Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/625693
maltatoday, Wednesday, 13 January 2016 17 Events Paola Hostel gets GasanMamo uplift Paola Hostel, a joint venture between Richmond Foundation and Mount Carmel Hospital has been given a much-needed up- grade thanks to a CSR day organ- ised by GasanMamo Insurance employees. The Hostel provides accom- modation with 24-hour support to men with mental health prob- lems. The accommodation part of the Hostel is an important element in the safety the hostel provides to these men, with areas where they can rest and spend time with friends. GasanMamo employees got busy with the maintenance of the rooms, painting walls in the sitting room, kitchen, office and corridors and the moving of fur- niture and finishing touches to make the rooms sparkly and cool, ready for the New Year. "We recognise the indispensible service that the Hostel extends to men who are experiencing mental health problems. We are hopeful that through our input and help, the home will continue to offer a better environment and moments of respite in their troubled lives," said Mark Mamo, General Man- ager of GasanMamo Insurance. at Paola Hostel, through com- prehensive assessment and con- tinued care planning, residents are encouraged to work upon their abilities and maximize their strengths. The Hostel provides community based long-term ac- commodation and 24-hour care for eleven males, previously resid- ing at Mount Carmel Hospital; offering them the necessary sup- port to maintain a good level of independence and minimise the need for psychiatric admissions. It also assists each resident ac- cording to his individual capabili- ties in relation to his daily activi- ties and helps each resident build and maintain a social life. anthony E. Guillaumier, Chair- man Richmond Foundation com- mended GasanMamo Insurance's kind gesture, dedication and teamwork. He said, "I feel very privileged for the work that they carried out during the CSR day. The gesture has brought many benefits including the improve- ment of life of a group of men who have carried not only the burden of serious mental illness but also having spent the best time of their life in a psychiatric hospi- tal, and at the same time sending a positive message and reducing the stigma surrounding mental health problems." Richmond Foundation, founded on 13 May 1993 is a non-govern- mental and non-profit organisa- tion which provides community services for persons with men- tal health difficulties and in the promotion of mental health and the prevention of mental illness amongst the public. It strives to combat stigma and increase awareness on the subject through the local media. The Foundation actively partici- pates in regional and internation- al events where it has the oppor- tunity to increase its knowledge, expand its network, shares its views and heightens its profile and reputation. Christian Sant, Olivia Sciberras, Josè Busuttil, Vanessa Portelli, Mark Mamo, Neville Agius, Kelly Azzopardi, Diane Farrugia, Daniela Hollier, Diane Attard, Benjamin Portelli, Max Borg Bonello and Marcon Agius at Paola Hostel HSBC Catch the Drop messages become forever Djamantini NINE students from various school systems, whose post- ers featuring water conserva- tion themes were printed in the recently-published Djamantini book, pose with HSBC Water Programme – Catch the Drop co-ordinator Glenn Bugeja. These posters originally formed part of an art exhibition organised by the HSBC Water Programme – Catch the Drop. altogether 12 posters were printed in the book 's section on water, which also included a number of poems, narratives, and stories about water. THE Malta Stock Exchange Index finished 2015 at 4,430, up 33%, and was one of the world's best performing stock indices. Three companies, Mapfre Middle Sea, RS2, and Simonds Farsons dou- bled in price, with many other companies finishing the year up over 30%. Trading activity improved con- siderably with equity and corpo- rate bond trading volumes up 61% and 38% respectively. These in- creases were also reflected in the total Market Capitalisation Value which ended the year at €11.4 bil- lion, an increase of over €1 billion when compared to the previous year. Joseph Portelli Chairman of the Malta Stock Exchange said, "The MSE's index outperformance is a testimonial to the Maltese econo- my being one of Europe's best per- formers, to improved corporate profits and an economy awash in liquidity. Consumer confidence is also quite strong, which along with other positive economic fundamentals should bode well for the Maltese equity market." The Malta Stock Exchange will soon be reporting full year earn- ings and is expected to announce record profits. During 2015, the Exchange fo- cused on consolidating its core business streams and implement- ing new projects, primarily partic- ipating in T2S in June 2015, which will bolster the Exchange's bid to attract international business. In 2016, the Exchange will endeavour to focus on two core strategies. one will be to aggressively build a business development culture within the Exchange, the other to become more efficient. The Business Development strategy will centre on attracting overseas companies from China, Turkey, Italy, Spain, Eastern Eu- rope and the Middle East to take advantage of Malta's cost effective listing solutions. The Exchange will also soon introduce Prospects, an SME Exchange which will cater to small companies looking to at- tract up to 5 million Euros in capi- tal. The Exchange also will soon introduce an MSE Sharia Compli- ant Index, which is in line with its strategy to explore opportunities within Islamic Finance. The MSE will also embark on an exercise to examine how op- erations within the Exchange and Central Securities Depository (CSD) can be made more efficient and productive and benefit from participation in T2S. Maltese Stock Markets one of the world's best performers