[WATCH] Acting President, social dialogue minister laud voluntary work

Acting President Dolores Cristina and Social Dialogue Minister Helena Dalli lauded the voluntary work taking place on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Day where some 500 volunteers from eight companies are helping out caring institutions across Malta and Gozo.

The work consists of various chores such as gardening, maintenance works, painting, whitewashing and sewing of curtains.

Visiting the works being carried out by Tumas Group at Dar Merhba Bik in Balzan, Cristina and Dalli said voluntary work in all sectors of society was much needed and welcomed.

Archbishop Paul Cremona also paid a visit to Dar Merhba Bik.

Dalli expressed her appreciation for the time and energy that the participating companies and staff members put into this year's CSR Day. "Apart from promoting volunteering, such an initiative is in itself a team building even and enhances the team spirit among employees," she said.

Dar Merhba Bik is a Church-run home for victims of domestic violence and currently provides shelter to 13 women and eight children, the youngest being a 3-week-old baby.

Speaking on domestic violence, Minister Dalli said that even though laws protecting victims of domestic violence have been enacted, yet the most difficult problem was bringing about culture change.

"We dream of living in a society where there would be no need for such shelters as it would mean that people were living comfortable and safely in their own homes," she said.

She also applauded the work carried out by such homes who were providing shelter and safety to victims of domestic violence.

On her part, Acting President Cristina stressed that no violence was ever justified or excused.

"It is society's duty to teach children from an early age that problems are not solved through confrontation or aggressiveness but through communication and being assertive."

Cristina said it was important that young students are taught communication, conflict management and anger management at school.

"The ugliness of domestic violence is only known by its victims. We can emphatise and try to understand but we can never know what it means to be abused by those who should love you and whom you trust," she said. 

Arrow Pharma and HSBC Malta employees teamed up at Fra Diegu Home in Ħamrun; Deloitte employees carried out works at Dar Qalb ta' Ġesu' in Santa Venera; Farsons Group at Dar il-Wens in Kalkara; Tumas Group at Dar Merħba Bik in Balzan; Munich Re and MSV Life joined forces at Caritas Therapeutic Centre in San Blas; while employees from Vassallo Group focused their efforts at St Jeanne Antide Foundation in Tarxien.

In Gozo, a group of volunteers from HSBC Malta also worked away at Arka Respite Centre. CSR Day 2013 also received support from Junior Chamber International, the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, Red Cross Malta and the International Police Association.