The Commission for Voluntary Organisations is committed to strengthening, empowering, and nurturing the voluntary sector as a key socio-economic player," Commissioner Jesmond Saliba said while addressing the administrators of Voluntary Organisations in Fgura.

“We will achieve this through a reform aimed at preparing the sector for tomorrow.”

This was part of the activities taking place during the week dedicated to Fgura Day.

During the activity, the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations explained his vision, the redefined purpose of the Office and where he wants to lead the voluntary sector in the country.

“The new purpose of the office is driven by the recognition of the importance of voluntary organisations as a key pillar within society and the economy, and with the ultimate mission of the Commissioner’s office being to enable this socio-economic pillar to deliver social, civil and community benefits.”

“At the same time, as the sector's main regulatory body, the Office of the Commissioner encourages and enforces the governance of voluntary organisations and their activities to strengthen and protect the function of volunteering.”

Saliba pointed out that there could not have been a better occasion than Fgura Day to launch the reform that the Office will be undertaking to raise the voluntary sector. Saliba mentioned how, since his childhood, he was directly involved in a number of voluntary organisations within the Fgura community and highlighted how the vision of those who founded the organisations, continued through the diligent and passionate volunteers who not only dared to dream, but had a vision.

The Commissioner said that in his first weeks as Commissioner he had a number of informal meetings with voluntary organisations in order to design a renewal process that would prepare voluntary organisations for the future “and ensure that their noble work continues for years to come.”

"In our country there are hundreds of individuals who so passionately give their time for the benefit of thousands of Maltese and Gozitans."

Saliba went on to say that “this message should lead us to look at volunteering not as something amateurish, but as an important element that is woven into Maltese culture, led by passionate, committed people.”

During the discussion, two representatives from the Office of the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations also spoke about the importance of the Office initiating a process to educate administrators to protect voluntary organisations from those who want to take advantage of the vulnerability of such organisations and the sector. The two representatives also spoke about the best practices that administrators and voluntary organisations should take to ensure good governance, to strengthen the sector.

During the event, Saliba also unveiled the new identity for the OCVO, a brand built around the use of the ‘hands’ icon to symbolize the union, with the hands forming a circle, indicating that the Office it is part of the chain that makes voluntarism.

At the end of the event, Commissioner Saliba was presented with a commemorative plaque by Mayor Pierre Dalli and Councillor Mark Lombardo as a show of appreciation for his voluntary work within the Fgura community during his first years.

Mayor of Fgura, Pierre Dalli stressed that “the local council that I lead has always worked hand in hand with all the voluntary organisations of Fgura and without any pretensions we have always found them very helpful.” Dalli added that he believes in them because he himself, a long time ago, was part of some of them and therefore he knows the difficulties they find themselves in, especially financial ones.