Local Sports Associations, Federations and NGO's and Voluntary Organizations are being invited to submit their nominations for the ‘Sport for Social Change’ category which will be introduced for the first time at the 64th edition of Għażliet Sportivi Nazzjonali.

For the first time in the history of these awards a new innovative award is being introduced to highlight and appreciate the amazing work of organizations across the Maltese Islands that are using sport and/or physical activity to create a positive impact on local communities and individuals in need.

The 'Sport for Social Change Award' is intended to increase the interest of sports entities to make that extra effort to help others. Sports Associations, Federations, NGO's and VO's can submit any of their initiatives which were held between the period 1st January till 31st December 2023. The initiative/s can be nationwide, or at local, grassroots level.

The award recognizes the growing influence of the sport for the development sector, which includes professional club foundations, charities, sports governing bodies, public sector and corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes.

Organizations tackling a wide range of important social issues in Malta such as physical, mental health and wellbeing, social exclusion, loneliness, racism, inequality and discrimination, crime and unemployment, are all encouraged to put forward their nomination for this Award. Initiatives tackling environmental issues through sport will be also considered.

Sandro Micallef, President of the Malta Sports Journalists Association said; 'It is more important than ever that today we realize it's time that we highlight some of the brilliant work that is being done behind the scenes in our sport community'.

Organizations, both inside and outside of sport, are now being invited to submit their applications for the award, which will be judged by a panel of experts on the following criteria:

Innovation and/or collaboration (10 points)
Impact and reach (10 points)
Scale and difficulty of the issue being tackled (10 points)
Legacy and sustainability of the project (10 points)
Resourcefulness and dedication of staff, coaches and volunteers (10 points)

The panel will be monitoring and evaluating the clarity and transparency of the project and the short listed nominees may be asked to provide proof or more information when asked to do so.

Applicants must provide an overview of no more than 300 words describing their project or ongoing work, plus a 200-word case study demonstrating the impact of the programme, for example on a specific individual or community.

Those interested to submit their nomination are to complete the online form below:

https://forms.gle/M7RSLhoHiZkjQhBa6

Shortlisted organizations will be invited to attend the Għażliet Sportivi Nazzjonali 2024 which will be held on Saturday 2nd March 2024.

The inaugural winner of the award will receive a special trophy during the night.

Any questions or queries, should be addressed to the Malta Sports Journalists Association General Secretary Lorraine Cunningham on info@maltasportsjournalists.com.

The Għażliet Sportivi Nazzjonali is a yearly event organized by the Malta Sports Journalists Association and this year is supported by the Ministry for Education, Sport, Youths, Research and Innovation.

Assoċjazzjonijiet Sportivi Lokali, Federazzjonijiet, Organizzazzjonijiet mhux Governattivi u Organizzazzjonijet Volontarji qed ikunu mistiedna biex jissottomettu n-nominazzjonijiet tagħhom għall-kategorija ‘Sport for Social Change’, li se tkun introdotta għall-ewwel darba fl-64 edizzjoni tal-Għażliet Sportivi Nazzjonali.

Għall-ewwel darba fl-istorja tal-Isportivi Nazzjonali, qed jiġi ntrodott award innovattiv biex turi l-importanza u l-apprezzament tax-xogħol imprezzabbli ta’ organizzazzjonijiet madwar il-gżejjer Maltin li qed jużaw l-isport jew attivita’ fiżika sabiex joħolqu impatt pożittiv fuq il-komunitajiet lokali u individwi fil-bżonn.

L-għan tal-unur ‘Sport for Social Change Award’ huwa biex iżid iktar interess fl-entitajiet sportivi biex jagħmlu iktar ħilithom u jkomplu jgħinu lil min hu fil-bżonn. Assoċjazzjonijiet Sportivi, Federazzjonijiet, Organizzazzjonijiet mhux Governattivi kif ukoll Organizzazzjonijiet Volontarji jistgħu jissottomettu l-inizjattivi tagħhom li saru bejn il-perjodu l-1 ta’ Jannar sal-31 ta’ Diċembru 2023. L-inizjattiva/i jistgħu jkunu wiesa’ fuq bażi nazzjonali jew fuq bażi lokali.

L-Award se jirrikonoxxi l-isforz li qed isir fis-settur li jinkludi klabbs professjonali, għaqdiet ta' karita', għaqdiet mhux governattivi li jaħdmu fl-isport, is-settur pubbliku, u programmi ta’ responsabbilta’ soċjali korporattiva li jsiru anke mill-privat.

Organizzazzjonijiet li qed jaħdmu fi ħdan is-setturi li jaffaċjaw problemi soċjali f’Malta, bħal saħħa mentali u fiżika, esklużjoni soċjali, solitudni, razziżmu, inugwaljanza u diskriminazzjoni, kriminalita’ u qgħad, kollha huma mħeġġa biex jibagħtu n-nominazzjoni tagħhom għal din l-award. Inizzjattivi li jitrattat il-problemi ambjentali wkoll se jkunu kkunsidrati.

Sandro Micallef, Il-President tal-Għaqda Ġurnalisti Sports sostna li “huwa importanti iktar minn qabel li llum nirrealizzaw li wasal iż-żmien li nagħtu importanza lix-xogħol imprezzabbli li qed isir wara l-kwinti fi ħdan il-komunita’ sportiva.”

Organizzazzjonijiet, kemm li jaħdmu direttament fl-Isport jew barra mill-isport, qed jiġu mistiedna biex jissottomettu l-applikazzjonijiet tagħhom għal dan l-award, li se jkun iġġudikat minn panel ta’ esperti fuq dawn il-kriterji:

Innovazzjoni u / jew kollaborazzjoni (10 punti)
Impatt u kif tilħaq in-nies (10 punti)
Skala u diffikulta' tal-problema/i li qed jaħdmu fuqha (10 punti)
Wirt u sostennibilta’ tal-proġett (10 punti)
Riżorsi u dedikazzjoni tal-istaff, kowċis u voluntiera (10 punti)

L-esperti se jkunu qed isegwu u jevalwaw iċ-ċarezza u t-trasparenza tal-proġett, u dawk in-nominazzjonijiet li jiġu short-listed, jistgħu jintalbu jippreżentaw prova jew iktar informazzjoni.

L-applikanti jridu jippreżentaw ħarsa ġenerali ta’ mhux aktar minn 300 kelma fejn jiddeskrivu l-proġett tagħhom jew ix-xogħol li jkun għadu għaddej. Iridu jżidu wkoll case-study ta’ 200 kelma fejn juru l-impatt tal-programm, eżempju fuq individwu speċifiku jew komunita’.

Dawk interessati biex jissottomettu in-nominazzjoni tagħhom iridu jimlew din il-formola diġitali:

https://forms.gle/M7RSLhoHiZkjQhBa6

L-organizazzjonijiet magħżula se jkunu mistedna biex jattendu għall-Għażliet Sportivi Nazzjonali 2024 li se jsiru nhar is-Sibt 2 ta’ Marzu 2024.

Ir-rebbieħ inawgurali ta’ dan l-award se jingħata trofew speċjali.

Aktar dettalji jistgħu jinkisbu billi tintbagħat email lis-Segretarju Ġenerali tal-Għaqda Ġurnalisti Sports fuq info@maltasportsjournalists.com.

L-edizzjoni ta’ din is-sena tal-Għażliet Sportivi Nazzjonali qed tiġi organizzata mill-Għaqda Ġurnalisti Sports bil-għajnuna tal-Ministeru għall-Edukazzjoni, Sport, Żgħażagħ, Riċerka u Innovazzjoni.