HSBC Malta Foundation, the corporate sustainability arm of HSBC Bank Malta, in 2024 will be celebrating the 25th anniversary since it was established.

The foundation is described by HSBC as being dedicated to the Maltese community, with the role of being a “stalwart of societal development and corporate citizenship.”

Over the past 12 months, the foundation provided a significant amount of support that extended to 156 entities, including 92 NGOs, eight Local Councils, as well as 56 schools and centres.

It celebrated the involvement of over 400 employees, who, in 2023, dedicated their voluntary leave day to support a variety of charitable causes across Malta. This initiative allowed employees to engage directly with local communities, thus exemplifying the bank’s ethos of “connecting with and contributing to the society” in which they operate.

Among the collaborations, HSBC employees contributed to the development opportunities for youth with Junior Chamber international (JCI) Malta, supported individuals facing difficulties through the Malta Community Chest Fund Foundation, and also fostered leadership skills amongst others with JA Malta Foundation.

The past year also represented one where educational support was highlighted, with initiatives at various colleges and schools forming part of the Prince’s Trust International Achieve Programme. Furthermore, the foundation’s engagement with Local Councils has led to “enhanced community projects benefitting residents and local infrastructure.”

One of the initiatives involved students from the Prince’s Trust International Achieve Programme visiting the Soup Kitchen in Valletta to help prepare lunch for the day and take-away snacks. They also assisted in the kitchen and cleared tables.

Students from St Thomas More College Primary A in Żejtun were amongst many students from different schools who supported the HSBC Foundation and MOVE initiative to contribute to the planting of 80 trees. This was worth 4,000 kilometres of walking or running as part of the #movefortrees initiative coordinated by MOVE.

On International Women’s Day in March, through an initiative coordinated by the foundation, 10 local schools came together to support nine NGOs working with vulnerable women across Malta and Gozo.

“Volunteering is more than a corporate directive; it’s a personal commitment our employees make year after year,” HSBC Malta CEO Geoffrey Fichte said.

“As we mark our 25th anniversary, we are inspired by the collective impact of our teams and the foundation’s partnerships with local NGOs, schools, and councils,” he added.

He remarked that the foundation looks forward to “deepening these relationships” and to continue to make a “meaningful difference.”