Asking People To Donate Food To Children For Christmas Is Insensitive, Bernard Grech Tells Minister
Opposition Leader Bernard Grech has hit out at the government for encouraging people to donate food to children in need as part of a Christmas initiative.
“Look at the state we’re in; the government is now urging people to donate food to children instead of seeing how to improve their quality of life,” Grech told Parliament last night after Social Policy Minister Michael Falzon launched the latest edition of the Children’s Dreams initiative.
“A greater form of insensitivity has yet to be created; those who don’t try to address poverty, the cost of living and the declining quality of life are insensitive.”
Children’s Dreams is a scheme run by the Goodwill Amabassadors Foundation NGO in collaboration with the Foundation for Social Welfare Services to make the Christmas dreams of children with social problems come true.
Now in its 10th year of operation, it has surged in popularity, going from 100 fulfilled ‘dreams’ in 2012 to 2,241 so far this year. A further 156 dreams currently remain unfulfilled.
Several of these dreams are extremely basic, with many children simply requesting food and clothes.
“My family is going through a rough time and is finding it difficult to make ends meet… I would love to receive some food this Christmas,” 8-year-old Rebecca pleaded.
“I live in a residential home but spend the weekend with my mother and brothers,” 11-year-old Veronica said. “I look forward to the weekend however my mother never has enough food for everyone to go around and she cannot work. I would love to have a nice dinner together with my family before I go back to start the week at the residential home.”
Grech accused the government of trying to conceal this unpleasant reality.
“Over 2,000 requests for food and clothes were made; never have we been in this state,” he said. “While the government is boasting about these requests, our heart goes out to them and their parents and carers.”
Do you think the government is doing enough to address Malta’s poverty problems?
READ NEXT: Żibel's Project Sikka Gets Green Light After Winning €25,000 On Changemakers
