About Us
Set up in 1998 through the inspiration of the late Mercedes Busuttil, Fondation de Malte is an independent, voluntary and non-profit foundation supporting initiatives dedicated to international society and geo-strategy, cultural affairs, sustainability and future generations. Fondation de Malte achieves its purpose through:
Dialogue - engaging governments, education institutes, the private sector, and civil society in open and private debate;
and Research– by bringing together experts, academics and students for the realisation of independent and objective studies, events, and publications.
Publications
Fondation de Malte publishes a number of book series and other publications in both print and digital format.
ln 2006, Fondation launched Telos as a means to voice independent observations and viewpoints on specific topics. Telos has so far dealt with, amongst others: Renewable Energy in Malta, What Future for Future Generations , Political Change in the Mediterranean between Dialogue and Revolution, an edition in commemoration of the Independent World Commission of the Oceans, and Monasticism in the Mediterranean : Now and Tomorrow, Food [In]Security.
In 2013, Fondation published a monograph series, entitled Lumen, which going beyond academic exercises, seeks to arouse interest in a given problematique. Discursive in tone, it poses questions rather than identifies final answers. The first Lumen, Tracing The Blue Economy, is an innovative essay by Awni Behnam, President of the International Ocean Institute and former Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations.
In 2017, a new pocket book series was launched, Poêsis with the aim of giving form to ideas, texts, poetry, short stories, thoughts and other creative and experimental material.
Ambassadors' Circle
In 2005, the late President of Fondation de Malte, Prof. Salvino Busuttil, set up the Ambassadors' Circle.
Fondation de Malte coordinates the Circle, which brings together on a regular basis foreign resident Ambassadors accredited to Malta.
These meetings are held behind closed doors, with the scope of discussing domestic and regional issues. A guest speaker, either foreign or local, addresses the breakfast on a specific topic.
Partnerships & Cooperation
Fondation de Malte is partnered and cooperates with a number of international organisations including the EurOcean Foundation, Fundação Mário Soares. Over the years it has collaborated with CIHEAM, JRS, the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice, the Cathedral Museum, the Migration Museum, the International Ocean Institute, the European String Teachers' Association, the Dies Amalphitana Symposia, the Antinea Foundation, the Alliance Française de Malte-Méditerranée, the Malta Association of Human Rights (MAHR), the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), the European Association for the Defence of Human Rights (AEDH).
Future Generations Unit
The Future Generations Unit (FGU) was created as the heir to the activities and actions of the Malta Association of Human Rights (MAHR). The FGU continues that work as an ongoing observer to the Human Rights situation in Malta, but with a specific outlook on the world being bequeathed to the upcoming generation, in its societal norms and environmental realities.
Human Rights are the very foundation of a society that guarantees equality, dignity and freedom for each human being. FIDH, through its legitimacy.
As part of its work, Fondation twice lobbied the Maltese state to present a proposal to the UN on adding human responsibilities to the human rights diptych.
Other Activities
Over the years, Fondation de Malte has supported various cultural activities, including operas, ballet, concerts, cinema, exhibitions, academic conferences and general public seminars.
In particular, Fondation de Malte produced the première of the opera Elisabeth: or to be a Mann, a work dedicated to Elisabeth Mann Borgese, the founder of the lnternational Ocean lnstitute whose headquarters are based in Malta.
It has coordinated unique events, including the Jesuits Ecumenists Congress, the Pacem in Maribus conference, the Teilhard de Chardin week and the Encuentros de Monjes de Oriente y Ocidente.
Fondation has also organised visits to Malta for the Association des Vieilles Maisons Françaises; les Œuvres des Saints Anges and l’Association Réalités et Relations Internationales, among others.