The National Council of Women is holding the 11th Bice Mizzi-Vassallo music competition in February/March 2007. Over the past 20 years the competition has given young talented pianists and string players the opportunity to meet other youngsters during the courses that it has offered its prize winners.

Carmine Lauri, Stefan Cassar, Tatjana Chircop, Sarah Spiteri, Caroline Calleja, Joanne Camilleri are a few of its prize-winners who have made a name for themselves both locally and abroad.

Empowerment course for women

This Course aims to help participants develop creative and critical thinking techniques that are essential in meeting the challenges of living in a technologically oriented, multicultural world.

At home, these skills will help participants deal with everyday activities, like helping their children in school work, looking after the household and making better decisions.

Classes will be held once a week in the mornings over six weeks. There is an administration fee of Lm1.50 per session.

Basic English course

This is being held in conjunction with the Adult Education Section of the Education Division. It gives those women who dropped out early in their education and who have thus left school without getting any certificate a second chance to improve their English.

Classes are held once a week. The fee for administration and handouts is Lm1 per session.

Computer courses

Awareness and ECDL courses start in October at the NCW Technology Learning Centre.

Plant a tree - plant a pine

After several meetings with Environment Minister George Pullicino, the NCW Environment Committee were finally granted their request -to have an area at the Pinetum in Blata l-Bajda named after the Council.

This ambitious project, which environment committee member Catherine Muscat has initiated, will only be achieved if we all buy a tree to be planted at the Pinetum. Approximately 500 pine trees are required to fill the designated area. Each tree, costing Lm5, will include a wooden tag with the name of the person to whom the tree is dedicated.

The Pinetum area allocated to us has over the years deteriorated through misuse, parking and other activities. We are hoping that through this project the Pinetum will be restored to its former glory.

Once again, we urge you, dear members, friends and families of the Council, to buy these trees to celebrate a pass in exams, a graduation, birthdays, anniversaries, engagements, births and a hundred more reasons or just to give your contribution to the environment.

Bookings and more information for these activities, courses and conferences can be obtained from the NCW centre, tel: 2124-8881, fax 2124-6982 or e-mail: ncwmalta@camline.net.mt.