Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1464865
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 17 APRIL 2022 14 COMMERCIAL Hili Ventures funds 10 tonnes of aid for Ukraine HILI Ventures and its subsidi- aries across Europe are support- ing the humanitarian effort in Ukraine by extending financial support to charities working to help thousands of people in need at the border and on the ground. More than 10 tonnes of supplies and many hours of medical assistance have been delivered to internally displaced Ukrainians and refugees thanks to this international collabora- tion. Headquartered in Malta, Hili Ventures is engaged in multi-sit- ed operations in partnership with McDonald's and Apple, logistics, marine & engineer- ing, property, technology, oil & gas, hospitality and leasing in 10 countries, including Roma- nia, Poland and Hungary, which border Ukraine. The group has mainly leveraged its close rela- tionship with the Ronald Mc- Donald House Charities which is liaising with other organisa- tions to provide aid. "A few days after the invasion of Ukraine began in February, we began to identify ways in which we could be most ef- fective with support and as- sistance," Hili Ventures Chief Executive Officer Melo Hili explains. "Our best channel to contribute practically and im- mediately to the relief effort with supplies, resources and assistance is undoubtedly the Ronald McDonald House Char- ities. Our McDonald's operating companies in Latvia, Romania and Malta are founding mission partners of the RMHC chapters in these countries." In the last few days, RMHC Romania deployed a truck with 10 tonnes of sanitary prod- ucts, essentials and disinfectant from Bucharest to the border. In co-ordination with RMHC Ukraine, the goods were col- lected by a logistics NGO which delivered them to a Red Cross depot at Mykolaiv in southern Ukraine. The aid was distrib- uted to around 10,000 people close to the epicentre of the attack on the country. Back in Romania, where refugees are crossing over consistently, the RMHC House in Timisoara is hosting families whose children are being treated at the Louis Turcanu Hospital. RMHC Latvia, in co-ordina- tion with the RMHC Chapters in Ukraine and Poland and RMHC Global, deployed its Care Mobile – a fully equipped mobile clinic – to Przemysl in Poland, the city receiving refu- gees from the Medyka-Shehyni border crossing point. A Pol- ish medical team boarded after supplies were loaded and the vehicle made its way to Ukraine where it was handed over to RMHC Ukraine at the Mostyska train station in the Lviv region. Over four days, the Care Mobile visited nearby villages housing refugees and provided medical care to more than 100 patients, including babies and elderly people. The Care Mobile then returned to the train station in Mostyska where people required urgent assistance having not received medical care for many days after fleeing the fighting. Meanwhile, other Hili Ven- tures subsidiaries have organ- ised smaller consignments of es- sentials, mobile device charging cables and accessories and have delivered them to organisations working with refugees in Poland and Hungary. "We are distressed by the trag- edy in Ukraine and the displace- ment of Ukrainians as they seek safety across Eastern Europe, a region that is so close to our hearts," Hili Ventures Chairman Archie Bethel said. "While we have no commercial interests or staff in Ukraine, our thoughts are with the people of this inde- pendent nation. We hope for a peaceful resolution to this hor- rific crisis soon and pledge to continue to do what we can to help. There is so much more that we can and will do to stand with Ukraine." Financial support extended to RMHC Romania by Hili Ventures ensured this truck delivered 10 tonnes of supplies to Ukraine. Melita Foundation supports Helen O'Grady Academy THE Melita Foundation is sup- porting a specific programme designed by the Helen O'Grady Drama Academy to help chil- dren in care or at risk of social exclusion to promote self-con- fidence, encourage clear speech and nurture creative talent. The Academy is working with the Ministry of Education, homes operated by the Church, Appoġġ and other NGOs to identify those children who would benefit most from this programme. Professor Tanya Sammut-Bonnici, Chair of The Melita Foundation, said, "The unique drama based develop- mental programme designed by the Helen O'Grady Acade- my will help these children to develop key life skills focused on communication, critical thinking, and creativity. The Melita Foundation plac- es a great deal of emphasis on promoting 21st Century skills, particularly for those who may have had a difficult start in life and we are therefore commit- ted to make this programme a success." More information on the work of The Melita Foundation is available at https://www.meli- tafoundation.org/