PR: Happy Anniversary to Third World Group and il-Ħanut l-Arka
Volunteers celebrate thirty-three years of work with the emarginated and a decade of Fair Trade in Malta.
Date: Tuesday 16th October 2007
Koperattiva Kummerċ Ġust is today celebrating 10 years of running its Fair Trade shop il-Ħanut l-Arka. It was on the 10th of October 1997 that il-Ħanut l-Arka was inguarted by HE Prof. Ugo Mifsud Bonnici as Malta’s first and only Fair Trade shop. Although other commercial entities have started importing Fair Trade, Koperattiva Kummerċ Ġust remains the only certified Fair Trade Organization in Malta and is run by volunteers.
Third World Group, the parent organization of Koperattiva Kummerċ Ġust, is celebrating 33 years of voluntary work with the emarginated in Malta and abroad. In Malta the Group meets on a weekly basis to work with children from deprived areas and engages in small activities such as crafts, art-work and drama with the intention to help them in their social skills. Abroad volunteers work with the Sisters of Charity in the daily chores with the poorest of the poor.
During the small celebration His Excellency Archbishop Pawlu Cremona blessed the volunteers who are currently working in the organization and commended them for the fruitful work. After the blessing those present performed a minute in silence as a sign of urgency to eliminate the violations of Human Rights and Extreme Poverty around the World. The call for a one minute Stand-Up in silence is part of a global campaign to act against poverty by adhering of the Millenium Development Goals.
The cooperative took the opportunity to award a certificate of recognition to the organization who actively make use of and promoting Fair Trade products for internal use. Certificates were given to: the Malta Medical Students Association, Gaia Foundation, Moviment Graffitti, Third World Group, the French Embassy, the Anglican Church, Kopin, Inizjamed, the NGDO platform, the University Chaplency, the Reggie Miller Foundation and the St. Aloysuis’ College Sixth Form.
10 years of il-Ħanut l-Arka:
On the 10th October KKĠ will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of il-Ħanut l-Arka. To celebrate a decade of hard work, disappointments and achievements we shall be organizing a small ceremony and party at l-Arka on Tuesday 16th October 6.00pm.
Certificates to organizations who have supported and make use of Fair Trade products will be given during the event. We shall also be increasing the amount of shares each individual has in the cooperative by 1% p.a. for the whole of the 10 year period.
Our parent organization (Third World Group) shall also be present during the event and shall be celebrating 33 years of activity.
Special guests invited for the event are His Excellency Archbishop Pawlu Cremona who will hand out the certificates to our supporters and Fair Trade consuming organizations.
The public is invited for the ceremony and the finger buffet that shall be taking place afterwards.