“Skont l-Artikolu 33(1)(c) tal-Kap. 363, il-Kunsill jista’ jikkollabora ma’ għaqdiet jew individwi biex jippromwovi inizjattivi kulturali, soċjali u ambjentali fil-lokal. Doninu (Malta) International, għalkemm mhux reġistrata mal-CVO, taħdem volontarjament, mingħajr flus jew kontijiet bankarji, u b’mod ċar għall-ġid tal-komunità. Għalhekk qed nitolbu li l-Kunsill jikkunsidra l-għajnuna loġistika jew organizzattiva (mingħajr trasferiment ta’ fondi) għall-attivitajiet tagħna.”
🤝 Collaboration with Local Councils
Doninu (Malta) International – Voluntary, Independent, Committed
🇬🇧 English Version
Doninu (Malta) International is an independent, non-profit voluntary organisation. We do not collect donations, we do not receive government grants, and we do not operate bank accounts. All our work is carried out by volunteers, and no individual receives any payment or financial benefit. Our mission is guided solely by goodwill, service, and a shared commitment to improving society and the environment.
🔷 Can Local Councils Collaborate With Us?
Yes. Local Councils are legally empowered to support and collaborate with organisations such as Doninu (Malta) International, even if we are not registered with the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations (CVO).
Article 33(1)(c) – A Local Council may collaborate with any person or body to provide cultural, educational, or social activities for the benefit of the residents.
This means local councils may legally engage with us in community, cultural, educational, environmental, and voluntary initiatives, provided no public funds are directly transferred.
🟢 Forms of Non-Financial Support Councils Can Offer:
- Use of public spaces for events and clean-up actions
- Logistical assistance and coordination
- Public awareness and joint campaigns
- Promotion of voluntary service within the community
- Co-hosting of environmental and community projects
Article 33(1)(f) – A Local Council shall promote the participation of voluntary organisations in the life of the community.
This clearly supports collaboration with voluntary organisations, including those that operate independently and outside the CVO registry, as long as transparency, ethics, and public benefit are guaranteed.
🔎 Why Some Councils Prefer Registered Organisations
Some councils may prefer working with CVO-registered organisations when providing financial assistance or official sponsorships. However, this does not legally restrict cooperation on voluntary or social projects that do not involve the transfer of public funds.
🇲🇹 Verżjoni bil-Malti
Doninu (Malta) International hija għaqda volontarja indipendenti u bla profitt. Ma niġbrux donazzjonijiet, ma nirċevux għotjiet mill-gvern, u ma għandniex kontijiet bankarji. Ix-xogħol kollu jsir mill-membri fuq bażi volontarja – ħadd ma jitħallas u ħadd ma jibbenefika finanzjarjament. Il-missjoni tagħna hija mibnija fuq rieda tajba, servizz u impenn għas-soċjetà u għall-ambjent.
🔷 Jistgħu Kunsilli Lokali Jikkollaboraw Magħna?
Iva. Il-Kunsilli Lokali għandhom setgħa legali li jikkollaboraw ma’ għaqdiet bħall-Doninu (Malta) International, anke jekk m’aħniex irreġistrati mal-Kummissarju għall-Għaqdiet Volontarji (CVO).
Artikolu 33(1)(ċ) – Kunsill Lokali jista’ jikkollabora ma’ kwalunkwe persuna jew korp sabiex jipprovdi attivitajiet kulturali, edukattivi jew soċjali għall-benefiċċju tar-residenti.
Dan ifisser li kunsilli jistgħu legalment jissieħbu magħna f’inizjattivi volontarji, edukattivi, ambjentali u komunitarji sakemm ma jkunx hemm trasferiment ta’ fondi pubbliċi.
🟢 Eżempji ta’ Appoġġ Mhux Finanzjarju Li Kunsilli Jistgħu Joffru:
- Użu ta’ spazji pubbliċi għal attivitajiet jew tindif
- Għajnuna loġistika u koordinazzjoni
- Kampanji ta’ għarfien pubbliku
- Promozzjoni tal-volontarjat fil-lokalità
- Ko-organizzazzjoni ta’ proġetti komunitarji u ambjentali
Artikolu 33(1)(f) – Kunsill Lokali għandu jippromwovi l-parteċipazzjoni ta’ għaqdiet volontarji fil-ħajja tal-komunità.
Dan jikkonferma li l-kollaborazzjoni mal-għaqdiet volontarji hija mħeġġa, anke jekk dawn mhumiex irreġistrati mal-CVO, sakemm hemm trasparenza, etika u benefiċċju pubbliku.
🔎 Għaliex Xi Kunsilli Jippreferu Għaqdiet Irreġistrati
Xi kunsilli jagħżlu li jaħdmu ma’ għaqdiet irreġistrati mal-CVO meta joffru għajnuna finanzjarja jew sponsorships uffiċjali. Iżda dan ma jillimitax koperazzjoni f’proġetti volontarji jew soċjali li ma jinvolvux fondi pubbliċi.
