People will be seeing a very different Joseph Calleja where his newly launched foundation is concerned, the tenor said yesterday.

“I’m normally a very private person. But, to help raise funds for the underprivileged, I’ll be knocking on people’s doors – sometimes literally. So if your doorbell rings, don’t automatically presume it’s one of Jehovah’s Witnesses,” the 35-year-old quipped.

Mr Calleja was addressing a press conference marking the launch of the BOV Joseph Calleja Foundation.

BOV chairman John Cassar White described the initiative as one aimed at helping young people develop their talents irrespective of any financial limitations.

Vulnerable individuals and social groups form the core of the foundation’s mission, which places particular emphasis on underprivileged children as well as children harbouring unique artistic or musical talents which they are unable to develop.

Mr Calleja spoke passionately about children in physical or psychological danger, many of whom came from broken family backgrounds. He revealed that he often received pleas for help from people, the most recent being a headmistress who divulged that 12 of her students did not have enough food to eat.

“We will be helping those stories which cannot be published in newspapers to protect the minors.”

The foundation will be run by an autonomous board of directors, tasked with distributing the funds. The board is composed of Roderick Chalmers, who will be chairman along with members Fr Michael Agius, Lino Cefai, Helga Ellul, Alec Lapira, Michelle Muscat and Alfred Pisani.

Mr Calleja will have no say in any decision-making process – his main role will be to use his fame to raise funds.

The tenor will be singing in a Christmas concert, the entire proceeds of which will go to the foundation. Details of the concert still have to be finalised.

He stressed that the foundation will not in any way be competing with other NGOs but will complement their work.

The foundation will also endeavour to help where children end up wedged between two systems. Mr Calleja referred to a particular case where a child ended up in prison and in a psychiatric hospital due to a drug problem.

“I don’t think a 12-year-old should be in either of those cases.”

The setting up of the foundation is part of an agreement between BOV and Mr Calleja, who will also be endorsing the bank for the next three years.

BOV will also be the main sponsor of the tenor’s annual summer concert and the BOV Joseph Calleja Children’s Choir.