doing so much good among children with mental disabilities. We are proud to be associated with such a generous company.



What events are you looking forward to on the day?

We hope that the whole day on Sunday will be a successful event. We hope that the different activities organised at all the McDonald’s restaurants will attract a very good number of families and their children. The celebrations on the day will end off with a special concert by Ira Losco at the Tigulio Car Park, St Julian’s, at 7.30pm.

This year, we have extended our programme over another day. While activities culminate on Sunday, there will also be a fund-raising spinning marathon on Saturday, organised at the Hilton LivingWell Health Club between 7am and 11am, Cynergi St Julian’s between 9.30am and noon and at the 24-hour Ta’ Qali Health & Leisure Centre between 11am and 6pm. For a donation of just Lm2, all the participants can avail themselves of a 45-minute session and the use of other facilities at these centres.

A football tournament is also being organised on Saturday at the Pietà Hotspurs football pitch for children under the age of eight from local nurseries. All the proceeds will also go to the Eden Foundation. These activities are also being organised as part of McDonald’s ongoing commitment to promote an active and balanced healthy lifestyle.

We are praying for some lovely weather and hope to see you all at McDonald’s on Sunday.