Speech delivered by President of Malta Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca at the fourth anniversary of the President’s Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society
It is my pleasure to welcome you to the fourth anniversary, since my Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society was brought into being, and to inaugurate the fourth edition of the President’s Forum.
I am very proud of all that we have accomplished over the past years, not only in terms of the contribution that the foundation is making to promote the holistic wellbeing of families and communities throughout our Maltese islands, but also to promote the concept of wellbeing in mainstream discourse.
Wellbeing now features as a key concept, used by our politicians, policy-makers, and decision takers. As a concept, it is increasingly embedded in policies issued by the government, authorities, employers, and other stakeholders.
This reflects an important shift in the consciousness of our country, to acknowledge and to celebrate the fundamental importance of wellbeing.
In fact, my foundation was the first entity in Malta to focus solely on the wellbeing of society, with a mandate to identify, to nurture, and to promote wellbeing for all.
Since its very inception, the foundation has been a champion for the rights of the most marginalised and vulnerable members of our society. We have worked with migrants and refugees; persons with disabilities; children and young people; the LGBTIQ community; and so many other thematic areas, where universal human rights and fundamental freedoms continue to be compromised.
This has placed the foundation in an ideal position to carry out essential research, and to engage in community outreach, while promoting wellbeing through the many initiatives and events which it organises on a regular basis.
The research entities that form part of the President’s Foundation are critical contributors to our success.
The entities are coordinated by leading experts in their respective fields, spearheading research projects that are, in some cases, breaking new ground in the Maltese islands.
Our research and other outcomes are consistently shared with parliamentary committees, government ministries, academic experts, international stakeholders, and other relevant groups.
The foundation has always ensured that our research and outcomes are freely disseminated as widely as possible, promoting a policy of open access, in order for this important information to be available to everyone.
Furthermore, at the heart of the foundation’s success, is our focus to create safe and respectful spaces, where challenging conversations can take place, in a spirit of dialogue and understanding.
We facilitate these safe spaces so that participants will feel at ease to share their honest concerns, without feeling excluded or judged. These safe spaces are particularly essential when sensitive matters are being discussed, or when themes that carry a degree of stigma or judgement are being approached.
The issue of a safe space was repeatedly raised by the many children I have met, both in my role as President and as former Minister for the Family and Social Solidarity.
To address this urgent concern, my foundation launched the President’s Secret Garden, which has welcomed thousands of children to its sessions, over the years.
The President’s Secret Garden is a ground-breaking community of learning in the Maltese Islands, promoting a truly inclusive and participatory approach for our children.
Through the Secret Garden, two consultative councils have been established, one for children and another for young people. Feedback from these councils forms an integral part of the work of the Foundation, and this is especially true when it comes to themes related to children’s rights.
The Secret Garden’s activities and events are now being designed by the children themselves, in active collaboration with the Children’s Hub experts in the foundation.
For this reason, the Secret Garden methodology has attracted the attention of international stakeholders, at both a European and global level.
I am proud to say that we are working very closely with Eurochild, the European Commission, and the Commonwealth of Nations, to share our strategies of genuine child participation to an even wider audience.
Some of the other memorable events, in the foundation’s history, have been organised in collaboration with international organisations. These have provided ideal opportunities for the foundation to extend its influence beyond Malta.
Thousands of local and international participants have participated in the conferences organised by the foundation. Through this kind of outreach, we have been capable of organising some of the most relevant and impactful conferences that have happened in Malta in recent times.
One example, from many, was the ‘Lost in Migration’ Conference and its conclusions, which were used by the European Commission in April 2017 when it issued a Communication on the Protection of Children in Migration.
The work of the foundation, together with our international partners, was critical to secure further protection for the rights of children in migration, across the European Union.
Over the past years, the foundation has had the opportunity to welcome respected experts and scholars, from universities all over the world. Lectures are open to the general public and are organised on a regular basis, thereby providing opportunities for participants to engage with the guest speakers, and to discuss complex issues that are sometimes side-lined or ignored.
The foundation has also established three platforms, namely; emPOWer, a growing platform of women’s organisations; a Mental Health Platform, in collaboration with the National Commission for Mental Health; and a Migrant-led NGO Platform, which is the first platform in Malta to bring together diverse migrant communities to share their concerns and aspirations.
While the number of our achievements over the past four years is impressive, it is the fact that the foundation has consistently remained true to our underlying ethos of wellbeing, which gives me confidence for the future.
My vision for the President’s Foundation has always been to make use of the privileged space, afforded by the Presidency, and to open it up for all the people who call the Maltese islands their home.
In this way, we have been able to nurture a sense of connection among diverse communities and groups within Maltese society, ensuring that their voices are heard, that their dignity is respected, and that their wellbeing is kept high on the agenda.
I augur that the contributions, which the President’s Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society has made and continues to make, in our society and beyond, will leave a lasting legacy.
Wellbeing is not just a word.
Wellbeing is a commitment, to protect one another, to respect one another, and to love one another.
Let us keep sharing this essential message, here in Malta, and all around the world.
Thank you for your attention.