Dinja Waħda 2019 awards ceremony takes place at Esplora Interactive Science Centre 

A total of 97 schools across Malta and Gozo celebrated their outstanding achievements in connecting children with nature through BirdLife Malta’s Dinja Waħda environmental education programme last week.

The accomplishments of 92 primary schools and another five middle and secondary schools were recognised during this annual event, which was held for the first time at Esplora Interactive Science Centre in Kalkara.

A tree collage by Mosta A Kindergarten

In the primary sector, 64 schools received gold awards, three schools received silver awards, six schools were awarded with bronze awards and 19 schools with certificates. Three schools received the blue banner – an award for schools which maintain the gold award three years in a row − while 40 schools retained the blue banner.

In the secondary sector, two schools received a gold award, while seven schools were awarded with bronze awards. In this case, the programme consists of three different categories titled ‘Action for Biodiversity’, ‘Connecting with nature’, and ‘Outreach for awareness’, with participating schools awarded for completing actions in each category. The awards are based on commitment to biodiversity and sustainability education.

The awards were distributed to schools by BirdLife Malta president Darryl Grima, BirdLife Malta education manager Sarah Brady and Charles Azzopardi, executive PR and marketing at Bank of Valletta (BOV).

Representatives from all the participating schools including students, teachers and headteachers together with other education officials were also present.

In the primary sector, 64 schools received gold awards

Apart from celebrating the success of the schools’ involvement during the last scholastic year (2018-2019), the ceremony also marked the launch of a new year (2019-2020) of engagement in the initiative.

BirdLife Malta’s Dinja Waħda initiative forms part of the eNGO’s commitment to protect wildlife and its habitats through outdoor activities for schoolchildren both in school grounds and through educational visits to Malta’s nature reserves to help them connect with nature.

Schoolchildren playing in the new Dinja Waħda Garden at Esplora. Photo: Svitlana Shevchuk

The programme is run in collaboration with the Directorate for Learning and Assessment Programmes and is supported by Bank of Valletta. It has been running for more than 20 years.

During last week’s awards ceremony, which took a different format than previous years with interactive activities held in groups for over 200 children and teachers who attended, BirdLife Malta also inaugurated its latest Dinja Waħda Garden at Esplora which will now be open to all those who visit the centre.

Through the Ġonna Dinja Waħda initiative, BirdLife Malta provides green spaces in school grounds that offer great opportunities for children to connect with nature. Children present for the awards ceremony were could also explore the various exhibitions at Esplora.

Commenting about this year’s awards, BirdLife Malta education manager Sarah Brady said: “We are very proud of the amazing Dinja Waħda schools for their work during the last scholastic year. Thanks to the dedication and commitment from the teachers and management teams, children are given the opportunity to learn and connect with nature which will help them to build a better relationship with the environment than we have today”. 

BOV executive PR and marketing Charles Azzopardi added: “As Malta’s local bank, it is our duty and responsibility to support in safeguarding our environment. We believe that one of the best ways to do this is through educating children and youths, and this is exactly what Dinja Waħda strives to do. Together we can empower our children to take a leading role in protecting their earth of tomorrow.”

Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, executive chairman of the Malta Council for Science and Technology (MCST), which manages Esplora, commented: “Esplora is very pleased to support BirdLife Malta in its initiatives aimed at educating our younger generation in better appreciation of nature.”

Dr Pullicino Orlando added that through the Dinja Waħda Garden, Esplora will be instrumental in engaging more students to find connections with the environment around them and will look forward to welcoming students and the public at the new garden over the coming year.

An outdoor educational activity for Year Two students at Ta' Kenuna in Gozo. Photo: Jason Aloisio

The Dinja Waħda reading garden at Blata l-Bajda

Students taking part in an outdoor activity for Gozo primary schools. Photo: Jason Aloisio