Europe Direct Gozo in collaboration with Nature Trust – FEE Malta has for the fifth time held an awards event for schools participating in the annual Europe Direct Gozo Eco-Schools/YRE/LEAF Project.

All schools from Kindergarten to Post Secondary were invited to submit details on projects they did within their schools via the Eco-Schools/YRE and or LEAF projects, involving as many students as possible with an overspill into the community.

The topics chosen from this year’s event included the Farm to Fork process involving various aspects in food production, food consumption, and packaging; sustainable and healthy living during Covid-19; and the impact of climate change on our everyday lives.

Six participating schools presented their projects during the awards event, which was was also addressed by: Dr Elena Grech, Head of the European Commission representation in Malta; Charmaine Borg, Manager of Bank of Valletta. Gozo Branch; Vincent Attard, CEO of NatureTrust-FEE Malta; and Daniel Borg, CEO of the Gozo Business Chamber as the representative of the host structure of Europe Direct Gozo.

In his intervention Daniel Borg remembered the late Marlene Muscat, former Europe Direct Manager, who passed away on the 22nd of November and who was the brain behind this event.The projects presented were as follows:

The effects of climate change on the nesting and hatching of sea turtles – Gozo College Middle School

Investigating the Urban Heat Island effect – Gozo College San Lawrenz Primary

Campaigning for reusable masks and proper disposal of disposable masks – Gozo College Secondary School

Investigating the Carob tree and its products – Laura Vicuna Primary School

Farm to fork. Where do different foods come from? – St Francis School, Kindergarten, Nadur

Our own organic garden at school – St Theresa Primary School, Kercem

Following an evaluation of the projects by a number of independent judges, Gozo College Secondary School was awarded first prize: €500 worth of materials for the students to decorate the school corridors with murals containing sustainability related messages – sponsored by Bank of Valletta.

The other schools received €100 each sponsored by the Europe Direct Gozo Office. Each school will be using the funds to do more sustainability related projects, ranging from an upcycled reading corner made from waste material to, digital microscopes, bamboo toothbrushes, stainless steel straws, sprout pencils, and mesh bags to a hydroponics system and a drip irrigation system.

At the end of the event, Ms Marvic Refalo, EkoSkola teacher, announced that the call is now open for new school projects for 2022 with the focus being on the EU Green Deal and the Sustainable Development Goals.

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