A First for Malta − The Social Impact Awards

For the first time in Malta, a Social Impact Awards will be held on 25 October. The initiative aims 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.

After an overwhelming number of applications received back in July, seven have been shortlisted for the final event for the opportunity to be awarded financial and non-financial support. This innovative initiative aims to give more opportunities to social purpose organisations and their projects and to create a platform for new philanthropic ideas. The awards will recognise non-profit organisations and individuals who submit innovative and social projects that can solve some social issues for Malta.

The seven finalists who have been shortlisted have also received non-financial support in the shape of mentoring services by some of the movers and shakers within Malta’s business community in order to help develop the projects. These awards are the fruit of a collaboration between Maltese businesses and company foundations which have raised €70,000 collectively to donate as grants to the best and most effective submissions.

The projects cover a wide range of social issues from walkin centres for women involved in street-based prostitution, to a project on suicide and self-harm prevention to fighting obesity and inactiveness within school children.

The awards’ ceremony will take place on 25 October at 5pm at the Hilton Hotel where all finalists will present their project to a selected panel of judges and an audience of philanthropists, professionals and corporate leaders who could potentially offer further support, whether financial or non-financial. “With these awards we hope to inspire people to give, give more and give smart,” said Mark Weingard, founder of Inspirasia Foundation. Anyone interested in attending these awards or even offer support to a project can find the awards on Facebook or can send an email on: louisa@inspirasia.org

“The private sector could create more impact and social change by mentoring and creating long-lasting relationships with social purpose organisations in Malta. It takes more than money to create social change. Social purpose organisations need to be effective and an efficient organisation first, in order to generate and scale social change” – Social Impact Awards Philosophy.

For more information on the awards and the finalists phone on 9924 8141; email: louisa@inspirasia.org, www.socialimpactawards.inspirasia.org