For this year’s CSR Day activity, which took place on October 16, Grant Thornton joined forces with The Missionary Society of St Paul (MSSP) at St Joseph Home in Sta Venera, Malta to help tackle the urgent needs of underprivileged families in Peru. Together, they sorted and prepared critical shipments, accelerating aid and freeing space for educational use at the home.
The MSSP, established in 1910 by Mgr. Joseph De Piro, expanded its outreach to Latin America in 1968, setting roots in the province of Arequipa, Peru. During the COVID-19 pandemic, which greatly disrupted volunteer activities, the MSSP faced significant operational challenges, especially in the sorting and packing of goods to be shipped from Malta to families in need within the region. As a result, the MSSP was faced with an accumulation of donated goods occupying large rooms which could not be put to better use.
It’s a privilege to assist in such practical and meaningful ways, helping to ensure that vital aid reaches those who need it most.
With the assistance of the Grant Thornton team, who contributed time and manpower, MSSP managed to prepare a large quantity of donated goods for shipment to Peru. Thanks to this initiative, the delivery of these items was expedited, thus ensuring that essential items reach those most in need and sustaining the vital lifeline that the MSSP provides to these communities. This initiative also facilitated the clearing up of the cluttered storage spaces that will now be able to be transformed into resource rooms for St Joseph Home’s young residents.
Grant Thornton Managing Partner, Mark Bugeja commented: “CSR Day offers us an opportunity to step back from our daily tasks and direct our resources towards fulfilling our social responsibilities beyond our professional and personal lives. Our collaboration with the MSSP reflects our commitment to community support and using our resources wisely. It’s a privilege to assist in such practical and meaningful ways, helping to ensure that vital aid reaches those who need it most.”
Fr Gigi Mallia, the Director of St Joseph Home, stated: “We are grateful for the support from Grant Thornton, which has been instrumental in our efforts to address urgent needs in Peru and improve our facilities in Malta. Partnerships like these enable us to continue our work effectively, even in challenging times. We welcome people stopping from their daily activities to lend us a hand, giving us a much-needed boost when we require extra manpower for a task.”
The joint initiative between Grant Thornton and the MSSP highlights the firm’s dedication to address its resources and expertise to meet critical community needs, both locally and on a global scale. Through its worldwide initiative, “GT in the Community”, Grant Thornton requires its member firms to engage in a wide range of social responsibility efforts aimed at promoting sustainable development and enhancing the quality of life around the world.
The article first appeared in Malta Independent on Tuesday, December 3, 2024.