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This year’s edition of the BOV volleyball marathon in aid of Id‑Dar tal‑Providenza, was officially launched on Wednesday afternoon by Fr Martin Micallef, the home’s director, and Charles Azzopardi, head CSR at Bank of Valletta, during a press conference held at Pembroke Secondary School within St Clare’s College, where the training and preparation of the players taking part in the marathon is under way.  Every year this volleyball marathon takes place helping to raise the much needed funds for the home.

Id‑Dar tal‑Providenza was founded in 1965, to offer residential services for persons with disabilities.  Today the home hosts 115 persons at its residences in Siġġiewi, Qawra Żurrieq and Birkirkara. More than 7 million euro are needed annually to operate. Since its inception, Id‑Dar tal‑Providenza has relied heavily on the generosity of the community and this is why the Volleyball Marathon is more than just a sporting event.

At the beginning of June approximately 70 athletes started training sessions. This includes athletes from 14 years and above, some first timers and others who have done tens of marathons over the years! A team of coaches assesses each player and grades their overall performance through a point system. 12 hour and 24 hour trials are part of training plan along with training sessions in the scorching summer heat.

The athletes’ performance throughout the training programme will  determine who of them will make the cut for the final 40, who will eventually take part in the 53 hour volleyball marathon. These athletes will be joined by over 100 volunteers who are key to making the marathon happen.

This year’s edition will take place at Id-Dar tal‑Providenza between Friday 19th and Sunday 21st July. The general public is invited to attend, support the players, enjoy the entertainment but most importantly encouraged to donate and help make this year’s edition another success!

The event will be inaugurated by Her Excellency the President of Malta, Myriam Spiteri Debono on Friday 19 July at 6.30pm in the car park of Id‑Dar tal‑Providenza in Siggiewi.

“The BOV Volleyball Marathon is one of our primary annual fundraising events that support our mission to provide and enhance a variety of essential services,” stated Fr. Martin during the press conference.  “This event also promotes volunteering and emphasizes its importance in Maltese society. Additionally, the marathon aims to encourage sports participation and foster a healthier lifestyle. Finally, Id‑Dar tal‑Providenza urges society to always respect individuals with disabilities, treat them with the dignity they deserve, and offer them the same choices and opportunities available to everyone.”

Mr Charles Azzopardi said “Our work with id‑Dar tal‑Providenza goes back years, and this year as part of our Bank’s 50th we are proud to continue building on this relationship. Id‑Dar tal‑Providenza provides a vital service to our community and as BOV we want to continue expanding our work with the community to help all our citizens achieve a better quality of life.”

The 53-hour Volleyball Marathon in aid of Id-Dar tal‑Providenza is supported by Bank of Valletta as its main sponsor together with Pif Paf, PwC, CareMalta, Eurosport, Vibe and PaviPama.

Those who wish to support this event can send a donation on www.sabihlitaghti.org or call one of the numbers below:

€10 ‑ 5160 2011

€15 ‑ 5170 2012

€25 ‑ 5180 2013

€50 ‑ 5190 2070

€100 ‑ 5130 2044

Photo:  danielstudiomalta.com

Mr Joseph Vella, the curator of the Our Lady of Lourdes grotto on December 13th Road in Marsa helped by his son Mario and other volunteers, presented a donation of €1,295 to Fr Martin Micallef, Director of Id-Dar tal-Providenza. The presentation took place at the end of a eucharistic celebration at the Holy Trinity parish church in Marsa.

This sum was raised through offerings made at the grotto during the year by devotees of Our Lady of Lourdes.

This is an annual event that was started in 1981 when Mgr Mikiel Azzopardi, founder of the Siġġiewi Home, celebrated the first Mass at the grotto in a year that was dedicated to persons with disability.

Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Galea-Curmi was invited to see one of the flats in Villa Papa Giovanni at Id-Dar tal-Providenza in Siġġiewi where vast renovations have been done so that residents can have a more dignified living environment. He also had the opportunity to celebrate Mass for the residents and employees of the Home.

