On 8 March, International Women's Day, the Office of the Prime Minister honoured 14 women who have excelled in their fields and left a significant impact during the second edition of the MARA awards.
The MARA awards served as a platform to showcase success stories that serve as positive examples for many other girls and young women, a government statement said Saturday.
Among the award winners was ALS Malta Executive Secretary Maria Formosa, who won the People's Choice Award through a public vote.
Isabelle Bonnici, mother of the late Jean Paul Sofia, received the Remarkable Woman Award, while Nancy Scerri, who has worked with Caritas Malta for 35 years, was awarded The Lifetime Achievement Award.
These two recognitions were personally selected by the Prime Minister's wife, Lydia Abela.
The other awards were based on nominations submitted by the public, social partners, and NGOs, with winners selected by the MARA 2025 board, composed of Dr Stephanie Fabri, Josette Ciappara, Prof Anton Grech, Sarah-Lee Zammit, and Mario Cutajar.
In her speech, Abela said that this celebration of talent and dedication is further proof of how proud Malta and Gozo should be of their women.
"Today's success stories show how women can make a difference, not just in their families but also in business, social work, science, and technology," she said.
Abela said that despite its small size, Malta has made significant progress in recent years by increasing female participation in the workforce, supporting women in motherhood, and appointing women to leadership positions, including as heads of state and in key decision-making roles.
She acknowledged that challenges remain but spoke of the importance of appreciating the progress made and using it as motivation for further achievements.
Abela also spoke about the human stories that serve as a testament to women's limitless love, such as women who give life to their children, women who, while raising their children, also care for their elderly parents, women who have fought against abuse, for themselves and for those who could not speak up, women who pursued education, built professional careers, and believed in their own potential, women who started businesses, showcased their talents, and created jobs and grandmothers who, with youthful hearts, continue supporting their families.
She spoke of the need to continue challenging stereotypes, and said that a woman's success is not measured by the clothes she wears or the trends she follows, but by the impact she makes, the obstacles she overcomes, and the changes she inspires.
Abela said that the world is always a better place when it moves forward with dignity, respect, and equality, when men and women walk hand in hand toward common goals.
The Winners of the MARA 2025 Awards are:
- Antoinette Vassallo - Social Justice Advocacy Award
- Eleanor Scerri - Excellence in Education & Mentorship Award
- Josephine Formosa - Leader in Business and Entrepreneurship Award
- Winifred Buhagiar - Resilience in Healthcare & Wellness Award
- Marvic Refalo - Environmental Activism Award
- Yolanda Chircop - Champion in Sports Award
- Isabelle Bonnici - Remarkable Woman Award
- Maria Formosa - People's Choice Award
- Maria Attard - Community Impact Award
- Nancy Caruana - Dedication in Public Service Award
- Charlene Vella - Empowerment through Arts and Culture Award
- Jeanesse Scerri - Innovation in Science and Technology Award
- Vladyslava Kravchenko - Shape the Future Award
- Nancy Scerri - Lifetime Achievement Award