Some 350 staff from eight leading organisations voluntarily rolled up their sleeves to carry out refurbishment works at eight institutional homes around Malta and Gozo. They were marking the seventh Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Day celebrated annually in Malta on March 19, the Feast of St Joseph the Worker.
The participating organisations are Deloitte., Gasan Group of Companies, HSBC Malta, M. Demajo Group, Middlesea Group, Mizzi Organisation, Simonds Farsons Cisk plc and the Vodafone Malta Foundation.
Structural works, refurbishment, maintenance and landscaping were carried out in various homes hosting adults and children from difficult backgrounds. The institutions were St Patrick’s School in Sliema; Dar Vairita in Marsascala; Ghabex (Appogg Agency); Angela House in G’Mangia, the Richmond Foundation Hostel in Floriana; St Joseph Home in Sta Venera; the Good Shepherd Home for Refugees in Balzan; and the Arka Foundation in Gozo.
“Irrespective of the person’s background and problems, we all deserve decent living in an environment which respects our dignity,” said the CSR Day organising committee. “It is for this reason that every year we pool resources, apart from our financial help, to give people living on charity the chance to have pleasant surroundings which they can feel they can call home.”
The full day started with Mass at St Joseph Home in St Venera for all the employees participating in the maintenance programme, following which groups went their separate ways to the respective homes identified for refurbishment. There were approximately 45 workers at each home, and works varied from whitewashing of walls, to structural works, soft decorations and landscaping. All works were sponsored through one common fund pooled among the participating organisations.
“We feel it is our corporate responsibility to contribute socially not only through financial means but also by literally lending our helping hands. Year on year, CSR Day is increasingly gaining momentum with more organisations willing to take part. We hope this continues to get better and we welcome other interested parties to come on board and join us in this good cause,” said the committee.
Top management of the participating companies visited the homes and carried out works along with fellow employees. During the day, Archbishop Paul Cremona and newly-appointed Minister for Social Policy John Dalli also paid a visit to Ghabex (Appogg Agency).
Archbishop Cremona said: “This is the second year I am visiting this initiative. I think that there are two main elements: First of all, there is personal involvement in helping others. The giving of material things is already a great thing in itself. However, including also personal involvement means having direct access to the conditions in which these people live, and also the persons who are involved.
“Secondly, combining places where the main reason is gain or having profit with initiatives like this, giving a ‘home’, demonstrates that gain and profit are thus linked, and are not separated from, the charitable way of looking at reality. I congratulate all those who organise this event, and the volunteers who take part in this initiative to help those who are in need of material support, but also the participants, who, like the rest ofus, need so much this ‘human touch’ of deciding to help others.”
“Any activity that improves the quality of life of others, especially those in need, is praiseworthy and should be an example for all to emulate,” said Minister Dalli.