Projects

As advertised in the Government Gazette on 10 July 2026.

The Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector (MCVS) notifies that the Arthritis and Rheumatism Association Malta (ARAM) is issuing a Call for Tenders for the following project:

Project Reference: VOPS A4.11.2026

ARAM is seeking bids for the Supply, Delivery, Development, Hosting, Maintenance, and Commissioning of an Integrated Digital Platform as part of Project CARE: Community Arthritis Resilience & Empowerment.

Prospective bidders are invited to request the tender specifications by contacting aramalta@gmail.com.

All bids must be submitted no later than 31 July 2026 at 12:00 noon, in accordance with the tender requirements.

Please note that this call is now closed. The following submissions were received: Tender Applicants

The contract has subsequently been awarded. The Letter of Acceptance can be viewed here: Letter of Acceptance

Press Release

The Arthritis and Rheumatism Association Malta (ARAM) VO425 has officially launched its new project CARE – Community Arthritis Resilience & Empowerment, made possible through funding awarded by the Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector (MCVS) under the Voluntary Organisations Project Scheme (VOPS).

Running from May 2026 to February 2027, the CARE project will strengthen support for individuals living with arthritis and other rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) across Malta.

Arthritis is often described as a hidden disability, where pain, fatigue, and physical limitations are not always visible, leading to misunderstanding, stigma, and social isolation. Through CARE, ARAM aims to address these challenges by promoting greater awareness, resilience, and inclusion within the community.

The project will deliver a structured programme combining education, peer support, and volunteering, equipping participants with practical tools to better manage their condition while fostering stronger social connections.

A central outcome of the initiative will be the development of a new digital ARAM Platform, designed as a hub for learning, communication, and engagement. The platform will provide access to training resources, volunteer opportunities, community interaction tools, and awareness content aimed at both members and the wider public.

CARE will also focus on expanding and strengthening ARAM’s volunteer network, including the active involvement of young people and newly diagnosed individuals. Trained volunteers will play a key role as community ambassadors, supporting outreach, awareness campaigns, and peer-led initiatives.

By combining digital innovation with community-based support, the project will enhance ARAM’s capacity to serve its members while promoting health literacy, active citizenship, and social inclusion. The initiative aligns closely with national priorities related to health, wellbeing, and volunteering.

The project will be formally introduced through a dedicated launch event, followed by a series of workshops, outreach activities, and awareness campaigns throughout the year.

Stqarrija Għall-Istampa

L-Arthritis and Rheumatism Association Malta (ARAM) VO425 nediet uffiċjalment il-proġett il-ġdid tagħha, CARE – Community Arthritis Resilience & Empowerment, li sar possibbli permezz ta’ finanzjament mogħti mill-Kunsill Malti għas-Settur tal-Volontarjat (MCVS) taħt il-Voluntary Organisations Project Scheme (VOPS).

Il-proġett CARE, li se jsir bejn Mejju 2026 u Frar 2027, se jsaħħaħ l-appoġġ għal individwi li jgħixu bl-artrite u b’mard rewmatiku u muskuloskeletali ieħor (RMDs) madwar Malta.

L-artrite ħafna drabi tiġi deskritta bħala diżabilità moħbija, fejn l-uġigħ, l-għeja, u l-limitazzjonijiet fiżiċi mhux dejjem ikunu viżibbli. Dan jista’ jwassal għal nuqqas ta’ fehim, stigma, u iżolament soċjali. Permezz ta’ CARE, ARAM għandha l-għan li tindirizza dawn l-isfidi billi tippromwovi aktar għarfien, reżiljenza, u inklużjoni fi ħdan il-komunità.

Il-proġett se jwassal programm strutturat li jgħaqqad flimkien l-edukazzjoni, l-appoġġ bejn persuni b’esperjenzi simili, u l-volontarjat. Dan se jarma lill-parteċipanti b’għodod prattiċi biex ikunu jistgħu jimmaniġġjaw aħjar il-kundizzjoni tagħhom, filwaqt li jsaħħaħ il-konnessjonijiet soċjali.

