(Rivista Internazionale - December 1994: Development of the Order of Malta's activities - 4/4)

10. THE ORDER'S VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS
The Order's voluntary organisations are present in 24 countries. The original concept of these organisations was to offer first-aid, medical and relief services during disasters. At the moment, however, social welfare and nursing services are becoming increasingly predominant, with the emphasis on the old and the disabled. First-aid and relief during disasters are still of great importance, mainly in the organisations coming under ECOM and for some recently-created bodies in central and eastern Europe, while other groups concentrate on voluntary services in the social sphere.
The Hungarian Organisation (MMSZ) already has around 10,000 volunteers, the Rumanian one around 1,600. The largest corps is still the German Malteser Hilfsdienst with around 35,000 volunteers, followed by the Irish Ambulance Corps with around 5,000.
All together around 60,000 volunteers offer their services on a permanent basis under the Order's banner.

11. HOSPITAL OF THE HOLY FAMILY IN BETHLEHEM
The French Association and OHFOM were responsible for the restructuring of the hospital with 28 beds equipped with everything necessary for a modern maternity hospital. The Grand Magistry and some Associations provided financing. A Board of Trustees has been created under the supervision of the Hospitaller to administrate the hospital, made up of representatives of the French Association and OHFOM as well as representatives of the various Associations.
The European Commission has allocated ECU 400,000 to expand the hospital to 40 beds and for building an intermediate intensive care unit for children.
The hospital is linked to the only midwifery school in the occupied territories, housed in the Malta Foundation «Pro Tantur» and managed in co-operation with the University of Bethlehem.
Considerable financial aid comes from Norway and the Commission of the EC.

12. INTERNATIONAL CAMPS FOR THE DISABLED YOUNG
During the period referred to in this report, International Camps for the Disabled Young were held in Ireland, Spain, France, the Netherlands and Hungary.
The number of participants and nations taking part increased so much in this period that it was necessary to limit the number of participants per country. The last camp was organised in Hungary with 11 countries represented and about 300 participants.
Besides a varied offer of culture, sports and entertainment, great importance is given to a spiritual programme addressed specifically to the young.

13. CIOMAL
CIOMAL, the Order of Malta's International Committee for Assistance to Lepers, recognised by ILEP as the leprosy co-ordinating body, currently manages seven leprosy centres, the most important of which is in Dakar, Senegal. Its annual budget amounts to US$ 400,000. Its journal 'Acta Leprologica', the only international scientific publication in French, has recently been modified and now also includes articles and summaries in English. It is sent to around 2000 subscribers.

14. STATUTES AND EMBLEMS
A specific working group has studied the issue of the Order's statutes and emblems as part of the Commission for Future Strategies. Practical recommendations have already been made for the Order's hospitaller works enacted, in conformity with the Order's laws, by decree of the Sovereign Council. Minimum requisites for the statutes of the peripheral organisations of the Priories and Associations have been defined at the end of this decree, as well as the assumptions for using the Order's name and emblems for charitable works. The white octagonal cross on a red escutcheon has been adopted as the official emblem of the Order's works. This has been a considerable step forward for the standardisation of the hospitaller activities within the Order. It was also urgently needed, given the increasingly international nature of the Order's works and the many new peripheral organisations.

15. DEVELOPMENT OF THE ORDER IN VARIOUS CONTINENTS AND REGIONS
The Order's Hospitaller, Baron von Boeselager, then reported on the developments and selected focal points, analysing the hospitaller and welfare activities by continent and by country.

16. CONCLUSION
To conclude this report I would like to give a special thanks to all those who have supported me with aid and advice over the past five years, and in particular those who have given me friendly and constructive criticism.
My thanks also go to those who have welcomed me in the many different places on this earth.
My appreciation also for those who have not only contributed to the work with their suggestions but have also personally committed themselves to giving aid on a practical level.
The Hospitaller cannot take the merit for the unexpected growth in the Order's activities world-wide over the last five years, although I hope that I have been able to reinforce the ties between the Order's different bodies.
The most encouraging sign, however, is that the spirit of the Order is felt by an ever increasing number of people who then personally dedicate themselves to the work of Obsequium Pauperum on its behalf.
It seems that the founder of the Order was right when he prophesied that "Our confraternity will be imperishable, because the soil in which it takes root is the misery of the world and, God willing, there will always be someone ready to fight and to alleviate the weight of suffering".

Albrecht Boeselager
Knight Grand Cross of Obedience
(The Hospitaller's report is a summary of the proceedings of the Chapter)

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