Inħeġġu lill-Kunsilli kollha sabiex jikkoperaw magħna fl-ispirtu ta’ responsabbiltà ċivika u komunità b’saħħitha. Ejjew nibnu lokalitajiet iżjed nodfa, solidi u magħquda – flimkien.
Legal Protections for Voluntary Organisations
Ħarsien Legali għall-Għaqdiet Volontarji
Doninu (Malta) International is a voluntary, non-profit organisation that operates without accepting government funds, grants, or donations, and is not registered with the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations (CVO). Despite this, the organisation is still entitled to fair and lawful treatment from public authorities, including local councils.
Doninu (Malta) International hija għaqda volontarja u mingħajr skop ta’ qligħ li taħdem bla ebda forma ta’ fondi, grants jew donazzjonijiet, u mhix irreġistrata mal-Kummissarju għall-Għaqdiet Volontarji (CVO). Minkejja dan, l-għaqda xorta waħda għandha d-dritt għal trattament ġust u skont il-liġi minn kull awtorità pubblika, inkluż il-kunsilli lokali.
1. Right to Reputation – Civil Code (Cap. 16)
- Any false public statements or defamatory remarks against the organisation may constitute civil defamation.
- The organisation has the right to take legal action for moral and reputational damage.
1. Dritt għar-Reputazzjoni – Kodiċi Ċivili (Kap. 16)
- Kwalunkwe kumment falz jew diffamatorju kontra l-għaqda jista’ jammonta għal diffamazzjoni ċivili.
- L-għaqda għandha d-dritt tieħu azzjoni legali għal ħsarat morali u reputazzjonali.
2. Local Councils Act (Cap. 363)
- Local councils must act fairly and without discrimination when dealing with community organisations, regardless of whether they are CVO-registered.
- Obstructing or excluding organisations based on registration status or personal bias may violate principles of good governance and equality.
2. Att dwar il-Kunsilli Lokali (Kap. 363)
- Il-kunsilli lokali għandhom jaġixxu b’mod ġust u mingħajr diskriminazzjoni meta jittrattaw ma’ għaqdiet fil-komunità, anke jekk mhumiex irreġistrati mal-CVO.
- Li jfixklu jew jeskludu għaqdiet minħabba n-nuqqas ta’ reġistrazzjoni jew għal raġunijiet personali jista’ jikkostitwixxi ksur tal-prinċipji ta’ governanza tajba u ugwaljanza.
3. Public Administration Principles
- Public authorities must act with transparency, fairness, and accountability.
- Misusing power to harm or block a community organisation may be considered maladministration or even misconduct.
3. Prinċipji tal-Amministrazzjoni Pubblika
- L-awtoritajiet pubbliċi għandhom jaġixxu b’trasparenza, ġustizzja u responsabbiltà.
- L-użu ħażin tal-poter biex jagħmlu ħsara jew jimblukkaw għaqda jista’ jammonta għal amministrazzjoni ħażina jew abbuż mill-poter.
4. Prevention of Corruption Act (Cap. 201)
- Any official who abuses their position to intentionally harm a voluntary organisation may be subject to investigation under anti-corruption laws.
4. Att kontra l-Korruzzjoni (Kap. 201)
- Uffiċjal li jabbuża mill-pożizzjoni tiegħu biex jagħmel ħsara intenzjonata lil għaqda volontarja jista’ jkun investigat skont il-liġijiet kontra l-korruzzjoni.
5. Constitutional Right to Freedom of Association
- Under Article 40 of the Constitution of Malta, every person and group has the right to associate freely, regardless of formal registration.
- Any attempt to restrict this right without valid legal grounds may be unconstitutional.
5. Dritt Kostituzzjonali għall-Libertà tal-Għaqda
- Skont l-Artikolu 40 tal-Kostituzzjoni ta’ Malta, kull persuna u entità għandha d-dritt tassoċja ruħha b’mod ħieles, anke jekk mhix irreġistrata.
- Kwalunkwe tentattiv biex jiġi limitat dan id-dritt mingħajr bażi legali jista’ jkun kontra l-Kostituzzjoni.
What Can Be Done?
X’tista’ Tagħmel l-Għaqda?
- Send a formal legal letter to the relevant authority outlining the violation.
- File a complaint with the Ombudsman, Ministry for Local Government, or the Anti-Corruption Commission.
- Ibgħat ittra legali formali lill-awtorità relevanti biex tispjega x’qed jinkiser.
- Tressaq ilment mal-Ombudsman, mal-Ministeru għall-Gvern Lokali, jew mal-Kummissjoni Kontra l-Korruzzjoni.