A fund raising initiative to help put a smile on the faces of 15 boys currently living at St Joseph’s Home in Sta Venera is €3,000 short from its target.

Twenty artists have donated their works of art to an online auction and their paintings have, so far, raised close to €7,000. With only four days left for people to place their bids - this is €3,000 short of what is needed to take the 15 boys on a holiday abroad during their summer holidays.

The online auction runs until Tuesday. It features works by Andrew Borg, Arlette Zammit, Caroline Said Lawrence, Debbie Caruana Dingli, Ed Schembri, Gorg Mallia, James Vella Clark, Kenneth Zammit Tabone, Marie Louise Kohld, Marika Borg, Marisa Attard, Mary Deguara, Nicole Casha, Rupert Cefai , and photographic artists Ronnie Muscat , Sergio Muscat, Carlo Muscat, Joe Zammit Lucia, Patrice Peyre and Kurt Arrigo.

“I can’t believe our dream can actually come true,” said one of the boys when given the news that they could be taken to Gardaland in Italy. “This will be my very first time outside Malta and I can’t wait to get on that plane,” he added.

Home director Fr Frankie Cini explained how some of the children were soon coming of age and about to leave the home to fend for themselves. Before they did, the home wished to give them an experience of a lifetime. 

“Even though going abroad might not seem like a basic need, in today’s day and age everyone should have the opportunity to experience travelling and the joys it brings with it. To make this happen we need to raise about €600 per child. We are so close to reaching our goal and we’re hoping that in the next few days people will find it in their hearts to make this happen.”

Money donations can be made by bank transfer in APS Bank account 20000358238 or via SMS on 50618068 (€4.66), 50618911 (€6.99) or 50619205 (€11.65).