A crowdfunding campaign on local platform Zaar has raised nearly five times its funding goal to build a new outdoor sports court in Ethiopia named after the late Jonathan Chetcuti.
Led by Jonathan Dalli, Mr Chetcuti’s close friend and business partner at local creative marketing agency The Concept Stadium, the massively successful campaign received donations for the project as Mr Dalli walked the famous ‘Camino de Santiago’, from Sarria to Santiago de Compostela in Spain.
“This year’s personal milestone is a special one, inspired by the motto ‘all we have is time’, as well as a beautiful comment on the tribute we had organised to commemorate Jonathan Chetcuti’s passing 24 months ago,” explains Mr Dalli. “There are those who fill a room with their smile and positive energy, who fill our lives with kindness, calm and compassion, who look challenge in the eye with fortitude and resilience. These words inspired me to continue this journey, for the love of life and to continue honouring Jon. Although this event involved physical and personal sacrifice, I was determined to ensure that these kids will enjoy these facilities and the great outdoors – something Jon did throughout his beautiful life.”
Mr Dalli’s 130km walk continued the legacy left behind by Jonathan Chetcuti. Late last year, Dalli and Chetcuti’s wife, Elaine, also founded The Jonathan Chetcuti Program, a charitable initiative organised in memory of The Concept Stadium’s late co-founder and passionate sports-lover, who lost his battle with illness in May 2020 aged 41.
The Zaar campaign initially looked to raise €2,500 to contribute to the funding of the equipment – from slides to goal posts – and the construction of the outdoor sports facility for children in Ethiopia. With generous donations from 30 backers, however, the campaign closed having raised an astounding €11,575 for the cause. In total, the amount of €15,000 was raised through the crowdfunding campaign and other fundraising initiatives.
“We are proud and delighted to have helped make this incredible project a reality,” says Zaar Manager, Giselle Borg Olivier. “As the only crowdfunding platform based in Malta, Zaar understands and supports the causes, the ideas and the people that are close to Malta’s heart, such as Jonathan Chetcuti. This campaign is yet another example of the power and passion of our local community, coming together to make extraordinary things happen – the very essence of crowdfunding.”
More information about the Walking the Camino De Santiago… For the Love of Life campaign is available at www.zaar.com.mt.
