followed by blessings given by Fr. Charles Cordina, the delegate for social community work of the Archbishop of Malta. The President emphasized the good work YMCA Valletta/Malta is doing for the community.
After several years of hard work; reconstruction; fundraising and refurbishing the first residents could enter the new shelter last February. Many representatives of social orgainsations; government agencies and the university were present at the opening, as well as volunteers; staff; board members and Y-Friends (Y’s Men). YMCA Europe and YMCA the Netherlands were represented by Ed Eggink.
YMCA the Netherlands has supported this project by fundraising for the refurbishing of the rooms and kitchen in the Shelter.
The Shelter is named after Niki Cassar, a social worker who died 30 years ago, in the age of 29, because of a motorbike accident in Bali where he worked with the poor people on the island. Niki and the current President of YMCA Malta, Jean-Paul Mifsud, were the initiators of YMCA work for homeless people in Malta.
