Highlights from an Afternoon of Connection and Collaboration
On May 9th, we hosted Let’s Talk Volunteering as part of our Erasmus+ project Connect 4 Impact and it turned out to be a fruitful session where new collaborations took place, new ideas for activities and even potential future Erasmus projects.
We were joined by people from different sectors: NGOs, voluntary organisations, school representatives, youth workers, and volunteers. Everyone came with openness and curiosity, ready to reflect on the state of volunteering they offer and explore how we can work better across sectors.
We were also thrilled to welcome our Italian project partner, Europiamo, who shared their experiences and best practices from Italy.
What did we talk about?
There were no panels, no lectures, just meaningful conversations, practical tools, and space for people to connect and share what really matters in their work.
Together, we explored:
- How to build stronger, more practical partnerships between NGOs, schools, and the private sector
- How youth volunteering can become more meaningful, not just “hours to fill” but experiences that benefit both students and organisations
- How organisations can better showcase their work and attract support through CSR
- And what’s still holding us back when it comes to collaboration, visibility, and engagement
Real talk
During the event, we asked attendees to share what they see as the biggest blocks to collaboration in Malta.
Two points stood out: the lack of volunteering opportunities for people under 18 and lack of collaboration among organisations.
We discussed how some organisations simply don’t realise how valuable youth volunteering can be. Youth today often have skills in content creation, digital tools, and social media, areas that many NGOs struggle with. Imagine, bigger visibility of your organisation leads to bigger impact and youth can be part of it! Giving them a space to contribute isn’t just good for young people, it’s smart strategy!
A closer look at VolunteersMalta.com
We also gave a walkthrough of VolunteersMalta.com, a platform to help all kind of organisations boost their visibility and connect with volunteers and to help people interested in volunteering to find the right opportunity for them. All is free and having a listing can boost your visibility and impact.
Even if you’re not actively recruiting volunteers, having a profile helps people discover your work, learn how to support you, or reach out to collaborate.
You can list:
- Volunteer roles
- CSR-friendly initiatives
- One-off events or short-term opportunities
You can either create a profile and listings on your own – steps here or we can do it for you. Again, all services related to volunteersmalta.com are free. Just email us at join@volunteersmalta.com — we’ll set it up for you. Our aim is to provide visibility of various organisations needing volunteers but also encourage wider community to engage in volunteering. Potential volunteers will contact you directly, speeding up the process of connecting you.
What attandees said about VolunteersMalta.com
“Exactly what is needed in the Maltese context — offering a one-stop shop for all opportunities across stakeholders is a great concept and very welcome.”
“The fact that its very user friendly and simple. I was surprized to see the CSR section which I think is brilliant.”
“It is a fantastic resource that I am already using and have passed on to my students. All the different filters to search are very helpful.”
What attendees said about the Let’s Talk Volunteering event
“I didn’t know what to expect, but I left the session so pleased with all the contacts I made and the resources shared. I’m eager to attend future events like this.”
“Great event offered by people who are invested for the right reasons.”
“The energy of the organisors created a wonderful atmosphere. Everything was well explained with the help of slides.”
Overview of EU Funding and Information Sources
During the event, Projekta Malta provided an overview of EU funding opportunities and resources available to help NGOS and schools navigate the complex funding application process.
More details about these funding schemes can be found here:
Another great tool which was not known to many is a website SALTO Training Calendar , where you can find free international opportunities for youth workers, educators and group leaders. This is a perfect way to enter the world of Erasmus and ESC and gain experience before applying for your own project.
Each participant received a printed copy of a Guide to Financial & Marketing Strategies for Youth NGOs, to support organisations in becoming more visible, strategic, and partnership-ready.
This resource was developed through another Erasmus+ project, Unlock Cross-Sectoral Cooperation, coordinated by Awesome People (Sweden).
The guide will be publicly released in summer 2025, but you can already register to receive it here.
We were also introduced to a local Crowdfunding platform Zaar by Giselle Borg Olivier from FPEI. Zaar Crowdfunding Malta is a platform that offers reward- and donation-based crowdfunding as an alternative means of funding projects in the fields of business, community, research, and culture.
Intro to other Projekta Malta’s ongoing activities and projects for youth:
During the event Projekta Malta gave an overview other other similar projects they are currently running. NGOs were encouraged to sign up and benefit from these available opportunities. Click on each project below to learn more:
Missed the “Let’s Talk Volunteering” event and would like to connect?
We’d love to hear from you! – Contact Us today
Thanks again to everyone who showed up, contributed, and suggested fresh ideas with us! You planted new seeds for future collaboration and activities.