Celebrating Malta with European countries

Vincenzo Brared Boys' Secondary School, Birkirkara, has embarked on a project intended to raise awareness among students and parents about the various traditions and traditional products Malta has to offer, as well as to acquaint them with those of other European countries. This year, apart from Malta, the school is also presenting France, Greece and Portugal.

The project consisted in the setting up of a number of stalls, each covering diverse topics. The Maltese stalls included History, Geology, Food and Drink, Well-Known Personages, Folklore and Tourism.

Other stalls on exhibit will include three member countries of the European Union: Greece, France and Portugal.

The stalls exhibited a wide range of informative charts, food items, and IT presentations. Students and parents also attended brief lectures by professionals in fields such as honey producton, the underwater environment, and sport.

The project will unfold over a three-year period. Each year Malta will feature together with other countries in the EU. This year the focus was on France, Greece and Portugal.

In the 2005-6 exhibition Malta will be featured alongside Austria, Estonia, Hungary, Luxembourg, Slovenia, Belgium, Finland, Ireland, Spain, England, Poland and Cyprus, while in 2006-7 the other ten EU states will be represented.

While enjoying this experience students of Vincenzo Brared learned and consolidated their research skills by making use of the Internet, printed matter and other resources; to encourage creativity in the students and boost their self-esteem, their works will be displayed in the hope that parents will appreciate and recognise the importance of their children's achievements in other areas besides academic subjects.

Finally it is intended that students and parents become more thoroughly acquainted with the various products and traditions particular to Malta, as well as those of the other EU states.

The school hall was packed with visitors, who included students and their families, Education Division officials, MPs and Birkirkara residents.

In the Maltese stands, Ms Galea was working lace, Mr Lanfranco lent some transport models to be shown on the day. The stand also featured typical Maltese food and sweets. A local honey producer also took part, along with one of Malta's leading glass blowers. Indigenous Maltese trees in Bonsai form were also exhibited thanks to Carmel Busuttil from the Bonsai Culture Group.

In the Gozitan stall, ably collated by Ms M.C. Meilaq, traditional Gozitan tools and crafts were displayed.

In the Portuguese, Greek and French stands much information was on show, together with artefacts from each country. The Greek and French (like the Maltese stalls) presented visitors with a taste of the country with mouth-watering dishes such as walnut cake, chickpea dip, crepes (thanks to Didier Sergent), cheese, yoghurts and more.

Another highly presented stall was that of the EU itself where informative publications were exhibited. Next to it a stall showing Maltese geology, fishing traditions, diving information and a number of models showing the Maltese girna, megalithic temples, spirals and more done by the students.

A number of activities were organised. Stephen Grima gave some technical tips to young footballers while Malcolm Pisani cheered the crowd with Maltese songs. A student video production, entitled Mod Ghixien il-Malti, was shown, with the cast made up entirely by students.

Arnold Grech gave a very interesting talk about apiculture while the Paul Curmi Dancers walked in traditional Maltese costumes during the exhibition and ended the day with some folk dances in the school yard.

While every member of staff did their part one must mention the hard work done by Ms. G. Vella (co-ordinator of the project), Ms A. Vella Lauwers (French stall), Ms D. Cutajar Stivala (Greece), Ms C. Apap (Portugal), Ms M.C. Meilaq (Gozo), Mr B.Grixti (EU), Mr G. Saliba and Ms K. Vassallo (Geography of the Maltese Islands), while Ms V. Vassallo, Ms S. Galea, Ms A. Pace, Ms J. Farrugia, Ms A. Mifsud, and Ms C. Zammit took active part in the setting of the Maltese stall.

Mr J. Piscopo and Ms M.R. Scerri accompanied student Malcolm Pisani in the musical part of the programme. Mr A. Borg took an active part in the creation of the invitations, programme leaflet, school Website and in PR.

Deputy Prime Minister Tonio Borg, Deputy Opposition Leader Charles Mangion, Deputy Speaker Carmelo Abela, Frans Borg, Permanent Secretary at the Education Ministry, Alfred Mallia (Director Operations), Marilyn Sciortino and Chev. Frank Gatt (Assistant Directors of Education), Tarcisio Zarb (Education Officer) were among the personalities who visited the exhibition.