Cultural exchange visit

Teachers from two schools in Ireland - Mercy Primary School in Belfast and Scoil Chriost Ri in Ennis Co. Clare - travelled to Malta to participate in progress meetings and a cultural exchange as part of our involvement in the Comenius project. Comenius is a European Union-funded school-based initiative which encourages exchange and collaboration of work between partner schools in the programme.

Our host school, Patri Guzè Delia in Siggiewi, arranged a busy schedule of activities, including tours throughout the island and school-based work with the pupils themselves. The theme of this term's project was agriculture. The classes exhibited samples of their work. In particular, class 6B from the school prepared examples of local produce and traditional foods from Malta.

We were overwhelmed by the generosity of our hosts who channelled their energy into ensuring that the visit ran smoothly and that the timetable of activities was a most varied one. In particular we wish to thank the staff, pupils and parents of Patri Guzè Delia, their principal, Carmeline Camilleri, and coordinators of the project, Sandra Agius and Nadia Sammut. We are grateful to them for giving up so much of their own time to ensure that we were comfortable and that we got to see all that the island of Malta has to offer. Thanks must also go to Beppe Farrugia from the council, who took us on a guided tour of the Limestone Heritage Centre.

The pupils of the school have left a lasting impression upon us in terms of their work, presentation and friendliness towards us. On all of our excursions with the pupils they proved to be tremendous ambassadors for the school and it was a pleasure for us to be with them.

In conclusion, we would also like to thank all those who contributed in making our stay a relaxing and comfortable one, including hotel and transport staff. We look forward to a time when we can return the compliment to our hosts, with their forthcoming visit to Ireland in May.

For us it was a sad farewell that we bid the island of Malta but we took with us many happy memories of the great hospitality and generosity of the Maltese people and the wonderful experiences we have shared during our week-long stay in St Julian's and at the host school at Siggiewi.