A wider definition of poverty

Malta has a problem with social exclusion that the government must place at the top of its agenda. The chairman of the European Anti-Poverty Network Malta, Godfrey Kenely, spoke to Vanessa Macdonald about why he believes there is a need to expand our definition of poverty.

"People relate poverty to images of famine in Africa but it is important to think in terms of relative poverty, comparing standards of living. Poverty does not only relate to material goods, education and health but also to the social aspect, such as access to cultural programmes and sport," the chairman of the European Anti-Poverty Network Malta Godfrey Kenely said.

"In Malta so far, only economic poverty has been measured and there has never been any measure of the social exclusion which could result from disability, sexual orientation, single parents or even race. Everyone must have the same rights. Those who are socially excluded need to be brought into the job market, otherwise the economy will never improve. Solving this has to be put on a par by the government with attracting new industries and improving the economy."

Mr Kenely is also the director of the Malta Resource Centre, which acts as a secretariat for the various member NGOs of EAPN and provides capacity building services, such as training and consultancy.

EAPN Malta consists of 46 NGOs. He admits that there was some scepticism when the first few got together but they are now very satisfied with the outcome. It set up six committees, dedicated to illiteracy, disability, children at risk, mental health, domestic violence and asylum seekers and human trafficking. Their work is focused on influencing national policy, based on the belief that one strong recommendation carries more weight than those of the individual NGOs.

EAPN has its own two-year plan, shadowing the national one. In the meantime, it is monitoring the government's National Action Plan and is looking at what recommendations should be made for the next one.

"It will not be a long wish list but the NGOs work on the ground and know what is needed," Mr Kenely said.

The committees each include two persons who are themselves experiencing poverty and social exclusion, which makes the recommendations very realistic and pragmatic. The only exception is the committee for children at risk, which is solved by having focus groups instead.

"Children are affected by most of the areas covered by the committees, such as illiteracy. So each committee dedicates at least one meeting to a focus group that includes children, to address their needs, whatever their ages. We are also working with the Commissioner for Children to ensure we are all working in the same direction."

Mr Kenely believes illiteracy is a serious problem and said the time has come for policy-makers to question the educational system in Malta.

"The 11 per cent illiteracy rate is made all the more worrying by the fact that there are still children who simply do not attend school regularly. This problem is still developing rather than gradually being solved - it is not a case of the older generation being illiterate, which would be solved with time.

"And of course we are not just looking at literacy in English and Maltese but also IT illiteracy which is not included in the 11 per cent but which will still reduce our competition and children's ability to succeed."

Refugees are another issue that merits a long hard look, he said.

"Once given refugee status, then the person concerned needs to be educated and to work. Even if they eventually go abroad, they will then find it much easier to integrate into society."

Mr Kenely said the problems of social exclusion lie on the shoulders of all those in society. "I would not like to give the impression that the only problem lies with policy-makers. Say there is a refugee child attending school, the government has done its part in getting the child there but the teachers, the parents, the other children... all of them need to accept that child too.

"Personally I think this is best overcome through education. Most people are afraid (of refugees) because they only know some of the facts. They need to know the whole truth and then I am sure there would be far less prejudice."

"Given limited resources, I would spend the money available on children's textbooks, their plays, their outings. They should also be included in things like soap operas, sports and cultural events, to help make them more reassuringly familiar to us. But for this, you need a lot of inter-ministerial coordination and a policy that applies across all the schools."

Influencing such policy is the over-riding aim of the network.

"Most of the NGOs evolved to provide services and that is where their energy is directed. But when it comes to policy, a focus is required.

"For example, if I am working with the disabled, then I have to look at the policies implemented by the government that affect every aspect of their lives. Sometimes there are problems that recur year after year. For example, a deaf person cannot go to the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology as there are no systems in place for them. We need to address these matters if these people are to study and get into the job market.

"We say we want to develop the IT sector but people with certain disabilities will find it a very hard sector to get into it. You can have social exclusion in the workplace which leads to poverty."

"Solutions are not easy. For example, MCAST must compare the cost of providing for one or two students with disability with the cost of providing other much needed services for a whole classroom, given the limited resources.

"The National Action Plan for Employment has to be owned by all the ministries so that the resources available for education, IT and so on are available. There must be a strong strategy - which will also contribute to the economy, although that it not our focus.

"It is not a case of just giving money to people but rather of involving them in society, letting them take up their responsibility and contribute to the welfare society, rather than take from it," he says.

SOS Malta was one of the founding members of the Malta Resource Centre, which is operating from the site of the former Multigas in Hamrun.

Mr Kenely is in the best position to see the benefits of collaboration between NGOs but he also believes in the fundamental right of each NGO to work in its own sector, to raise its own funds and to undertake their own projects.

"There should be collaboration and coordination for things like providing emergency aid overseas and an overall strategic plan, for example, when raising money from the public.

"Most of the funds for NGOs are raised through L-Istrina but the smaller NGOs find it very hard to get money from this. The Malta Community Chest Fund takes up a big chunk, which only goes to NGOs for specific capital projects. What many NGOs need is money to offer their normal services and to invest in things like training. That is where the Resource Centre can help: by organising courses, with the help of the Foundation for Educational Services.

"We have courses running practically every day. But it is the same as in the economy in general: Training is very often the first thing to get dropped when money gets tight."

It has also received support from the business sector - it has been using the Multigas premises for a few years, with furniture donated by the owners of Homemate. Mr Kenely is hoping that another organisation may soon be able to provide permanent premises.

Money is not the only limited resource. Mr Kenely believes the number of volunteers is also waning.

"We really need to regenerate the aspect of voluntary work. There are limited resources and some services are already unsustainable. We have to find new ways to involve society in social work, especially young people who have so many other distractions," he says.

The Resource Centre will help by creating a national voluntary database, with links to NGOs, which should be ready in the near future.

The centre's work is increasing and it has applied to the Ministry for Family and Social Solidarity for funds for EAPN administrative work.

"The feedback has been positive but we have yet to find out how much we will receive and when. This is not the kind of work which can be supported by fundraising from the public," Mr Kenely explained.

There are small EU programmes to tap but these are limited to things like translations and funds for the organisation of international meetings.

One project in the pipeline would link the centre with Austria, Ireland and Hungary, to examine poverty and social exclusion and the role of the media. The European Commission is expected to decide on funding approval in July and the centre has already approached a local company, which would examine how disadvantaged social groups are portrayed.