Works undertaken included structural changes whereby every resident will now have his own bathroom, a complete overhaul of the electrical system and other works meant to safeguard the health and safety of the residents.

In his homily, Bishop Galea-Curmi said: “Id-Dar tal-Providenza is the light of the Church in Malta because it is truly living the words of Christ, ‘You are the light of the world.’ The Home is also a light for Maltese society because it shows that the life of every person is precious in front of God”.

The Director of the Home, Fr Martin Micallef, said that the renovations being done reflect the Home’s commitment to continue improving its quality of service with an appropriate environment that also respects the residents’ privacy and personal choices. As soon as these renovation works are over, refurbishing will start on another flat and is expected to be completed by the end of this year.

Fr Martin thanked all the workers involved in this project, Architect John Papagiorcopulo and Engineer Joseph Cuschieri for their professional services, various other companies that helped supporting this project and not least the Maltese and Gozitan public for their continuous support.

On Thursday 21st March 2024, the Malta Police Force Band hosted a concert of vocal and instrumental sacred music for Good Friday at St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta, in aid of id-Dar tal-Providenza.

This event featured the talents of Soprano Claire Caruana, Tenor Angelo Muscat, Harpist Dr Lydia Buttigieg, Violinist/Saxophonist/Singer David Joseph Sammut, Organist Dr Chris Role, and Pipers Stefan Mercieca and Joseph D’Amato. Lieutenant Mro Dario Salvi and Mro Anthony Cassar conducted the performance, adding their expertise and artistry to the evening.

On Sunday, 25th February 2024, the Friends of Providence House New South Wales, the official ambassadors in Australia for Id‑Dar tal‑Providenza in Malta, held the Annual Festa ta’ Ġenerożità at the La Valette Social Centre in Blacktown, New South Wales.

The MC of the concert and Treasurer, Ms Miriam Friggieri, warmly welcomed a crowd of approximately 250 Australian‑Maltese, inviting all to be generous during this year’s Festa ta’ Ġenerożità.

The fund‑raising concert opened with the Maltese and Australian National Anthems sung by Ms Katelyn Vella, a second‑generation Maltese singer and performer.

Mr Jim Borg, Co‑ordinator of Friends of Providence House New South Wales, warmly acknowledged and introduced the major sponsors of the event, specifically La Valette Social Centre who offered the use of their hall and their kitchen staff,  Breakaway Travel Blacktown as well as Mr Sistu and Mrs Maryanne Zammit.  The Consul General of Malta in New South Wales, Mr Lawrence Buhagiar  also attended the event and highlighted the importance of supporting the work of this charitable organisation.

The video message from Fr Martin Micallef, the Director of Id‑Dar tal‑Providenza, expressed the significance and impact the donations make firstly by ensuring that the organization continues to provide support and secondly by empowering those living with disabilities in Malta.

The performers for the event were Mr Joe Apap, Mr Charlie Muscat, Mr Martin Vella, Ms Katelyn Vella, and Ms Natasha Tatarinoff who entertained those present with various Maltese and English songs as well as the two young guitarists Noah Falzon and Jason Tran. The sound and light technician was Mr Ivan Cauchi.

During the intermission, attendees were encouraged to purchase raffle tickets to raise funds for Id-Dar tal-Providenza with the prizes being kindly donated by various sponsors. Mr Borg expressed his deepest thanks to the Committee, namely Rita O’Dwyer, Secretary, and Miriam Friggieri, Treasurer, and presented Certificates of Appreciation to the performers, the major and minor sponsors as well as to those who had assisted in supporting this event.

As a result of the generosity shown by the Maltese-Australian community in Sydney, the Festa ta’ Ġenerożità was a great success with the money donated to be presented to Id-Dar tal-Providenza to assist and support them to continue their important mission in Malta.

A special cheque presentation of all donations collected in Australia will be made at this year’s Volleyball Marathon to be held in Malta in July.