The GAL Xlokk Foundation has been administering the LEADER programme in the south-east territory for over a decade. Nearly €1.5 million were allocated under the 2014-2020 programming period. The main beneficiaries under of the four measures forming part of the local development strategy are the local councils, Voluntary Organizations; such as Band Clubs, social clubs and individuals. These measures ranged from restoring niches and historic sites; the purchasing of equipment such as musical instruments, renovation of clubs and social associations, promotion of villages and towns as well as renovation of public spaces and gardens through green-infrastructure projects.
In the last three years the Foundation has managed to contract about ninety-eight projects and therefore fully contracting the allocated budget. Due to the strong response to these measures, the Foundation will reopen applications for new projects in the year 2022. This is possible following the approval of an additional budget from the European Commission.
At the same time, the Foundation is carrying out a Trans-National project with several local and Italian partners. This project, entitled ‘L’Olio di Oliva nel Mediterraneo’, involves the Institute of Earth Systems from the University of Malta and Italian researchers from the region of Umbria. The project includes research on native olive species, with the ultimate goal of further growing local species in the agricultural sector.
The LEADER 2014-2020 program is a clear example of how European funds are getting closer to the citizens. European Funds are being directly allocated in the rural villages, having a positive impact on the south-east territory of the Maltese Islands.
A delegation of five (5) participants from GAL XLOKK participated in a five-day programme in Foligno, region of Umbria. The local delegation included the LAG’s manager together with a board member and 3 students emanating from the Institute of Earth Systems, UOM.
The main aim of this visit was to organise an exchange of information, study visits, meetings and workshops with local producers and schools, about the olive oil sector.
The visit is part of a trans-national project involving a research aimed at carrying DNA and molecular testing on the Maltese autochthonous varieties of olives dating back centuries. The recovery of these autochthonous varieties of olives would eventually help regenerate olive oil production derived from these varieties.
Project partners: – GAL Xlokk Foundation and Institute of Earth Systems (University of Malta) from Malta; GAL Valle Umbra e Sibellini (local action group from Umbria.
Italian Research partners – Consiglio Nazionale di Ricerche (Istituto per i Sistemi Agricoli e Forestali del Mediterraneo and Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources); Laboratorio di Scienze Sperimentali.
The Foundation has organised its Annual General Meeting on the 27th November 2021. The most salient points included the approval of the annual administrative and audited financial reports, and the confirmation of the Decision Committee for the next 3 years. The Decision Committee will be formed from the following members:
Chairperson – Prof Philip Von Brockdorff
Vice-Chairperson – Mario Calleja
Board Secretary – Dr Hubert Theuma
Treasurer – John Schembri
Other members – Marvin Zammit, Joan Agius, Carmelo Desira, Michael Fenech and Joseph Sciberras.
Block procedure timetable for the measures as part of the Xlokk Local Development Strategy under the EU LEADER programme (2014-2020) – as updated on 01.11.2022
Wieħed mill-proġetti prinċipali li twettaq taħt il-Programm (2007-2013), kien propju t-twaqqif ta’ Ċentru Informattiv għat-Turisti ġewwa l-lokalita ta’ Marsaxlokk. Dan iċ-Ċentru qed sservi bħala mezz t’informazzjoni li hija essenzjali għat-turisti li jkunu konxji tal-wirt kulturali għani preżenti fix-Xlokk ta’ pajjiżna. Il-proġett seħħ wara li fl-Istrateġija tal-Programm LEADER (2007-2013) deher evidenti, in-nuqqas ta’ ċentru informattiv għat-turisti li jżuru t-territorju tax-Xlokk.
Is-suċċess tal-proġett kien permezz tal-kollaborazzjoni bejn il-Ministeru għat-Turiżmu u l-Kunsill Lokali ta’ Marsaxlokk. Il-Ministeru qed jaċċerta s-sostennibilta’ tal-proġett billi jipprovdi ħaddiema mħarrġa matul is-sena kollha. Fl-istess waqt il-Kunsill Lokali huwa responsabbli mill-manutenzjoni tal-proġett. Il-proġett kollu laħaq is-somma ta’ €149, 731, fejn €97,900 minnhom ingħataw lill-Kunsill lokali mill-fondazzjoni GAL XLOKK permezz ta’ fondi tal-Unjoni Ewropeja taħt il-Programm LEADER (L-Ewropa tinvesti f’żoni Rurali)
Fil-“Hub” il-viżitaturi jistgħu jsibu informazzjoni permezz ta’ fuljetti u materjal ieħor stampat. Iċ-Ċenru informattiv huwa mgħammar ukoll b’panel interattiva (kjosk informazzjoni interattiv) li qed jippermetti lit-turisti aċċess għal mezzi oħra ta’ informazzjoni dwar restoranti lokali; mezzi tat-trasport; kalendarju bl-avvenimenti; produtturi ta ‘prodotti lokali u siti ta’ interess naturali, kulturali u rurali. Din il-panel hija aċċessaibli 24/7 għall-viżitaturi kollha.
