Thirty youths were awarded funds from the Bursary Fund of the Catenian Association in Malta, after they carried out voluntary work in Albania, Egypt, Ethiopia and Italy during summer. 

Cheques for a total of €6,900 were presented to six students who took care of young children in Cagliari, Italy and eleven students who organised summer camps in Egypt. There they created space where children from difficult backgrounds could live their childhood away from challenging home environment and the pressure to work.

This year's Bursary Fund awardees also included ten students who assisted the Sisters of Mother Theresa in Ethiopia. They offered human dignity by giving care and companionship to old people who have been abandoned.

Another three youths were similarly supported in organising summer camps and live-in programs for children with the Sisters of Mother Theresa in Tirana, Albania.  

The presentation was held at the University Chaplaincy. This event started with a thanksgiving Mass celebrated by four priests, including Fr Patrick Magro SJ, who leads the University Chaplaincy and who accompanied the students to Egypt.

The students then shared their experiences. Though they had to give up their holidays and summer jobs to assist those in need, they had gained lifelong and formative experiences by opening up and helping others. These experiences deeply enriched their perspective on both humanity, spirituality and service to others.

The students expressed gratitude to the Catenian Association for making these experiences possible and for the many blessings they received. They realised that those they helped were happy notwithstanding their material poverty for true happiness does not come from abundance, but from embracing life as it is.

George Portelli, the Maltese Catenians' Provincial Director, then spoke briefly about the Catenian Association, its presence through five groups in Malta and another one in Gozo and the work it carries out in the community. He noted that this year, another fourteen youths were assisted in carrying out voluntary work in Albania and a further four students were also helped to be able to carry out voluntary work in the Philippines. He also mentioned that Catenians also offer mentoring and other support to young people.

The event was concluded with the distribution of cheques and information material on the Catenian Association to each of the successful applicants.