Puttinu Cares CEO Rennie Zerafa and President Angele Cuschieri gave a more socially positive interpretation of charity telethons after university lecturer Prof Andrew Azzopardi said they should be banned.
Prof. Azzopardi’s argument is that telethons undermine the dignity of people in need by making them “perform their suffering in exchange for help” while shifting responsibility away from state institutions.
Speaking to WhosWho.mt, the two leaders of Puttinu - which organises the annual Good Friday telethon - said that no one is obliged to share their story.
However, they said some families choose to share their stories because they genuinely want others to know that help exists, that they are not alone, and that the generosity they received can also reach others in similar situations.
“For them, telling their story is often an act of gratitude, advocacy, and hope rather than a performance of suffering,” they said.
They also pointed out that telethons serve a social function by allowing society to be part of the care and support offered to patients and families.
“As a charity, Puttinu Cares has always been deeply shaped by the culture of the Maltese people,” they said.
“There is a strong sense of community and collective responsibility in Malta, where people do not simply expect the state to help those in need, but also feel a personal desire to contribute.”
“This generosity is not driven by obligation or spectacle, but by empathy and solidarity. Even we, after all these years, are continually amazed that despite being a small country, Malta consistently gives so much and does so unconditionally.”
“While government support is essential and valued, many people feel that contributing themselves is a way of being part of the care and support offered to patients and families.”
“This is particularly true when they hear real stories and understand, in human terms, the realities faced by those living with serious illness. For many donors, giving is not about ‘rescuing’ someone, but about standing with them.”
Mr Zerafa and Ms Cuschieri clarified that they are opposed to fundraising that compromises human dignity but emphasised that properly-run telethons don’t have to normalise suffering of replace the role of the state.
“Instead, they can serve a broader social purpose: raising awareness, fostering solidarity, encouraging community participation, and reminding us that compassion is a shared value,” they said.
They added that while alternative charity mechanisms proposed by Prof. Azzopardi, such as structured micro-donations, are worth exploring, these should complement – not replace – existing approaches.
“We believe that removing public, voluntary acts of giving altogether risks weakening the very social fabric that has long defined Maltese society,” they said.
“Ultimately, charity in Malta has never been only about filling gaps in state provision. It is also about human connection, collective responsibility, and the desire of people to help one another simply because they can.”
