Archive for category: News

Id-Dar tal-Providenza has announced ambitious plans for the upcoming edition of its annual fundraising volleyball marathon.

Now in its 16th edition, the BOV Volleyball Marathon will take place between Thursday 16th and Saturday 18th July, and will, for the first time, be held at the MFCC in Ta’ Qali. The event will also be broadcast across all local television stations.

Organisers explained that the new venue will open up exciting opportunities for the event, while also making it more accessible and central for visitors.

“The needs and funds required for Id-Dar tal-Providenza to operate continue to grow, and finding ways to elevate our fundraising efforts is essential. Id-Dar tal-Providenza requires approximately €7.5 million annually to ensure the best possible quality of life for its residents.”

Since its establishment in 1965, Id-Dar tal-Providenza has been dedicated to providing personalised residential services for persons with disabilities, in a supportive environment. Today it is home to 115 residents. It also offers regular respite services to families of persons with disabilities, providing essential support that enables individuals to continue living within their family environment.

Last year, the BOV Volleyball Marathon raised a record €632,153. This milestone has inspired organisers to dream bigger and aim even higher for this year’s edition.

Id-Dar tal-Providenza believes it can count on the continued support of the Maltese community, whose love for Id-Dar tal-Providenza helps make this event a success year after year.”

 Player applications are now open online for those who wish to participate in the BOV Volleyball Marathon via https://tinyurl.com/volley4dtp-players2026

A classic car show organised by the Old Motors Club raised €4,300 in aid of id-Dar tal-Providenza on Thursday, a public holiday on the feast of St.Joseph. The event that took place at the Home’s Siġġiewi parking lot was very well attended.

Around 140 vintage cars, that cover more than a century of history, were on display.

Mgr Martin Micallef, Director of Id-Dar tal-Providenza  thanked the organisers, participants and the general public for their generosity and for the initiative.

European Parliament member, Dr Peter Agius attended the event and met the vintage car enthusiats whilst making a donation.

The club confirmed once again its commitment to continue its support of Id-Dar tal-Providenza as well as other charitable initiatives whilst promoting the rich motor cars heritage in Malta.

The amount of €2,125 was collected during the Vocal and Instrumental Concert by the band of the Armed Forces of Malta that took place on Friday, 28th November 2025 at the Metropolitan Cathedral of St. Paul in Mdina on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of Id-Dar tal-Providenza.

The presentation was made by the Commander of the Armed Forces of Malta, Brigadier Clinton J. O’Neill to the Director of the Home, Mgr Martin Micallef who thanked the Brigadier for his continued encouragement and support of the now annual concert by the Armed Forces Band to coincide with the International Day of  Persons with Disability.

For the occasion of the Home’s 60th anniversary two special musical compositions were premiered: 60 Sena ta’ Storja: Id-Dar tal-Providenza by Mro. Nicholas Vella and Tama by Mro. Antoine Mercieca. The concert also included works by Johann Sebastian Bach, Richard Wagner, Frank Erickson, Lowell Mason, Morten Lauridsen, Peter A. Yon, Stephen Adams, Carl Coberg and another Maltese composer Tano Monseigneur.

Notwithstanding the cold temperatures and isolated showers in certain places of the island, for the people of Malta and Gozo the first day of the year was again a show of generosity towards Id-Dar tal-Providenza, an expression of solidarity by donating €1,556,543 during Festa ta’ Ġenerożità.

At the end of the televised marathon, Mgr. Martin Micallef, Director of the Home augered that the solidarity shown towards Id‑Dar tal‑Providenza on the first day of the new year will continue throughout the year with all those in our Maltese society who need support.

On again was the art auction – paintings, sculptures and ceramics – donated by various Maltese and foreign artists. Once again everything, including the bidding, was online and the sale of the works of art raised €49,229.

The Hon. Michael Falzon, Minister for Social Policy and Childrens’ Rights who represented the Prime Minister Dott. Robert Abela, donated €25,000 on behalf of the Maltese government from the Social Causes Fund.

As has happened every year, an appreciable number of parishes in Malta and Gozo organised special collections on new year’s eve and new year’s day that were then presented to Id-Dar tal-Providenza on behalf of the parish communities. Gozo parishes collected €41,560.

This year’s Festa ta’ Ġenerożità was broadcast from under the big tent purposely set up in the Home’s parking lot in Siġġiewi. It started off with a mass celebrated by H.G. The Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna in the Home’s chapel assisted by Mgr Martin Micallef, Episcopal Vicar for Diaconia and Director of Id-Dar tal-Providenza and the Siġġiewi Parish Archpriest Fr Josef Mifsud. Two youngsters, Alexia Vella and Max Prasel Caruana, delivered the usual traditional Christmas homily focused on the precious announcement of the birth of Christ.

In his homily, Archbishop Scicluna appealed that on this first day of the new year we should be a blessing towards each other and that we look over each other with compassion and love which are so lacking in our world today.

In his opening address, Mgr Martin Micallef, Director of Id-Dar tal-Providenza, referred to what he said was a huge honour for the Home during the 60th anniversary of its founding. On Republic Day, the Maltese Government State on Republic Day recognised the work done by the Home by conferring on it the Midalja għall-Qadi tar-Repubblika. He stated that while receiving this National award from the President of Malta he got quite emotional and brought to mind many people starting with the founder of the Home, Mgr Mikiel Azzopardi, his successor Mgr Lawrence Gatt, the Sisters of Charity, past and present administrators, so many employees and volunteers and last but not least the people of Malta and Gozo who have generously sustained the Home for sixty whole years.

He thanked the Speaker of the House of Representativesm Dr  Anġlu Farrugia, who for the last nine years offered the Parliament building for the use of Id-Dar tal-Providenza. Over these years from the exhibitions and auctions that followed, the Home received a total of three humdred and fifty thousand, four hundred and two euro. Last year the revenue from the auction of reached a record sum of forty-two thousand euro. This year a 106 works of art donated by Maltese and foreign artist will be exhibited. Once again there is an exhibit by Tonio Mercieca, a mouth painter and one of the residents at the Home’s community home in Qawra. artist li jpenġi b’ħalqu u li jgħix fid-dar tal-Qawra, waħda mid-djar fil-komunità. Another two persons with disability are taking part in this year’s exhibition.

In his speech inaugurating the exhibition, the Speaker Dr Anġlu Farrugia said that this is not another date in the calendar but it is a pledge that will touch our hearts as a people.

He stated that this initiative has become a tradition that reflects the continued support of Parliament towards the common good and the support for persons who need it. He thanked the residents of Id-Dar tal-Providenza as well as the employees and volunteers who work with such dedication to ensure that each person is given care and dignity. He also thanked Mgr Martin Micallef for his leadership and commitment.

Dr Farrugia insisted that Parliament will continue to support initiatives of solidarity and appealed for this generosity to keep forthcoming in the future.

The auction of these works of art will be held online on new year’s day during the Festa ta’ Ġenerożità telethon and will be in the hands of Belgravia Auctions. The exhibits will then be in the hall at id-Dar tal-Providenza when the auction will be taking place.

Mgr Micallef said that thanks to the full support of Maltese society, id-Dar tal-Providenza will remain committed in improving the quality of life  of the residents and the services it offers as well as seeing that residents will enjoy inclusion and will participate even further in the life of our communities.

He ended by encouraging the people of Malta and Gozo to continue with its support on January 1^st during Festa ta’ Ġenerożità which will again be taking place in the Home’s Siġġiewi car park as well as with the auction.