Clothes. Shoes. Electronic devices. These are the things that often come to mind when people think of Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
But for many, this season means something different, thanks to an initiative called Giving Tuesday. It’s a day to shift the focus from buying to giving, from deals to difference, and from things to the people who truly need them.
Keep reading to know more about this wonderful initiative to give back and why you should choose MOAS for this year’s donation.
What is Giving Tuesday?
Giving Tuesday is a chance to give back. It is an initiative first born in 2012 by 92NY, an international cultural and community center focused on culture, arts, entertainment and conversation. This year, it will be held on Tuesday the 2nd of December.
During the 2024 Campaign, Giving Tuesday raised $3.6 billion in the US only, with 36.1 million people joining this movement across the US.
For MOAS, this day means hope, generosity and community, because we turn donations into life-saving aid, giving strength and support to vulnerable communities worldwide.
Why should you join us in Giving Tuesday?
Making a difference can be a difficult decision. Because of that, we will give you 5 reasons why this year you should choose to give back with Giving Tuesday:
- Tangible Change
A new sweater for your friend is for sure a good gift, but what if you could be an agent of change and create a huge impact on someone else’s life? By deciding to donate during Giving Tuesday, you make a difference: help us help them. Festivities come and go; people’s struggles are all year long.
- A Lasting Community to Build
Giving Tuesday is an event that around 80 countries all over the world join to raise donations and awareness. Feeling part of a bigger community, that goes beyond borders, is an amazing sensation: joining millions around the world this Giving Tuesday to show what generosity can do when we do it together as a community. Real change happens when we nurture connections and grow together all year long.
- Spreading Awareness
Giving Tuesday is not all about donations: it’s a public platform that gives visibility to smaller or bigger organizations active in different areas of intervention. By joining this initiative, you can take part in educating other people about nowadays issues. Moreover, organizations look for volunteers and visibility too. If you’re not able to donate, you can choose to give back your time and talent this year!
- A Huge Network For A Big Contribution
36.1 million people across the US decided to make a change last year. Contributing to an organization’s work doesn’t take millions of dollars: Giving Tuesday gives the chance to small donors to help how they can, even with smaller but impactful donations. This is because of the core of Giving Tuesday: a strong community driven by compassion and humanity can make a huge change on organizations all over the world.
- Reawakening Festivity’s Spirit
The more time passes, the more traditions change; sometimes, we can forget easily what festivities are about: how we care for one another and how we show our love. Giving Tuesday fights the idea that happiness can be bought: through even the smallest acts of giving, we can make the world a kinder, more hopeful place.
Why you should choose MOAS: a worldwide impact
MOAS roots are located in Malta where, in 2014, we became the first private-funded organisation to start Search and Rescue (SAR) operations in the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas.
Since then, we evolved and developed new humanitarian initiatives: we spread internationally with several projects, from the Disaster and Risk Reduction in Bangladesh, Cox’s Bazar, and life-saving aid deliveries in Somalia, Yemen, Sudan, until the most recent emergency response operation in Ukraine .
Our impact is constantly evolving to adapt our mission to nowadays’ struggles.
In Malta, where our HQ is based, we are active with different projects:
- Information & Learning Centre in Hal Far
Having a safe, quiet and well equipped space to learn is a very important part of our mission for migrants and asylum seeketrs to have the right to education. We decided to invest in the renovation of a room in Hal Far Hangar Open Centre to turn it into a Learning Centre, in collaboration with AWAS (Agency for the Welfare of Asylum Seekers). This place provides resources, training, and vocational activities to support future pathways for the residents of the centre.
The centre is equipped with learning tools that provide residents access to educational opportunities, training and vocational activities, CV writing workshops, job support and much more.
- English Language Courses
Welcoming everyone in our Learning Centre, we use this space to teach English for every level. With the help of local volunteers and our own team, plus educational resources such as computers, books and more, we turn learning into a happy moment, spending time laughing, sharing and bonding with each other while discovering a new language, to create a strong community based on trust and respect. We consider the knowledge of English a way to empower participants to access work, community services, and connection.
- Refugee Week and Malta Refugee Council
MOAS continues to spread awareness and support migrants also through various activities organized during the Refugee Week: this year, with the support of Migrant Women Association Malta, we held an interesting cooking class at the Valletta Design Cluster, where migrant women shared their recipes and taught participants how to prepare them. Another successful initiative, in collaboration with Blue Door Education, was the “Lingo Bingo”, a fun and unconventional language class. We are also member of the Malta Refugee Council, and are involved in a variety of activities aimed at supporting migrant in Malta.
Past activities in Malta
- Hospital Visits
For migrants medically evacuated to Malta, we provided hospital visits, care packages, and home support to ensure no one faces hardship alone. For those who were receiving treatment, we made sure that they felt supported and had access to services; we also provided them with care packages to support them through recovery. We have helped coordinate at-home care for individuals who need additional support once they return home after treatment.
- Support local migrants and refugees during Covid-19
During Covid-19 pandemic, MOAS has provided access to education to migrant families through the “Remote Learning Initiative”, providing tablets and modems to students to help children and full-time adult learners keep up with their studies during a tough time.
To assist them further, together with a team of 140 local volunteers and partners around the island, MOAS has made over 10,000 washable and reusable cotton mask that were distributed to vulnerable groups across the island by organisations, such as the Agency for the Welfare of Asylum Seekers (AWAS) and Foodbank Lifeline Foundation.
Engage in our Giving Tuesday’s campaign
Over the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing inspiring stories that show how your support directly transforms the lives of vulnerable people through MOAS. You’ll discover exactly how your donations are put to work and the incredible impact they create. Stay connected and follow us on social media to join the journey: together, we can make a real impactful difference.
Your support can make a difference. Please consider donating to help us continue our missions and save lives. Visit www.moas.eu/donate to contribute. For more updates on our work, follow us on social media, sign up for our newsletter, or contact us at [email protected].
Disclaimer: “Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.”