Construction work on a centre that will provide facilities and a space for registered voluntary organizations in the south of Malta has commenced, the government said Wednesday.

The centre will also serve to be a memorial of the late Jake Vella who, despite his health struggles, engaged in voluntary work himself in aid of abandoned animals. Vella died last August.

The Ministry for the Voluntary Sector announced the commencement of works on the fifth Voluntary Center for the Maltese Council for the Voluntary Sector (MCVS) at Kordin, set to be completed by next year and aimed at catering to the needs of southern registered voluntary organizations with its facilities and resources as well as the space for their activities.

The new centre will be named in honour of Jake Vella as a memorial to all the volunteers who, throughout the coming years, will have the opportunity to work from the center. It added that despite Vella's suffering and voluntarily, he created initiatives to raise funds for abandoned animals.

The Minister for the Voluntary Sector Julia Farrugia explained how the centre is a showcase of how ready the government is to invest in the Maltese voluntary sector. "This modern facility will join the other centers in offering our organizations resources, space and necessary sustenance for them to continue their invaluable work within our communities. This is not just a building, but a governmental promise to strengthen civil society, foster collaboration and ensure that the voluntary sector continues to flourish. We are making this commitment whilst keeping the memory of Jake Vella who will be remembered as an example and model to be copied, both in the voluntary sector and otherwise."

The Chief Executive of the MCVS Mauro Pace Parascandolo said that the centre will be another important initiative since it will reach organizations that up until now lacked nearby facilities. "The aim of these centers was to have a wide reach, covering all of the Maltese islands, from the start so that they will be close to the organizations and volunteers. Once this center opens, we can say that we reach the completion of the initiative and so, have an accessible service for organizations that wish to make use of the centers spread over Malta and Gozo," he said.