Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1191618
12.12.19 TRENDSETTERS MASSIMO COSTA WOMEN for Women, the online Face- book community, is seeking crowdfunding to establish a foundation which will pro- vide for the emergency financial needs of women with children. e foundation has already raised over €11,000 in funds through Malta's crowd- funding website Zaar.com.mt, for the set- ting up of a foundation and a social fund. e Women for Women Facebook group was set up in 2015 by Francesca Fenech Conti, and now has over 30,000 women as members. e foundation will be placing women and their children at its heart, offering them fi- nancial support in difficult times and help- ing them raise their young ones in a safe and nurturing home environment. Research shows that single women with children have needs which are specific and differ from those of other socio-economic groups. e funds, which Women for Women aims to raise by January 2020, will be used for the initial setting up of the fund and the foundation, following all legal requirements in this regard. e money raised will also be used for the provision of interest-free microloans, aim- ing to empower women to improve their long-term prospects by investing in the short term. Moreover, the funds will also be used to enable the foundation to support women and children in vulnerable situations by providing monetary assistance, free prod- ucts, vouchers and services to enable them to overcome unexpected circumstances, such as illness or homelessness. e foundation's initial crowdfunding goal was to raise at least €10,000 - this has been surpassed through the help of 462 backers who donated money. Raising more funds will undoubtedly help the foundation - which will be run by Fenech Conti and a core team of profession- als - to reach its goals. All persons involved in running it will be volunteering their time and services for free. Amongst the initiatives which the Women for Women community have already raised money for in the past are the providing of funds to pay electricity bills for various fam- ilies; the purchasing of washing machines, fridges, heaters and other appliances for women in need; the paying for legal advice and court expenses for victims of domestic violence; the provision of interest-free loans for women; and the provision of baby prod- ucts such as nappies and clothes. Anyone wanting to donate for the setting up of the Women for Women Foundation can do so by 31 January 2020 through visit- ing this link: http://www.zaar.com.mt/pro- jects/women-for-women/ Women for Women in crowdfunding initiative to set up a foundation Foundation will cater for emergency financial needs of women with children Francesca Fenech Conti and a team of professionals will be running the Foundation