| Third World Group | ||
|
The Third World Group, established in 1974, is a national voluntary non-governmental organisation based in Malta that is committed towards Third World issues and people who live in "depressed" areas in Malta and abroad: Working with People In
Malta
-
As a Group we come into direct contact with people in a 'depressed' area
almost everyday of the week. Once a week we organise games, crafts and
other "educational" and recreational activities for children in
the area. We also visit their families and other marginalised people
regularly. Twice a week we organize classes for children as part of a
literacy project and on two other days we give computer lessons. - The
Group also does maintenance work and general house chores for people in
other localities who cannot cope alone. -
Ours, however, is not a social work organisation. Our role is not to
substitute professionals working in the field of social work, counselling
and psychology but to be with the people and, often, to help them find the
professional need they may need. Abroad -
Ever since its birth in 1974, members of the Third World Group have done
voluntary work as a group in many parts of Sicily and mainland Italy, in
Tunisia, Egypt, and London, collaborating with the Missionaries of Charity
(founded by Mother Teresa) and a host of other organizations. In July
2000, a group of people representing the Third World Group did voluntary
work with children and old people in Cairo, Egypt. -
Inspired by their experience in the Group, many members of the Third World
Group have done voluntary work in many parts of the world on their own
personal initiative, countries like Peru, India, Brazil, the Philippines,
Ethiopia, Albania, Uganda, and Guatemala.
Conscientization
- Another
aspect of the Third World Group's commitment towards the so-called
"lesser" members of society in general is what Paulo Freire has
called “conscientization”: We try to make people aware of the
hardships people face in poorer regions of the world and even in modern
day, prosperous Malta, by writing in the press and giving people who are
not members of the Group the opportunity to do voluntary work in
communities (rather than work groups) in Malta and abroad. This has
nothing to do with being charitable; we feel that we all have a lot to
give to and learn from each other. -
In recent years we have made our commitment towards people in so-called
"underdeveloped" countries more concrete by creating Koperattiva
Kummerc Gust, a Fair Trade Social Cooperative run by volunteers that buys
products directly from producers in the South of the World and from
established international organisations that market fair trade products
and encourage others to do likewise.
African
Week
- The
most important public event organised by the Third World Group was an African
Week held at the University of Malta in March 1999, with the
participation of Prof. Charles Villa-Vicencio from the South African Truth
and Reconciliation Commission; renowned percussionist and music animator
Moussé Ndiaye from Senegal; Senegalese dancer Thioune Ndiaye; and a
number of talented Somali refugees to mention just a few of the African
protagonists of this Week. Hundreds of people, from school children and
children living in 'depressed' areas to university students and adults
were involved in this packed, week-long programme of cultural,
educational, artistic, and entertainment events.
“Mediterranean
2000” - The
Third World Group is presently coordinating a three-year EU-supported
project promoting cultural, environmental and social sustainability in the
Mediterranean region. In April 2000, the Group organized an International
Workshop on “Building Partnership for a Sustainable Future in the
Mediterranean” which officially opened this international project.
National
Award
In
1997, the Government of Malta awarded the Third World Group the first
prize in the second edition of the prize known as “National Recognition:
Youth in Society” (Gharfien Nazzjonali: Zghazagh fis-Socjetà). |
||