Six television personalities set off for southern India on Thursday to help rebuild a rundown and abandoned orphanage in the town of Munugode.

The team will spend 10 days helping with works as part of the TV show Il-Proġett. The annual programme sees people nominate their favourite Maltese personalities to go to a developing country and work on a project for people in need.

The ones who have travelled to India include Joseph Borg, Paulette Gafà, known as Pawla, Marika Caruana Smith, Dorianne Mamo, Ray Calleja and Dario Mifsud Bonnici.

Last year’s team raised more than €20,000 for people in need. This time, the aim is to collect €25,000 for the orphanage, which was deserted due to lack of resources.

The cast has been organising fundraising activities, such as BBQs and bingo nights, since April, however, only €13,000 has been raised so far.

Orphanage would accommodate 250 children

Once built, the orphanage would accommodate 250 children. Over 40 will live there and 175 others will be attending school in the same building.

This is the third consecutive year that Missio Malta and Il-Proġett have teamed up to send TV stars to work together and complete a humanitarian project.

The team members were very excited to make their journey to India and emotions were running high at the airport, marketing manager, Raquel Galdes, told the Times of Malta.

“The nerves were setting in this morning,” she said.

“One of the personalities – Paulette– started tearing up at the airport because she knew she would be meeting a lot of people in need.”

The team’s journey will be aired on TVM next year.

Donations can be made via https://ilprogett.com/donazzjoni/ .