In 1998, the Eden Foundation set up the first cooperative with a social aim in Malta. The objective was to create a real work environment to enable trainees develop their employability skills and enhance their employment potential. The cooperative itself provides employment possibilities, so much so that eight former trainees are employed with the cooperative.

At present, the cooperative is operating from a very small unit in the Eden Foundation centre in Bulebel. The space is very limited and in view of the ever-increasing demand for the Eden Foundation services, the cooperative plans to move to a larger space next September. Besides training and meeting rooms, a large work area is planned.

This will be partitioned into a number of spaces for different work activities such as office equipped work, light assembly work, production of novelties, a small workshop for maintenance work and a crafts section.

In order to raise the much-needed funds the Eden Foundation, following the success of last year’s activity where a generous sum of Lm35,000 was raised, will once again be holding a 14-hour marathon on 26 September. This fund-raising event is going to be held in Freedom Square, Valletta and broadcast on Net TV, Super 1 and Channel 30, between 10am till midnight.

Gillian Attard, Clint Bajada, Mark Caruana, Eileen Montesin and Peppi Azzopardi will present the marathon. Local Maltese artists and singers will provide 14 hours of live entertainment. Lm100,000 worth of gifts will be given out.

These include five cars – Fiat Punto, Hyundai Getz, Fiat Panda, Toyota Yaris, and Perodua Kelisa, an exclusive trilogy by Sterling, a bathroom suite by Keramit, furniture from Dolce Casa Mobili, Blue Sky Furniture, Fenton Wood Works Ltd, Imagine Casa, Redeemer Furniture Co. Ltd, CBR Ltd and Granny Smith and a time-share accommodation for four persons in the USA.