‘We aim to support even more children, young people, and their families’ – RMHC Malta Chairman

Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) Malta Chairman Martin Xuereb on Thursday reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to assisting children, young people, and their families through its various support programmes provided by NGOs at its Learning Centre in Qawra.

This came as RMHC announced that it assisted twice the number of children and young people with a range of needs during 2022 compared to the previous year. It made a positive impact on the lives of 283 young clients facing learning or social challenges with educational, social, and counselling support, assisting 105 families in tandem. A total of 408 programmes and events were held throughout the year, and 484 volunteers and professionals were supported.

“Our commitment to the communities we serve is unwavering,” Mr Xuereb said.

“We aim to build on our past achievements and support even more children, young people, and their families over the next few months,” he added.

He also remarked that one of RMHC’s priorities for this year is to hold a second conference in Malta as it pursues its vision to “support professionals and volunteers”. “In this way too, we uphold our promise to keep families close,” he concluded.

During the year, 26 NGOs and organisations received the resources they needed to offer their services at the Learning Centre, resulting in 1,197 hours of activities in collaboration with the Service Dogs Malta Foundation, Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS), NWAMI International Malta, and others.

The Learning Centre was certified as an “Autism Friendly Space” (AFS) after RMHC worked with AFS coordinator Prisms Malta, the Commission for the Rights of Persons with Disability, and its partner NGO the Autism Parents Association, to ensure a bespoke environment for children and young people with sensory issues.

RMHC’s first ever conference in Malta was held in April and was aimed at frontline professionals and NGOs working in social welfare. A memorandum of understanding was signed at the conference with Aġenzija Sapport and the Foundation for Social Welfare Services, allowing both entities to start offering community services through RMHC’s Learning Centre.

RMHC hosted the European Leadership Meeting in November, which brought together 24 Executive Directors from RMHC chapters across Europe, as well as the global senior leadership team, to discuss its legacy and future.

Additionally, RMHC also took an active humanitarian role, collaborating with the Franciscan Welfare Association to help Ukrainian war refugees learn English. In 2022, 80 lessons were delivered to 40 families, and the programme will continue in 2023.

RMHC Malta forms part of the RMHC global network which delivers programmes and services in more than 60 countries, benefitting the “lives of millions of children and their families around the world”. It has enjoyed the support of the McDonald’s system, through its owners, operators, suppliers, employees, and customers, around the world since its establishment in 1974. The organisation’s primary benefactor is Premier Restaurants Malta, the operator of nine McDonald’s restaurants in Malta and Gozo. Premier Restaurants Malta forms part of the company portfolio of Hili Ventures, of which Mr Xuereb is Director of Business Development.