The Voices Foundation has distributed €180,000 to 21 charities.

The funds were raised during Voices Heart and Soul Concerts – the 13th biennial Voices concert made up of 10 nights of spectacular music covering a repertoire of 22 memorable songs interpreted by a 200-strong choir and accompanied by a 10-musician live band.

Three lead projects were selected to benefit.

The first is Space for Bruised Souls and Broken Hearts, submitted by the Province of the Sisters of Charity of St Jeanne Antide, which aims to build short-term accommodation for vulnerable women.

The second is Our Voice: Ensuring Care and Protection through Services and Advocacy with, and for, Refugees, which is led by the Jesuit Refugee Service Malta Foundation. This project aims to ensure that vulnerable asylum seekers’ need for protection and assistance is identified and cared for.

The third main project was submitted by the Permaculture Research Foundation. Called Power the Farm, Power the People, it aims to showcase how renewable energy can be integrated into farming systems to cultivate ecologically-grown produce.

Other beneficiaries were Paolo Freire Institute, SOS Malta, Fondazzjoni Suriet il-Bniedem, Opening Doors Association, Kopin, the Women’s Rights Foundation, Down Syndrome Association, St Theresa Home, Autism Centre, Multiple Sclerosis Society, Dr Klown, Bi Dritt, Salesians of Don Bosco, Appoġġ Children’s Fund, Dar Ġużeppa Debono Association, and Inspire.

The funds were distributed during a beneficiary night when Antonello Gauci, chairman of Voices Foundation, said Voices was a collaboration of more than 300 volunteers, singers, musicians, committee members and crew working together. Since its beginning in 1991, it had raised close to €1.9 million, it said.

Those who purchased the Voices Heart and Soul CD 2 can send in their return slips to receive their CD. For information about ordering Voices Heart and Soul send an e-mail to info@voices.org.mt.