The Malta Social Impact Awards 2017 has announced the eight finalists for its second edition.
The awards aim to bring the private and non-profit sectors together to offer opportunities for financial and non-financial support to develop and see to fruition a project that will have a positive social impact on Malta.
These awards are the fruits of a collaboration between Maltese businesses and company foundations which have raised €100,000 collectively to donate as grants to the best and most effective submissions
From the "overwhelming" number of applications received in June, the eight finalists will pitch their proposals to businesses, philanthropists and potential philanthropists for a chance to win financial and non-financial support.
The finalists have already received non-financial support in the shape of mentoring services by TakeOff Malta in order to help develop the projects.
The finalists will now be paired with a CEO from the Malta Academy of Chief Executives, that have partnered with the Social Impact Awards. Furthermore, ZAAR will award one of the projects with a free crowdfunding campaign and professional services, while Lovin Malta, acting as SIA’s media partner, will bring more exposure to the winners.
These awards are the fruits of a collaboration between Maltese businesses and company foundations which have raised €100,000 collectively to donate as grants to the best and most effective submissions.
An Audience Participation Award will also be awarded to the audiences’ favourite project through their contributions to the event, that will give 100% of the contribution to a project.
The awards ceremony, hosted by the Le Meridien, will take place on November 16.
“With these awards we hope to inspire people to give, give more and give smart,” said Mark Weingard, founder of Inspirasia Foundation.
THE FINALISTS:
- Making Care Giving a Positive Experience
Submitted by: The Malta Hospice Movement
Hospice’s project: After hours On-call Service: Making Caregiving a Positive Experience is a professional nursing advice/guidance regarding symptom management, nursing care and emotional support, aiming to reduce isolation, avoid hospitalization and enable patients to die at home should this be their wish. In this difficult period, Hospice Malta is a lifeline to patients/relatives in the community. Over 1000 families may benefit from this after-hours free of charge service, at a time when other professionals are not easily available.
2. Friendship Cards
Submitted by: Relationship are Forever
We have created an educational tool where children can learn communication life skills while playing a game. Friendship Cards are an interactive tool which can be used with friends at school and families at home. Friendship cards help in the development of emotional literacy and conflict resolution skills, which empower the individual to cultivate positive attitudes.
The HAPPY CHILDREN project will reach out to over 1000 children & families by training teachers in schools and giving each child a set of Friendship Cards. We believe that the HAPPY CHILDREN project will make the world a better place and a gift for generations to come.
Links for video
Option 1 - https://youtu.be/BORI45lmw3s
Option 2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9m1rX-GJI2Q
3. Sport4Youth
Submitted by: Malta Youth Athletes Network
Sport4Youth is a project that uses sport to create a social impact. The aim of the project is to increase youth participation in sport, particularly those coming from underprivileged backgrounds. The project incorporates an awareness raising campaign that addresses obesity and promotes healthy living, as well as development of inclusive training programmes that link youth, sport clubs and the private sector.
4. SAHA!
Submitted by: Migrant Women Association Malta
SAHA is a project that aims to integrate and empower migrant women living in Malta through employment. They have identified an opportunity to utilize the strengths and capabilities of migrant women to build a social enterprise based on culinary skills, where the project envisions the employment of migrant women through a food truck named “SAHA!” which would serve international, healthy dishes to the Maltese public, with an international cuisine that reflects the different nationalities of women working on the food truck.
5. Giving Gardens
Submitted by: Terra Firma Collective
What if we could create a collection of community art gardens in urban centres – refreshing green oases where young and old could rest, share and learn how to create and grow sustainable beauty together?
The GIVING GARDENS PROJECT will be a radical new way to unite communities and experience the arts. Besides providing much-needed space for members of the community to grow fresh organic food, our gardens are intended to be "art" gardens, where artists will have the incentive and opportunity to present their art in an outdoor setting.
6. Green Roads Malta
Submitted by: Green Roads Malta
Greenroads Malta is a socio-environmental initiative supported by Transport Malta, intended to significantly reduce traffic and pollution from our streets by encouraging and rewarding sustainable transport among car owners. A free and safe mobile app solution will facilitate and reward carpooling, with the intention to expand the use towards other sustainable forms of mobility including public transport.
7. iContribute – Charity Made Easy
Submitted by: Contribute Malta
Building on the success of Contribute Water, iContribute is taking the much-appreciated concept of sharing whilst consuming to the next level. The idea is very simple, but yet so effective; iContribute comes in the form of a sticker or logo that can be put on any product or service, hence, it will become a "charity product/service", as part of the sales price will go to a local charity organization. What product would you choose if they are similar in all aspects, but one gave a donation to charity?
Using the iContribute concept is the perfect way for companies to take care of their Corporate Social Responsibility, the end consumer to have the chance to give to charity on an everyday basis by choosing the “right” products, and for the charity organization to raise funds. It’s a win-win-win. We believe that charity should be available to anyone, at any time, anywhere.
8. OOPS – Mental Health Campaign
Submitted by: OOPS (organisations of Psychology Students)
Organisation of Psychology Students (OOPS) from the state post-secondary school of Giovanni Curmi Higher Secondary aim to introduce a free walk-in clinic on campus called Enlight. At this clinic students will be able to access the services of a clinical psychologist with minimal delay. According to the World Health Organisation, 1 in 4 people will be affected by a mental or neurological disorder at some point in their lifetime. OOPS believes that mental health services need to be readily available to youths, as prevention and early detection of mental disorders is crucial. OOPS is also organising an intensive mental health promotion and awareness campaign. Through various activities they aim to give accurate information about mental health, raise awareness on warning signs youths need to look out for and start an open conversation about mental health. They believe that this will help to change public attitudes and decrease stigma associated with mental illness, which would ultimately motivate more people to seek help and support.