Children's Christmas activity linked to environmental education

The eyes of about 100 schoolchildren shone in excitement as a gigantic Santa Claus and his little green elf towered above them ringing their bells and cracking jokes.

And nine-year-old Jessica Cutajar, from St Monica's School, shrieked in delight as she was suddenly whisked into the air and hoisted on Santa's shoulders.

The children were yesterday gathered on the grounds of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, in Floriana to decorate a Christmas tree which they had made from recyclable material. The original intention was to use a tree which had been uprooted to make way for a construction site and recycle it as a Christmas tree and set up at the Floriana Granaries.

However, it suffered a slight mishap on its way to the Granaries so another tree on the Mepa grounds had to be used at the last minute.

As long as the children had a tree to hang their coloured baubles on, they did not mind where it was and they clambered around it to hang them up, with Santa's help of course.

The activity, aimed at making children more aware of their environment, was organised by Mepa and the Middlesea Group.

It was also supported by the Environment Ministry, Nature Trust Malta, EkoSkola, the Education Division and the Floriana council.

During the event the children were handed out Advent calendars, which encourage them to research and complete environmental tasks.

Environment Minister George Pullicino spoke of the government's planned afforestation project where families could adopt a tree. In the coming year it was planned to plant more trees in Ta' Qali, Kennedy Grove, near the Red Tower in Mellieha, Xrobb l-Ghagin and Delimara.

Mepa chairman Andrew Calleja said the activity was aimed not only at exercising creativity but also at making the best use of resources. He said that through this partnership the authority was seeking to give back to the community a greener Christmas.

Middlesea Insurance general manager Joseph Rizzo said the initiative would help instil an environment friendly culture in future generations.