Members of the Gozo branch of the Malta Red Cross yesterday received some well deserved praise for the voluntary work they carry out all year round.

The Red Cross volunteers were given certificates for attending a variety of courses during a ceremony attended by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono.

Special appreciation was expressed to the group who a year and a half ago boarded a plane to Sri Lanka to help the victims of the Boxing Day tsunami. Red Cross president Professor Lino Cutajar commended the Gozo branch of the local Red Cross for being the first entity in the world to build a whole village in the devastated area.

Jokingly, he said that Etienne Micallef, the general secretary of the Gozo branch, went through the red tape surrounding the team's departure "in true Gozitan style" and the team were on a special flight to Sri Lanka just days after the natural disaster struck. With the help of locals they had built 63 houses and a clinic within five months.

"It is the feather in their cap," Professor Cutajar said.

The Red Cross was set up in the 19th century by Swiss businessman Henri Dunant, who had witnessed horrible carnage on a battlefield in Italy in 1859, and proposed to set up a neutral organisation, which was devoted to take care of the sick and the wounded during wars. Today, the Red Cross helps during national emergencies as well as in international disasters.

While thanking the members of the local Red Cross for their work over the past 15 years, Dr Gonzi said they were always there whenever Malta was in need. He stressed the importance of helping others in need, emphasising the value of solidarity.

Both Dr Gonzi and Mrs Debono were thanked for their help by being given a certificate of appreciation.

The Gozo branch yesterday also signed a twinning agreement with its counterpart in Lombardy. Collaboration with the Italian Red Cross has already taken place through courses on response to the avian influenza, helicopter approach and dealing with hazardous material, and the participants were yesterday handed their certificates.

Dr Gonzi and Mrs Debono yesterday also visited the Arka Foundation, where a fund-raising activity was held. Arka serves as a temporary and permanent home for people with a disability, and currently accommodates around 20 people ranging in age from eight to 85.