A team of young volunteers is working to improve the conditions at the Marsa Open Centre and help immigrants integrate through cultural activities.
The hands-on voluntary organisation, Get Up Stand Up, is collecting various types of donations for the centre, including books to set up a library.
"Many immigrants have nothing to do because they cannot find work and they cannot leave the island either. Our efforts are focused on making sure their time at the centre is not wasted or miserable," president Yasmin Degiorgio said, adding that the organisation was also collecting blankets and children's clothes.
The group is also working to embellish a ground at the open centre that is used for football, by putting up a fence around it so that the few footballs the immigrants have do not get lost.
They are also collecting football boots and organising tournaments to give them an enjoyable activity to pursue and keep fit.
Through its various projects Get Up Stand Up ultimately hopes to also create awareness about cultural diversity and the importance of protecting human rights.
While not going into the merits of whether Malta has the resources or political responsibility to give adequate help to immigrants, Get Up Stand Up believes in a proactive attitude rather than one focused on resentment.
Ms Degiorgio argued that although many immigrants may be resettled or repatriated, a number of them stayed and it was in everyone's interest for them to be able to integrate and become contributing members of society.
"Ultimately, each human life is equally valuable, and no one should be made to suffer the horrors that many refugees are subjected to."
The team is also interested in other areas of activism including the environment, education and poverty, with their main message devoted to change and making the world a better place.
On Sunday they will be holding a reggae and indie music concert called Jamming for Change at Rookies Bar, Buġibba, where they hope to raise awareness about their upcoming projects.
Those who attend the gig may bring their donations of books, blankets clothes and shoes.
For more information visit www.getupstandup.org.mt.