Emigrants Commission setting up migration museum

The Emigrants’ Commission intends to set up a museum on migration from the Maltese Islands.

It is to be called “Museum for Migration and Visitors’ Centre” and will be situated at Dar l-Emigrant, the headquarters of the Emigrants’ Commission, near the Upper Barrakka, Valletta.

The commission came up with the idea and presented it at the Convention of Leaders of Associations of Maltese Abroad and of Maltese Origin, organised by the Emigrants’ Commission together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs between in 2000. The setting up of the museum was one of the main recommendations adopted by the convention.

Emigration forms an intrinsic part of the recent history of Malta. The phenomenon affected whole generations of Maltese. The effects on the Maltese have been various, the most conspicuous being social, cultural and economic.

The commission said in a statement that people of Maltese origin are to be found almost everywhere in the world but mainly in the principal destinations where European emigration started as from the middle of the 19th century, including in Northern Africa, England, France, Spain, Turkey, Australia, Canada, the US and South America.

Various studies have concluded that the number of people of Maltese origin living in these countries and others surpasses that of the population of the Maltese Islands.

The main aim of the museum is to record how emigration started and developed, as well as how the communities of Maltese emigrants integrated in the various countries where they settled and what they contributed in these places.

Meanwhile, the sense of belonging to their Maltese origin will be further strengthened and they will continue to maintain strong ties with Malta in spite of their separation from the mother country.

Another aim is for the Maltese in Malta and the Maltese communities abroad to understand better the reality of the phenomenon of migration and the value of social inclusion.

The Emigrants’ Commission said it was taking up the initiative in the context of the active and main contribution it has been making for several years in assisting the number of emigrants setting off from Malta.

As a result, it has extensive memorabilia. These include both official and non-official documentation, photos, newspapers from various countries, objects, certificates, personal and general records, stories and letters.

A council has been set up to oversee the implementation of the project. It is convinced that among many Maltese families and those of Maltese origin scattered in various countries one can find documentation, objects and memorabilia of great importance that need to be preserved.

Thereby, they will form part of the documented history that is going to be archived, and if necessary, exhibited at the Museum.

It appealed to anyone who could offer such material to the museum for the history of Maltese emigration to be fully represented was requested to contact the organisers of the museum.

One can also offer his or her services or financial assistance.

The council can be contacted at Dar l-Emigrant, Castile Place, Valletta, VLT 1062, e-mail -maltamigrationmuseum@melita.com, tel: (+356) 21222644, (+356) 21232545, (+356) 21240255; fax : (+356) 21240022.