29 Voluntary Organisations Benefit From Public Works Department Projects

A total of 29 voluntary organisations have benefited from projects carried out by the Public Works Department as part of ongoing efforts to improve community facilities across Malta.

During the first eight months of this year, the Department completed 27 projects with voluntary organisations, while work is currently continuing on nine additional projects.

The interventions include restoration, maintenance, refurbishment and modernisation works aimed at ensuring that important community spaces remain safe, accessible and suitable for continued use.

Minister for Local Government and Public Works Alison Zerafa Civelli, together with Director General of the Works Division within the Public Works Department Architect Stephen Bonello, visited the Dominican Sisters Convent in Safi to view the works carried out on the building.

The intervention forms part of a wider programme through which the Department is working alongside voluntary organisations to preserve and improve facilities that serve an important role within local communities.

Minister Zerafa Civelli said the projects reflect the Government’s commitment to supporting voluntary organisations and investing in spaces where community life takes place.

She explained that improving these facilities represents an investment in the communities themselves and in the people who dedicate their time and efforts to helping others.

She added that the aim of this work is to provide voluntary organisations with facilities that are safer, more accessible and better equipped to meet the needs of the people who use them.

Architect Stephen Bonello explained that works at the Dominican Sisters Convent focused on addressing issues affecting door lintels that had deteriorated and created potential safety concerns. A technical assessment identified water ingress as the main cause of the damage, leading to repair and consolidation works, as well as specialised treatment to prevent similar problems in the future.

The Parish Priest of the Conversion of Saint Paul Parish in Safi, Fr Ivan Scicluna, thanked the Public Works Department for the work carried out, saying the improvements are providing the community with safer and more functional spaces for activities throughout the year.

The Department also completed a major renovation and embellishment project at the Safi Parish Centre, known as the Domus. The works included improvements to bathrooms and corridors, structural strengthening in the stage area, works on the courtyard, installation of new services, paving, lighting, and restoration of the façade and parapet walls.

Following these interventions, the Domus now offers a more welcoming and accessible environment for community activities, including those involving children.

The projects at the Dominican Sisters Convent and the Safi Parish Centre highlight the role of collaboration between public authorities and voluntary organisations in strengthening facilities that contribute to community life. Similar projects continue to be carried out across Malta, supporting organisations and ensuring that important spaces remain available for present and future generations.

The visit was also attended by the architect responsible for the project, who explained the works undertaken, as well as Safi Mayor Johan Mula.

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Photo Source: DOI - Alan Saliba