Dr. Lydia Abela has officially closed the fourth edition of the “Gift with Love” initiative. In Pjazza Kastilja, next to the Christmas tree and a beautiful amount of gifts as a result of the values of altruism and solidarity shown by the Maltese and Gozitan people, Dr. Abela and her daughter Giorgia Mae thanked the families and the businesses of the gifts that were given.
For the first time, this year’s edition was spread over two days through a Christmas village with a wonderful show and days of activities in Castile Square. “I confess that I never realized that an initiative like this, which started from a simple idea back in 2020, would grow to the event we had today here in Pjazza Castilja. Every year I continue to admire the beautiful values fostered by the Maltese and Gozitan people. From the previous years I realized that the impact of the initiative had an effect on all of Malta and Gozo and I can confirm this with the messages I used to receive when the gifts started arriving at the children’s homes,” said the Prime Minister’s wife.
While she expressed her sense of appreciation towards everyone who gave a gift at this most beautiful time of the year, the thing that pleases Mrs. Abela the most is that phone call or that message she receives should not a parent to say thank you for cheering up his son or daughter. “Nothing makes me happier than seeing a boy or girl together with her father and mother came to put a present under the Christmas tree. Children, whose gift brings a smile on other children who don’t know. And beyond the gift, I feel that for me is a greater joy, where I know that in our children we are growing and nurturing beautiful and social values between everyone. There I realize what responsibility we all have to leave a positive impact on those most in need in our society,” said Dr Abela.
Also for the first time, this year’s edition was held in collaboration with the Ministry for the Environment, Energy and Enterprise and the Parliamentary Secretariat for Local Government. From the nursery of Ambjent Malta, 68 cypress trees were distributed to each Local Council as a symbol of this initiative, with the intention that even this year’s edition will be a success. Dr. Lydia Abela said that with the aim of more people being able to participate in this initiative with a philanthropic aim, the collaboration was made with the aim that residents in every city and village have the opportunity to put a gift under the tree in their respective locality, if they cannot go with the gift to Castile Square.
At the end of this initiative the Minister for the Interior, Security, Reforms and Equality Byron Camilleri also spoke, who thanked the members of the Disciplined Bodies who were once again instrumental in order this initiative takes place. The Minister for Environment, Energy and Enterprise Miriam Dalli said that by giving cypress trees to all the Local Councils in Malta and Gozo, Environment Malta worked with the Local Councils to make this initiative spreads in all our communities while the Parliamentary Secretary for Local Government Alison Zerafa Civelli thanked all the Local Councils, who for the second consecutive year gave their contribution in collecting gifts from their respective localities.
Meanwhile, as soon as Dr. Abela closed the initiative, the work began on the distribution of the gifts given with love by the Maltese and Gozitan people.
Photos: DOI/OPM
