In August 2016, Ms Lindsay Marie Farrugia presented her dissertation to the Malta Co-operative Federation. Ms Farrugia, a Master in Accountancy graduate from the University of Malta prepared a dissertation entitled: The Social Enterprise in Malta: Implications and applicability. Since the Malta Co-operative Federation had strongly criticised the White Paper and Social Enterprise Bill launched in June 2015 by the Maltese Government, Ms Farrugia, as part of her research, interviewed the CEO of the Federation, Mr Rolan Micallef Attard for a better understanding of the potential of the social co-operative enterprise scenario in Malta and the implications of the White [...]

The Malta Co-operative Federation Council accepted Seeds Wellbeing Co-op Ltd as a new Member Society of the Federation on 22nd July 2016. The MCF Council Members welcomed the members of this newly registered co-operative to the Federation. Seeds Wellbeing Co-op is a new wave co-operative that aims to offer services related to mental health, wellbeing and education to the public both nationally and internationally. MCF CEO Rolan Micallef Attard thanked his fellow Council Members for all the hard work and hand-holding necessary in the start-up phase of this co-operative.

Co-operatives: The power to act for a sustainable future This is the theme chosen for the 2016 International Day of Co-operatives on the 2nd July 2016. During the United Nations General Assembly in September 2015, world leaders committed to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, outlining an ambitious vision for a better world. They agreed on seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to wipe out poverty, fight inequality and injustice and tackle climate change, all over the next fifteen years.  Co-operatives have a unique role to play in realizing the SDGs. The co-operative business model has sustainable development at its core, [...]

A number of students from the the Liceo Scientifico Arcidosso of Grosseto Italy visited the Malta Co-operative Federation in Valletta on the 18th May 2016. Mr John Mallia and Mr Rolan Micallef Attard presented a number of videos and gave an overview of the international and local scenarios of the co-operative movement. The students, who were accompanied by their teachers, showed great interest in the co-operative model of doing business.  The President and the CEO of the Federation highlighted the importance of working together for the benefit of all. Ms Maria Grazia Aversa stressed the importance of this visit with the Malta [...]

Minister Christian Cardona has recently publicly promised remedies to those who have suffered injustices.  To date the Minister has talked the talk but hasn't yet walked the walk with respect to the lack of funding to the Malta Co-operative Federation (MCF).  Meanwhile, the Central Co-operative Fund Committee, the members of which were appointed by Minister Cardona, continue to fund the other co-operative federation. Upon taking office in 2013, Minister Cardona committed himself to putting an end to the injustices that the MCF has faced since its inception in 2012.  Both he and the Co-operatives Board (also appointed by him) promised to put [...]