The HSBC Malta Foundation is supporting Caritas Malta to run its educational programme in primary and secondary schools with the aim of instilling sound values and promote prevention against substance abuse in Malta and Gozo. The last instalment of a three-year agreement amounting to a total of over €35,000 was presented by the Foundation’s Chairperson Catherine Gonzi to Mgr Karm Farrugia, Assistant Director of Caritas Malta.

HSBC’s support to Caritas Malta goes back 10 years when the Bank started this collaboration through the sponsorship of Caritas Malta’s website for school children. Since 2004, HSBC has been assisting Caritas in reaching out to primary and secondary school children through their Focus Schools Project, an educational programme which pivots around prevention and instilling of values among children and youths.

Caritas programme’s mission statement is “to promote the value of life and love and stimulate people towards social responsibility”. The Focus programme is delivered in government, church and independent schools and addresses various topics such as the importance of selecting friends, making the right choices, the abuse of alcohol and drugs, relationships as well as voluntary work. In addition, the programme includes courses in skills for parents.

“The support of the HSBC Malta Foundation is enabling us to enhance education and prevention against substance abuse and empower children with the life skills needed to lead a healthy way of life,” said Mgr Farrugia. “As our students face new challenges in this rapid technology era, this year we embarked on a totally new programme to make it more interesting and friendlier through the use of educational tools like board games and cards.”

Mrs Gonzi said: “The HSBC Malta Foundation assists Caritas wholeheartedly in the knowledge that it reaches all margins of society, particularly those who may have temporarily lost direction through trying situations. Caritas Malta is doing a great job in bringing back on track substance abusers, and empowering our young people to make the right choices.”