The Active Ageing Award 2025 honoured the skills, dedication, and achievements of Malta's seniors during a special ceremony and EXPO in St. Julian's on Friday, a government statement said.
The two events showed the commitment, talent, and community engagement of older adults with their continued role in enriching society, while promoting social participation, independence, and well-being across the country.
The day began with an EXPO organised by the Active Ageing Centres, welcoming numerous guests, and visitors had the opportunity to admire works created by seniors themselves, who, with support from staff and peers, showcased their talents in crafts, art, and other creative activities.
The event was enlivened further by performances of drama, line dancing, poetry readings, singing, and dancing from members of centres in Sliema, Naxxar, Mosta, Santa Lucija, Qormi, Valletta, Żurrieq, Mġarr, St. Paul's Bay, Marsaskala, Mellieħa, Senglea, and Birgu.
The EXPO also served as a platform to provide information about services offered by the Active Ageing and Community Care (AACC), including informative stands and informal discussions with the public.
Later in the evening, the official Active Ageing Award 2025 ceremony recognised individuals and groups who are making concrete contributions to promoting active ageing in Malta.
The ceremony, held in the presence of the President of Malta Myriam Spiteri Debono, Health Minister Jo Etienne Abela and Parliamentary Secretary for Active Ageing Malcolm Paul Agius Galea, acknowledged daily efforts to foster a culture of participation, care, and recognition of seniors.
Minister Abela said that the annual award honours the work seniors do for other seniors.
"This is an important activity that bears fruit, and I encourage more seniors to remain active in our communities because they still have so much to offer at the heart of society," he said.
Agius Galea praised the contributions of seniors and thanked all participants and organisers, saying that the day serves as a living testimony to the value of active ageing in society.
"We reaffirm our commitment to strengthening services that give voice, knowledge, and respect to all seniors in our country," he added.
The following winners were honoured during the evening:
Innovation and Technology Award: VR Care Homes Project
Sports Award: Theresa Bonello
Volunteering Award: Monika Cappello
Intergenerational Solidarity Award: Mary Cauci, Jennifer Sant, Margaret Frendo, Vicky Borg (Mellieħa AACC)
Cultural Award: Francis Zammit
Active Ageing Award: Jean Pierre Azzopardi and Liliana Azzopardi
These awards reflect the values and objectives of the national Active Ageing policy, which aims to encourage social participation, independence, and the well-being of seniors across all areas of life, the government statement said.