Riżultat ewlieni ta’ din l-inizjattiva se jkun l-iżvilupp ta’ Pjattaforma Diġitali ġdida ta’ ARAM, imfassla bħala ċentru għat-tagħlim, il-komunikazzjoni, u l-involviment. Il-pjattaforma se tipprovdi aċċess għal riżorsi ta’ taħriġ, opportunitajiet ta’ volontarjat, għodod għall-interazzjoni fil-komunità, u kontenut ta’ għarfien immirat kemm għall-membri kif ukoll għall-pubbliku inġenerali.

CARE se tiffoka wkoll fuq it-tkabbir u t-tisħiħ tan-netwerk ta’ voluntiera ta’ ARAM, inkluż l-involviment attiv ta’ żgħażagħ u persuni li jingħataw dijanjosi tal-kundizzjoni. Voluntiera mħarrġa se jkollhom rwol ewlieni bħala ambaxxaturi tal-komunità, billi jappoġġjaw inizjattivi ta’ outreach, kampanji ta’ għarfien, u inizjattivi mmexxija minn persuni b’esperjenzi simili.

Billi jgħaqqad l-innovazzjoni diġitali mal-appoġġ ibbażat fil-komunità, il-proġett se jsaħħaħ il-kapaċità ta’ ARAM li taqdi lill-membri tagħha, filwaqt li jippromwovi l-għarfien dwar is-saħħa, iċ-ċittadinanza attiva, u l-inklużjoni soċjali. L-inizjattiva hija wkoll allinjata mill-qrib mal-prijoritajiet nazzjonali marbuta mas-saħħa, il-benesseri, u l-volontarjat.

Il-proġett se jiġi introdott formalment permezz ta’ avveniment dedikat għat-tnedija tiegħu, segwit minn sensiela ta’ workshops, attivitajiet ta’ outreach, u kampanji ta’ għarfien matul is-sena.

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This project has been funded through the Voluntary Organisations Project Scheme (VOPS) managed by the Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector (MCVS) supported by the Ministry for Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector (MIV). This project/publication reflects the views only of the author, and the MCVS cannot be held responsible for the content or any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

Dan il-proġett ġie ffinanzjat permezz taI-Voluntary Organisations Project Scheme amministrata mill-Kunsill Malti għas-Settur tal-Volontarjat fi ħdan il-Ministeru għall-Inklużjoni u s-Settur tal-Volontarjat. Din il-pubblikazzjoni/Dan il-proġett t/jirrifletti biss il-veduti u l-ħsibijiet tal-pubblikaturi/awturi, u l-Kunsill Malti għas-Settur tal-Volontarjat ma jistax jinżamm responsabbli għall-kontenut jew għall-użu li jista’ jsir minn dan l-istess kontenut.

ARAM was proudly represented by its President, Mary Vella, and Vice-President, Sina Bugeja, at the SIS & VOPS Awards Ceremony 2026, where the organisation was officially awarded a VOPS Grant for Project CARE. The ceremony brought together voluntary organisations, community leaders and distinguished guests to celebrate initiatives that make a positive impact on society.

Project CARE is an initiative designed to strengthen support for people living with arthritis and rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases in Malta. At the heart of the project is the development of the ARAM Platform, a new digital hub that will provide educational resources, improve communication between members and volunteers, support volunteer management, and promote greater community engagement. The project will also recruit and train new volunteers, helping ARAM expand its reach and ensure long-term, sustainable support for people living with arthritis.

Receiving this grant marks an important milestone for Project CARE and recognises the commitment and hard work of everyone involved. The funding will support the development of the ARAM Platform, the delivery of volunteer training, and the implementation of activities that empower individuals through education, connection and community engagement.

We extend our sincere thanks to the Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector (MCVS) for its trust and support. We look forward to implementing Project CARE and sharing updates on the project's progress over the coming months.

