The Maltese people like to describe themselves as “almost saints” but they can only do so once they pass the test and give a helping hand to those who need it, President Edward Fenech Adami said yesterday.

Dr Fenech Adami, accompanied by Mrs Mary Fenech Adami and Mrs Kate Gonzi, the Prime Minister’s wife, was visiting the Good Shepherd’s Home for Refugees in Balzan on occasion of the Corporate Social Responsibility Day.

President Fenech Adami pointed out that solidarity is the hallmark of the Maltese character.

“Helping out these people gives us the opportunity to live up to the solidarity that we are known for,” he said.

However, he pointed out, sometimes this means overcoming prejudice and negative attitudes.

The volunteers had an opportunity to experience the problems the refugees had to face, said Dr Fenech Adami.

HSBC Cares for Children Fund chairperson Kate Gonzi explained that this is the sixth consecutive year that this event is taking place and that 300 volunteers helped out in St Joseph’s Home in St Venera, the Young People’s Unit in Mount Carmel Hospital, St Patrick’s Salesian School in Sliema, a shelter run by Agenzija Appogg, Good Shepherd’s Home for Refugees in Balzan and Cospicua Residence of Agenzija Appogg.

“We greatly appreciate that these people have decided to give up their free day and help out those in need,” said Mrs Gonzi.

It is an enriching experience, not only for the residents but also for the volunteers as they are doing something for the good of others, she added.

The event is organised by the HSBC Cares for Children Fund. Employees from various local companies decided to carry out voluntary work in various homes and shelters around the island on a public holiday.

Employees from HSBC, Gasan Group, Simonds Farsons Cisk, Mizzi Organisations, Vodafone Malta, M. Demajo Group and Middlesea Group participated in the event.

Mrs Gonzi visited all the homes yesterday and stopped to speak to both the volunteers and residents.

The Good Shepherd Home for Refugees in Balzan is run by the Malta Emigrants’ Commission and was assigned to volunteers from the M. Demajo Group.

The volunteers redecorated a classroom with wooden panelling and furnished it with desks and a computer.

They also painted a long corridor, three large windows, six doors and three bedrooms.

Emigrants’ Commission Director Philip Calleja explained that there are 160 residents in Balzan – of whom 70 are men and the remaining 90 are women and their families.