The last multiplier event of the 2021-2024 Erasmus+ SocEntrep4NGOs project was held on the 10th April 2024 at the Old University campus in Valletta, Malta. Present for the event were delegates from SOS Malta, as the hosts of the conference and Advenio eAcademy as the project leaders, the Office of the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations and members of the NGO community. The Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations in Malta, Mr. Jesmond Saliba was one of the key note speakers at the event.
Ms. Graziella Schiavone, the senior executive at Solidarity Overseas Services (SOS) Malta welcomed the speakers and participants to the event which sought to highlight some of the main achievements of the project within the local context. She introduced the SocEntrep4NGOs project as a typical project for SOS Malta involvement, where SOS could collaborate with local and foreign HEIs and NGOs to provide tangible benefits to local front liners in the NGO sector.
Mr. Saliba introduced his presentation by highlighting the diversity and scope of the voluntary sector in Malta encompassing so many different types of organisations, be they religious charitable organisations, sports organisations, welfare organisations etc. This diversity included non-profit and for-profit organisations, non-governmental and social associations. It called for a careful sensitivity to the context of each organisation and the alignment of their scope or purpose with the resources and obligations undertaken. He highlighted the difference in approach in Malta where such a diverse range of organisations were groups collectively as voluntary organisations, to the general trend in Europe for more specialised categorisation of non-governmental or non-profit making organisations. Mr. Saliba spoke about the on-going efforts of his Office to reach out to the different organisations and understand their realities to ensure that appropriate guidelines and assistance is provided where required. This approach was essential due to the various legal obligations imposed on his office in specific situations dealing with vulnerable members of society or criminal activities within the organisations. He concluded his presentation by complementing SoS Malta and Advenio eAcademy for the initiative which helped in capacity building in the sector and augured for continued cooperation and collaboration with his Office.
Mr. Stephen D’Alessandro, Executive Director of Advenio eAcademy the lead partner in the SocEntrep4NGOs consortium gave a brief overview of the Erasmus+ cofounded project that included HEIs and NGOs partners from four countries, Malta, Greece, Italy and Turkey. He outlined the composition of the consortium, and the scope of the project which was to develop a new programme that would assist NGOs in evaluating the opportunities of operation as social enterprises and equip them to make the transition. He spoke about the foundation research process at the start of the project. the qualitative and quantitative research reports foundation that served as the basis for the programme, the design, development and implementation of the accredited Level 5 90 ECTS credit Undergraduate Higher Diploma in Social Entrepreneurship and the overall project results and impacts achieved. He mentioned the eight multiplier events held in each of the four participating countries and impact of improved collaboration, and involvement of stakeholder groups in upskilling NGOs.
In closing the event, Ms. Schiavone thanked all the participants, other stakeholders and Erasmus+ for funding the programme.
