The Ministry for Social Policy and Children's Rights recently signed a social agreement with Fondazzjoni Sebħ, which is run by the Church, to support Il-Milja, a shelter that hosts women and their children who are in danger due to domestic violence.

Minister Michael Falzon said that the agreement amounts to funding of one and a half million euros over a span of three years, and the government said that it would ensure the service of 12 units in total.

Around three weeks ago, the government had signed a social agreement with Dar Leopoldo - a residence run by the Suret il-Bniedem Foundation, which serves as a shelter for homeless men aged between 16 and 65 years. It has signed agreements with other organisations over the years. For instance, in 2022 the government had sealed a € 4.2 million agreement with the Caritas Foundation to run the New Hope project for drug users, which was set up to help people overcome drug-related difficulties.

These organisations provide services through which those in need of support can find help. And there are so many that provide support and care. From Caritas to the YMCA, from the Malta Community Chest Fund to id-Dar tal-Providenza, the Inspire foundation, OASI, other church organisations and the list goes on. Each one is instrumental in trying to improve peoples lived.

They each provide support in different ways to different people. Some provide support to those who have become victims of drugs, others offer shelter to those who would otherwise have to sleep out on the street, some provide support for persons with disabilities, others support and shelter for victims of domestic violence, and the list goes on and on.

Through agreements with various organisations, the government could help them improve and increase the support they can offer to those who need their services.

Many also take donations from the public, and some of the larger ones organise yearly telethons, through which people have donated millions of euro over the years.

There are also those who undertake challenges in aid of these organisations. One recent example of this is Raymond Aquilina, a 72-year-old retiree, father of two and grandfather of two, who will be walking from Canterbury to Rome in aid of Caritas Malta. It's a huge challenge, but one that will hopefully raise much for Caritas.

Malta has a generous heart, and the support given by the people to organisations over the years clearly shows this.

But government's support of organisations that aim to support the vulnerable or those going through a tough time must continue. The support the government provides is extremely important in helping these organisations grow and offer support to even more people. As Malta's population grows, so will the number of people who require their services.