Written by entrapreneur Donna Cardona, founder of MyMama

What makes a country truly prosperous? At the recent Quality of Life workshop at Envision 2050, the answer went far beyond economic growth. The discussions revolved around measuring success by the Maltese population’s happiness and well-being.

Through my role as rapporteur for this workshop, I was struck by the many practical solutions that emerged for some of our country’s most pressing challenges. Take our healthcare system, for instance. While it serves us well today, experts proposed fascinating solutions for our tomorrow – from smart homes that help our elderly live independently to AI tools that could predict health issues before they become serious.

Passionate discussions centered on family support programs. Malta’s struggle with Europe’s lowest fertility rate isn’t just about numbers – it reflects the real pressures facing working parents. Yes, free childcare has helped, but we’re still asking mothers (currently still the default parent) to perform an impossible balancing act: work as if they don’t have children, and parent as if they don’t have jobs. Which brought us to the urgent need for a reform in family-friendly measures that go beyond financial incentives, with the aim of giving both parents more time with their kids (while encouraging equally-shared parenting), more flexibility and a more attainable work-life balance.

One promising idea stood out: transforming schools into family hubs. Imagine schools that don’t just teach but become centres for after-school activities, parent support and education, and community connection. This could give families more quality time together, provide a much-needed ‘village’ to parents, while ensuring every child has access to enriching activities, regardless of their background.

The vision extends to our streets and neighborhoods too. Participants mapped out a Malta with less traffic and cleaner air, where electric buses run on time and bike-sharing makes short trips a breeze. Smart urban planning could transform our town centers into more livable spaces, while new approaches to housing could help young people find homes they can actually afford.

Our digital future got plenty of attention. A proposed National Data Platform could finally end the paperwork chase that frustrates so many of us when accessing public services. Meanwhile, our schools could better prepare students for tomorrow’s challenges by embracing digital literacy, soft skills and entrepreneurship.

The workshop also tackled environmental concerns head-on, with practical solutions for waste management and sustainability. But perhaps most encouraging was the energy in the room – a shared belief that Malta can become an even better place to raise a family, build a business, and live a fulfilling life.

Moving from ideas to action won’t be easy. But these discussions showed that despite our size and limitations, Malta has both the expertise and the vision to create meaningful change. The question now isn’t whether we can build this future, but how quickly we can get started.

What’s at stake isn’t just government policy – it’s the daily lives of every family in Malta. If we get this right, we’ll create a country where our children and grandchildren can thrive. That’s a vision worth working for.