Every now and then you walk into an event and realise it’s exactly where you need to be. That’s how we felt at the Impact Fair, both in 2024 and also 2025. This annual gathering by Academy of Givers brings together charities, social enterprises, businesses and anyone who genuinely wants to make Malta a stronger, more connected place. It’s a space built on two simple ideas: making giving easier and helping organisations build partnerships that actually lead somewhere.
2024: Our First Step In
In 2024 we took part as exhibitors. We had our own stand, which gave us a solid base to introduce Projekta Malta and, for the very first time, present volunteersmalta.com to the public. The fair’s theme that year centred on building better social impact through collaboration and bringing the private and non-profit sectors closer together. Both themes spoke directly to what we’re trying to do: connect people, simplify communication and help organisations reach the right audience.
Having a stand meant we spent most of the day talking, explaining, demonstrating and listening. And honestly, it worked. We met new organisations, learned what sort of support people struggle to find, and even onboarded some of them onto volunteersmalta.com. It gave us real insight into what the sector needs rather than what we assume it needs.
2025: Taking a Different Approach
The following year we changed strategy. Instead of having a stand, we attended the Impact Fair as visitors. The theme in 2025 shifted towards innovation in community action and finding new ways to make collaboration easier. That direction fitted perfectly with how our Connect 4 Impact project has been growing.
Being visitors gave us more freedom. We weren’t tied to a stand, so we jumped into workshops, took part in discussions and approached organisations in a more natural way. We still promoted volunteersmalta.com, of course, and it paid off. The conversations ran deeper, people opened up more, and some of those chats turned into real collaborations. Some NGOs we met there later took part in Connect 4 Impact activities, which shows how valuable unstructured conversations can be.
How These Events Strengthened Our Project
If there’s one thing both years confirmed, it’s this: the Impact Fair aligns perfectly with what Connect 4 Impact stands for. The event focuses on collaboration, stronger networks and practical action, and that’s exactly the direction our project is heading. The fair introduced us to organisations that want to do meaningful work but don’t always know where to look for partners or volunteers. And it gave us the space to test whether volunteersmalta.com actually solves a problem. Spoiler: it does, but there’s always room to improve, and these events helped us spot what to work on next.
We walked away from both fairs with new contacts, clearer insights and a stronger understanding of where the sector is moving.
Looking Ahead
The conversations that started at the Impact Fairs helped shape our events, our platform and the way we approach partnerships. And if we want Connect 4 Impact to actually deliver long-term value, we need more of this hands-on engagement, not less. So yes, we’ll definitely be back. But next time, we might challenge ourselves yet again and show up in a completely different way!