Maltese development funds may change the life of hundreds abroad

Foreign Development Funds donated by Malta are to be used to change the quality of life of hundreds of people in Africa thanks to a number of projects which will be administered by Maltese NGOs.

The allocation of the funds, totalling €237,200,was announced this morning by Foreign Minister Tonio Borg.

Nine projects will benefit.

Volunteer Mark Caruana was given €55,000 to partly finance his project to build a low cost housing project in Ethiopia for 55 poor families. The cluster of houses will be known as Village Malta.

Also in Ethiopia, Jesuit priest Joseph Cassar and the INYGO Foundation will be building a water desalination facility for the Missionaries of Charity, for which €25,200 were allocated.

Another foundation, CFC-ANCOP Malta Foundation will build 30 houses and a community hall for a migrant and refugee community in Nairobi, Kenya, with assistance of €24,000.

The Daughters of the Sacred Heart were given €40,000 to build a nursery in a school compound in Tanzania.

Another school in Tanzania, Atiman Primary, will benefit from a donation of €29,000 given to the Mission Fund for new equipment.

The Happy Moments Kenya group will be using a donation of €12,000 to enlarge an orphanage for children whose parents died of Aids. Some of the funds will also be used for a borehole for fresh water and an internet centre.

€16,000 will also go for another project in Kenya being handled by Kare4Kenya group for the building of a community centre.

The Malta Red Cross were given €24,000 to help finance transport and living conditions in a section of Swaziland.

The only project being held outside Africa will be the building of a playing field in Aplao, Peru, by missionary Fr Nicholas Schembri. He has been given €12,000.