MP donates his honoraria to address social problems

Newly elected MP Claudio Grech today declared his intention to donate his parliament's honoraria to 'Save a Life Foundation', which he founded.

The foundation, which also includes the participation of Caritas and Puttinu Cares, was a personal initiative of Grech and his wife.

"I feel that this foundation is needed to address the social problems found in the first district," Grech said.

He admitted that the house-visits he carried out in the weeks prior to the 9 March  election, and the fact that he was raised in Valletta and Hamrun, made him conclude that he could not remain a bystander any longer.

During the launch, Claudio Grech presented some shocking statistics about the reality found in first district localities. For instance, the district has the highest number of drug-related cases and the largest number of prison inmates (21% of the total).

Almost four in every ten Valletta residents have some form of illiteracy problems. Valletta also has the largest number of single parents per capita (2.5%), the second highest unemployment rate (5%) and the highest number of requests for social housing assistance (9%).

The statistics also show Valletta tops the list in social security cases with the other first district localities following closely.

The 'Save a Life Foundation' will fund community-engagement projects, create social equalisation opportunities and encourages measures to keep youths away from drugs, alcohol and gambling.

However it declared that it would not be ready to issue cash donations to organisations or payments to address individual needs.

The initial projects feature a literacy and digital library programme with the St Augustine's parish in Valletta, infrastructure projects in St Joseph Band Club and the extension of the Hamrun and Valletta nurseries.

When questioned about how the latter will help youths with social problems that would not afford the relatively high fees that football nurseries charge, Grech stated the nurseries were undergoing a difficult period.

He mentioned that the Valletta nursery only has over 100 youths in their ranks, and other infrastructural limitations. Grech also remarked the building of a class with the infrastructural upgrade of the Valletta nursery, keeping up with other nurseries that already have this academic element within their premises.

Dr Victor Calvagna and Mons Carm Farrugia, on behalf of Puttinu Cares and Caritas respectively, thanked the Nationalist MP for this initiative and his willingness not only to invest financially, but also for dedicating his time and energy to this cause.