Thanks to the grant from The Small Initiative's Scheme managed by The Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector (MCVS), our project Keeping Mobile and Pain Free During Covid-19, successfully came to an end.  ARAM thanks all participants, service providers, and SIS Fund Managers at MCVS for their kind assistance.

https://youtu.be/w1y4-zU9apk ARAM in collaboration with The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, and associations from Greece, Cyrus, and Spain are taking part in a European research project on osteoarthritis pain. This project focuses mainly on patients’ perspectives and how pain is dealt with. We are happy to present a series of educational webinars, a series where expert discussions on different aspects of ‘Living with osteoarthritis’ are conducted. We encourage patients to watch the entire series of webinars to learn about the holistic approach to improving one’s health and pain management. The topics discussed in this sixth webinar discusses Innovative Technologies in tackling Chronic Pain

ARAM in collaboration with The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, and associations from Greece, Cyrus, and Spain are taking part in a European research project on osteoarthritis pain. This project focuses mainly on patients’ perspectives and how pain is dealt with. We are happy to present a series of educational webinars, a series where expert discussions on different aspects of ‘Living with osteoarthritis’ are conducted. We encourage patients to watch the entire series of webinars to learn about the holistic approach to improving one’s health and pain management. The topics discussed in this fifth webinar include: Mindfulness technique: a "good life" help to dare to be ourselves Vasiliki Christodoulou, Lecturer in Psychology, UCLan University, Cyprus, Licensed Psychologist The role of the Health Visitor in the prevention and management of Osteoarthritis pain through Mind f ullness Sisi Klitsa, Health Visitor, MSc Clinical and Community Psychology, Trained in EISA Systemic Counseling, Mindfulness instructor  

This is the fourth webinar in the series - ARAM in collaboration with The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece and Associations from Greece, Cyrus, and Spain are taking part in a European research project on osteoarthritis pain. This project focuses mainly on patients’ perspectives and how pain is dealt with.This fourth webinar features: Work and chronic rheumatic and musculoskeletal disorders-Giannis Konstantakopoulos, Dr. Mining Engineer-Metallurgical Engineer NTUA Head of the National Focal Point of the European Agency for Safety and Health at WorkVocational Rehabilitation Plans for People with Disabilities-Konstantinos Charalambous, Social Integration Officer, Department of Social Integration of People with Disabilities, Ministry of Labor, Welfare & Social Insurance

ARAM in collaboration with The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, and associations from Greece, Cyrus, and Spain are taking part in a European research project on osteoarthritis pain. This project focuses mainly on patients’ perspectives and how pain is dealt with. We are happy to present a series of educational webinars, a series where expert discussions on different aspects of ‘Living with osteoarthritis’ are conducted. We encourage patients to watch the entire series of webinars to learn about the holistic approach to improving one’s health and pain management.

The topics discussed in this third webinar include:

The relationship between obesity & osteoarthritis and how I can lose weight - Maria Hatzipavlou, Clinical Dietitian, MSc

The Role of Exercise in Osteoarthritis - Maria Maridaki, Associate Professor of Occupational Physiology TEFAA, EKPA

ARAM in collaboration with The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, and associations from Greece, Cyrus, and Spain are taking part in a European research project on osteoarthritis pain. This project focuses mainly on patients’ perspectives and how pain is dealt with. We are happy to present a series of educational webinars, a series where expert discussions on different aspects of ‘Living with osteoarthritis’ are conducted. We encourage patients to watch the entire series of webinars to learn about the holistic approach to improving one’s health and pain management.

The topics in this second webinar are as follows:

Therapeutic exercise programs in Osteoarthritis - Dimitris Vasmaris, Physiotherapist, Coordinator Geriatric Physiotherapy P.S.F.

Osteoarthritis & Everyday - George Soulis, General Practitioner / Geriatrician, Geriatric Evaluation Center Errikos Dunan, 2nd Vice President of the Hellenic Society for the Study and Research of Aging

ARAM in collaboration with The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, and associations from Greece, Cyrus, and Spain are taking part in a European research project on osteoarthritis pain. This project focuses mainly on patients’ perspectives and how pain is dealt with. We are happy to present a series of educational webinars, a series where expert discussions on different aspects of ‘Living with osteoarthritis’ are conducted. We encourage patients to watch the entire series of webinars to learn about the holistic approach to improving one's health and pain management.

This video is the 1st webinar in a series from the Tous Include Project, entitled: Osteoarthritis, what I need to know What causes it? 

The topics presented are as follows:

Osteoarthritis. What causes it and what are the ways to prevent it - Athanasios Koutroubas, Rheumatologist

Osteoarthritis. Ways of dealing with it -Dimitrios Kasimos, Rheumatologist, Brigadier General, Director of the Military Health Committee of Athens

Apps can help treat chronic pain -Antonis Bilis, Postdoctoral Fellow, Dept. Medical AUTh