A strong NGO sector

The first council of the Gozo NGOs Association ended its tenure at the third annual general meeting on January 12. The two-hour meeting included the distribution of cheques to well over 100 NGOs by Minister Giovanna Debono under the Gozo Ministry Grant Scheme to help them in "promoting the island's social texture".

Obviously this is not the only support offered. In fact various NGOs benefit from the secondment of staff and also from certain work required from ministry employees. The ministry was also instrumental in making possible a visit to Germany by a group of NGO activists, organised by Akademie Klausenhof.

But probably what is most constantly in the public eye is the NGO Centre on the outskirts of Victoria. The ministry transformed this previously unused building into an attractive venue for discussions and seminars open 12 hours a day.

Besides other entities, many NGOs without their own premises use it for committee meetings and similar events as there are three rooms available, with equipment and services being offered at subsidised rates or even without any charge at all.

Minister Debono also actively promoted the idea of creating an association grouping all NGOs in Gozo.

Following months of spadework, the Gozo NGOs Association was officially launched in August 2003 and the first nine-man council was elected from the culture, philanthropy and sports sectors. Four members resigned due to work pressure.

Mro Colin Attard, Carmel Ballucci, Fr George Borg, Fr Emanuel Cordina, George Cremona, Dr Kevin Cutajar, Fr George Frendo, Noel Grech, George Pace, John Pace, Mario Saliba, Antoine Vassallo and Giovanni Zammit had a part in the developments that ensued.

The council was involved in two important activities during these years - a seminar providing an overview of the possibilities provided by EU funding and an information meeting as soon as the Voluntary Sector White Paper was published.

The council made various comments and suggestions. A motion was passed unanimously at this AGM highlighting worrying aspects in the Bill and recommending particular attention to the Gozitan situation.

Regarding the former, although some NGOs have tapped EU sources, the new council should take the initiative to offer support and to combine efforts by individual organisations - most of which are too small to propose projects independently.

Ideas are not lacking! It is understood that contacts that seem to offer good possibilities have begun.

The activity that took the most mental and physical effort from the outgoing council was the Gozo Day held in November 2005 as the conclusion of the Commonwealth People's Forum (on the occasion of CHOGM in Malta).

The six-hour programme gave visiting delegates the opportunity to meet Gozitan NGOs, familiarise themselves with the strong reality of local civil society and even acquire some craftwork. Contacts are being built upon slowly.

But it is also worthwhile to refer to an aspect that unfortunately is remaining unsung: the fact that NGOs can now be consulted through their association. In fact, its president is a core member in the Regional Projects Committee and participated actively in discussion meetings towards the creation of a socio-economic plan for Gozo.

The council has sent representatives for various discussions in both islands. For example, it is involved in the creation of an association grouping NGOs in Malta: another case where positive Gozitan experiments are then repeated in the sister island or nationally! May these initiatives continue!

The association's basic raison d'etre remains to encourage cooperation between NGOs in Gozo and to promote their interests. The statute clearly states that it should try "to encourage participation" and enjoins it to prepare a development plan in these areas for Gozo and recommend to the relative authorities beneficial measures. The council has to act as a co-ordinating entity aiming at eliminating conflicts of interest, duplication of efforts and waste, so that human and material resources are used in the most efficient and effective way.

The outgoing council was still rather a long way from achieving all statute aims, one of which is essential: the creation of a full updated database about NGOs and their services. The wealth of these resources needs to be better known and appreciated.

This AGM also approved a further motion, changing the method for electing members to the council. The number was reduced to five but there is now the power to co-opt a further maximum of six to make its composition still more widely representative.

Four of the outgoing councillors - Fr Borg, George Pace and John Pace and Antoine Vassallo - returned with a new face, Anthony Zammit.