Vodafone Malta Foundation begins accepting applications for grants

The Vodafone Malta Foundation (VMF), set up recently with a Lm30,000 grant from Vodafone Malta Ltd, has begun accepting applications for grants from organisations in Malta.

The foundation, a voluntary charity organisation chaired by Mrs Gemma Mifsud Bonnici, was formed to make social investments with the main aim of sharing the benefits of the developments in mobile technology as widely as possible.

The VMF will also work to protect the natural environment, national culture and heritage and to support local communities in which Vodafone customers, employees, investors, partners and suppliers live.

Those organisations who wish to apply for grants can contact Martin Gregory, an administrator on the VMF board, at Vodafone House in Birkirkara on tel 2388-8238 or by e-mail at VodafoneMalta. Foundation@vodafone.com. Application forms are also available from the Website www.vodafone. com.mt in the "Where are we?" section.

Duly filled in application forms may be returned to the Vodafone Malta Foundation, Vodafone House, Msida Road, Birkirkara BKR 14, or faxed to 2388-8126. The closing date for the submission of applications is January 31.

The VMF is also accepting applications for grants from the Vodafone Group Foundation. For more information log on to www.vodafonefoundation.com.

"The Vodafone Malta Foundation wants to remove the barriers that prevent people from participating fully in society and it will support programmes that seek to give people of all ages the opportunity to acquire skills that will allow them to use new technologies," Mrs Mifsud Bonnici said.

"The foundation will support adaptations of technology to meet the needs of people with physical and mental disabilities and will support programmes that attempt to increase accessibility.

"Furthermore, the foundation will help protect the environment and ensure the safeguarding of our national culture and heritage."

The VMF is driven by one of Vodafone's core values, 'passion for the world around us', which is about caring and commitment. The foundation forms part of the umbrella organisation, the Vodafone Group Foundation (VGF), which was launched in June 2002.

During its first year of operation VGF donated £10 million to a range of causes. This year the figure is £12 million and in 2004 it will be £25 million.

The VGF gives money to projects with a global or multinational scope as well as schemes funded in partnership with local foundations or community programmes. It is entirely separate from Vodafone's commercial operations.