Last year saw 97 primary schools voluntarily participating in Dinja Wahda, BirdLife and Bank of Valletta’s environmental education project for schools. This was announced during the launch of this scholastic year’s Dinja Wahda with a prize giving ceremony opened by Dr Mario de Marco, Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism, the Environment, and Culture.

Speaking at the event at inspire at Marsascala Desiree Falzon, BirdLife Malta’s Education Coordinator said, “97 out of 105 primary schools in Malta and Gozo took part in Dinja Wahda education programme last year. This is a record number of schools since the start of the programme in 1994. We are confident that by working hand in hand BirdLife, Bank of Valletta and schools are ensuring that today’s children grow into adults with a sound environmental ethic.”

In celebration of 2010 as the International Year of Biodiversity, Dinja Wahda will this year encourage teachers to focus on activities through which children will learn about biodiversity.

Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism, the Environment and Culture, Mario de Marco stated that projects like ‘Dinja Wahda’ increase our awareness of the environment. He stated that everyone has a personal responsibility towards the preservation of the environment and encouraged the students to pursue with their commitment towards projects that improve the environment. Mario de Marco concluded by thanking heads of school, teachers and students for their participation in this project.

During the launch Bank Of Valletta confirmed their continued support to Dinja Wahda for the coming two years.

Mr Edward Muscat Azzopardi, Head Marketing at BOV, expressed the Bank’s confidence that this fourth consecutive year of support for Dinja Wahda will once again prove a resounding success.

“The Programme dovetails perfectly with BOV’s focus on education and on fostering a strong sense of social responsibility, especially amongst the younger generations. The reach that the programme achieves and the strong message that it communicates is one that the Bank is proud to be associated with,” Mr Muscat Azzopardi said. He concluded by praising BirdLife Malta for the growing success they attained along the years, and encouraged children to continue participating in educational initiatives of this calibre.

Dinja Wahda is Bank of Valletta’s and BirdLife Malta’s environmental education program for primary schools, carried out in collaboration with the Directorate for Quality Standards in Education.

Photograph shows cards of Maltese wildlife which were prepared and hung around a tree by schoolchildren this morning, to emphasize the importance of habitat for biodiversity. The photograph was taken by Adrian Aquilina.

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