On June 24th 2021 the Global Fund for Forgotten People awards its 500th grant in support of the Order of Malta’s worldwide humanitarian work. These grants have enabled the Order’s national associations and relief organisations to support over one million disadvantaged people in 88 countries since 2012.
The Global Fund for Forgotten People was established by the central government of the Order of Malta in 2012 to support and expand the Order’s medical and social assistance programmes helping those often pushed to the fringes of society – the persecuted, the elderly, the sick, the homeless and refugees. Equipped to accept international donations cost-effectively in over 20 jurisdictions, the Fund provides a professional mechanism and robust due diligence for donors to support the Order’s work anywhere in the world. As well as providing funding to support work where it is needed most, the Fund promotes best practice and knowledge-sharing between Order of Malta projects, inviting collaboration and innovation to maximise impact.
Since 2012, grants from the Fund have enabled the Order of Malta to bring food and education to over 125,000 disadvantaged children, help over 100,000 displaced people to integrate into new communities, provide meals and companionship for 75,000 vulnerable elderly people and develop over 150 new areas of work.
In the time of COVID-19, the Fund’s support enabled the Order to pivot to provide remote services, delivering vital food parcels and social support to over 40,000 people in need. Volunteers share stories of food parcels being welcomed with tears of joy and relief as parents who have lost jobs in the pandemic realise that they will be able to feed their children after all.
“The Fund’s 500th grant is testament to the Order’s ability to renew its ancient mission of service to the sick and the poor today and every day” says Founder and CEO Lisa Sanchez-Corea Simpson. “We are indebted to our generous donors and to the dedication of the Order’s members, staff and volunteers for this momentous milestone.”
Fra’ Marco Luzzago, Lieutenant of the Grand Master of the Sovereign Order of Malta, thanked the Fund for their work. “The work of the Global Fund for Forgotten People is more important than ever. Thank you for all that you are doing to alleviate the pain of people in need.”
Full details about the Fund and its grant making can be found at www.forgottenpeople.org.
