MSIA winners launch pilot project

Enlight Foundation, one of the past winners of the Malta Social Impact Awards (MSIA), has collaborated with Giovanni Curmi Higher Secondary School and the Richmond Foundation to launch a pilot project: a drop-in clinic that offers free psychological support to youths who experience mental health related matters.

According to The World Health Organisation, half of all mental health conditions start by 14 years of age but most cases are undetected and untreated. Enlight Foundation believes that the prevention and early detection of mental health problems are the stepping stones towards healthier, more resilient and higher functioning youths, and therefore aims to empower youths to seek help as early as possible. Located at Giovanni Curmi Higher Secondary School, this clinic eradicates practical problems that adolescents face when seeking mental health support, such as the inability to pay for a psychologist, transportation issues and long waiting lists.

MSIA awarded Enlight Foundation a €40,000 grant as well as pro bono mentoring and advisory services to be able to develop this initiative. Part of this grant has gone towards this pilot project which is the first phase of the initiative.

Launched by the Gasan Foundation and Inspirasia Foundation in 2016, the Malta Social Impact Awards provides opportunities for changemakers by offering winners financial and non-financial support to develop an initiative that has a positive social impact on Malta.

“The Malta Social Impact Awards is a golden opportunity to improve and work on an idea which will help Maltese society. It is an opportunity to dream of a better world where vulnerable people are given a voice. MSIA will help you make your idea stronger, lead you to understand how to manage your social enterprise and give you both financial and non-financial support. But most importantly of all, the team at MSIA dare to dream of a better society with you,” the Enlight Team.