Iċ-ċentru ta ‘informazzjoni turistika f’Marsaxlokk qed joħloq sinerġija bejn id-diversi partijiet interessati u tipprovdi informazzjoni dwar siti t’interess u attrazzjonijiet mifruxa fit-territorju tax-Xlokk. Dan għandu wkoll iżid l-espożizzjoni tal-prodotti lokali u niche markets mat-turisti u residenti Maltin. B’hekk se jkunu qed jibbenefikaw intrapriżi żgħar u lokali, il-produtturi u l-entitajiet ta’ negozji varji.
In 2016, GXF has implemented a wide public consultation process as part of its work for the Local Development Strategy for the LEADER programme covering the 2014-2020 Programming period. The Foundation invited all its local stakeholders including local councils, community members, private entities, NGOs and voluntary organisations for (3) three public meetings. The meetings were held in the localities of Zejtun, Qrendi and Luqa.
Those interested in the sector of agriculture, SMEs, rural economy, agri-tourism, and environment amongst others, had the opportunity to participate in the meetings. The ultimate aim of the meetings was to put forward ideas and proposals for projects considered vital for the South-East territory. In addition, the LAG’s manager and secretary met on a one-to-one basis with all those interested to discuss into detail their proposals.
Dan il-proġett li se jkun żviluppat fuq in-naħa ta’ wara tal-housing estates ta’ Ħal-Farruġ, se jsir bis-saħħa tal-Fondazzjoni Gal Xlokk, grazzi għall-finanzjament ta’ €295,000 mill-fondi tal-Unjoni Ewropeja taħt il-programm ghal-iZvilupp Rurali 2007-2013, Mizura 313.
Dan il-proġett se jkun maqsum fi tnejn. F’parti tal-park se jkun hemm bandli tal-aqwa kwalita għal tfal żgħar. Eżatt qrib dawn il-bandli hemm picnic area għall-familji, biex il-ġenituri jkunu jistgħu iżommu lil uliedhom taħt għajnejhom f’kull ħin. Fil-parti tal-oħra tal-park se jkun hemm jogging track u apparat idejali għall-eżerċizzju fiżiku għal żgħażagħ sa’ sittax-il sena.
Din is-sena, il-Kunsill Lokali ta’ Ħal Għaxaq bħala membru tal-Fondazzjoni Gal Xlokk qed jibbenefika mill-Miżura 313. Il-Gal Xlokk permezz tal-Programm Ewropew Leader, ħareġ applikazzjonijiet għall-Miżura 313 fejn il-Kunsilli Lokali kollha li huma membri fi ħdan il-Gal Xlokk ikunu jistgħu japplikaw. Il-proġett jikkonsisti fi grawnd tal-futbol għat-tfal, kif ukoll fi ġnien u f’bandli għat-tfal minn età żgħira sa dik ta’ 12-il sena. Hemm ukoll outdoor gym għall-adulti u l-anzjani biex dawn ikunu jistgħu jagħmlu ftit eżerċizzju fiżiku, li jagħmel tajjeb ħafna għal saħħitna. Dan il-proġett se jiġi jiswa madwar 120 elf ewro, li ġejjin mill-Unjoni Ewropea.
Il-proġett li ngħata t-titlu ‘Minn Kappella sa’ Kappella’ jibda mill-Kappella ta’ Santa Marija f’Ħal-Tmiem u jwassal sal-Kappella ta’ San Niklaw u mbaghad jestendi lejn Triq Strejnu għall-Xrobb l-Għaġin. B’kollox hemm tul ta’ kilometru li fuqu bħalissa qed isiru x-xogħlijiet, biċċa xogħol kbira li grazzi għall-programm Leader rnexxielna nattiraw investiment ta’ €300,000. Dan il-proġett qiegħed igawdi minn skema ta’ fondi li tinsab taħt Miżura 313 li għandha l-għan tippromwovi t-tkabbir ekonomiku u l-wirt kulturali biex tingħata spinta lit-turizmu rurali.
Il-Kunsill ta’ Marsaskala rnexxielu jikseb is-somma sabiħa ta’ biex jiġi żviluppat Family Park minflok il-ġnien eżistenti fiż-żona ta’ San Tumas. Dan se jkun jikkonsisti f’outdoorgym kif ukoll bandli li jinvolvi attivitajiet fiżiċi għat-tfal ukoll. Dan il-Family Park ser ikollu apparat tal-logħob għat-tfal modern installati bl-aqwa sigurta’. Ser ikun hemm ukoll picnic area għall-familji, fitness trail, kif ukoll health trek għall-eżerċizzju fiżiku
