Tina Rapinet, committee member of the Malta Charities Association of London, recently, visited the Arka Foundation Respite Centre in Għajnsielem, where she presented a donation of €13,000 to Mgr Manuel Curmi in the presence of Gozitan sculptor Joe Xuereb.
The Arka Foundation is a non-profitable NGO that caters for the needs and rights of people with disabilities. It also runs the Respite Centre, which provides a range of residential and therapeutic services all year round.
This is the second time that the London-based Malta Charities Association has made a donation to the foundation. The association was established 20 years ago by two Maltese ladies, Patricia Troubridge and Cecily Napier. Madeleine Hladnik, who is also Maltese, is the current chairman.
The main aim of the association is to help different institutions in Malta that need charity support and also to help provide better amenities for the elderly, sick, children in need and persons with disabilities. Funds are raised through sponsors in both Malta and UK and especially through an annual auction held in London.
The cheque was presented to Mgr Curmi at Dar Arka by Ms Rapinet since the chairman could not cross over to Gozo due to bad weather. Mgr Curmi thanked the Malta Charities Association and praised all those generous Maltese living abroad who continue to help and support philanthropic projects in Malta and Gozo.
Mgr Curmi said the money will be used to purchase special ICT equipment for Arka's clients and to refurbish bedrooms and bathrooms and to buy furniture.
Later, Ms Rapinet was taken round the newly laid out gardens, the latest addition to the centre, which is at present in full bloom and is nicely furnished with benches, gazebo, lights and purposely raised flower-beds for wheelchair-bound people to work on.
Since Mr Xuereb donates one of his works every year to the Malta Charities to be auctioned during their annual gala dinner, where his last contribution raised the handsome sum of £3,500 (€4,800), he has recommended Arka Foundation as one of the main beneficiaries of the Malta Charities Association.