On the occasion of International Woman's Day, nine local schools have come together to support nine NGOs working with vulnerable women across Malta and Gozo. The initiative was coordinated by the HSBC Malta Foundation with the support of HSBC staff and other colleagues at Swatar HSBC Global Services (UK) Ltd on the occasion of International Woman's Day.
Over the last few weeks students from 10 schools - St Ignatius College Ħandaq Middle School and Siġġiewi Primary School; the Fortini Learning Support Centre; Maria Regina College Middle School Naxxar; San Gorg Preca College, Ħamrun Secondary School; Maria Regina College Learning Support Centre, Naxxar; St Theresa College; St Benedict College: Helen Keller Resource Centre; St Nicholas College; Dingli Secondary School and St Benedict College and Kirkop Secondary School have been collecting money and other items to be donated to the NGOs.
All funds collected were used to purchase essential items, ranging from blankets and clothes to toiletries and other personal care products.
Collection drives were held in each school with many students, as well as their teachers, all pitching in to give something back to the community - a cause that the HSBC Malta Foundation strongly believes in. The initiative is in fact one of many organised by the HSBC Malta Foundation as part of its calendar of community-based projects.
The schools' donations were passed on to YMCA, Richmond Foundation, Suret l-Bniedem, Prison Fellowship, Sedqa, St Jean Antide Foundation, Building Bridges, Malta Trust Foundation and the Soup Kitchen in Valletta during a brief ceremony at the HSBC Swatar HSBC Global Services (UK) Ltd premises.
Representatives from the respective NGOs thanked the students and the HSBC employees for their contribution and for doing their part to help those most in need. Each school was presented with a bundle of books for its library by the HSBC Malta Foundation.
Rita Bonello, a social worker from Building Bridges, said the organisation was always grateful to receive whatever help could be offered.
"Initiatives like this are good because, in addition to giving us a much needed helping hand, they also teach the next generation that they should do what they can to care for others. Not necessarily people in need, but to be conscious of what those around us are going through and to think about how we can help them," Bonello added.
"We are proud to have been able to coordinate this activity and to see first-hand these students' generosity. We hope that this will inspire more people to give back to the community and leave their own positive mark on society," said Glenn Bugeja, Corporate Sustainability manager on behalf of the HSBC Malta Foundation.