Band club runs child literacy programme

The Maria Regina Band Club of Marsa is running a literacy programme for young children who are struggling at school under a two-year sponsorship agreement with HSBC Cares For Children Fund.

The programme is believed to be the first of its kind to be established by a Maltese band club.

Chris Spiteri, the club's president, said Marsa, like other inner harbour areas, faced problems of illiteracy among the young.

"HSBC has been very active in supporting different literacy programmes in Valletta and the Three Cities and so we were very confident that the bank would also back our new initiative," he said. About 25 youngsters from Marsa have already started taking part in literacy and basic skills lessons at the band club's premises, with reading materials donated by the fund.

Josef Camilleri, from HSBC, said the fund's commitment to fighting child illiteracy in the inner harbour area included the sponsorship of the Hilti Tezor programme, run by the Foundation for Educational Services, as well as support for individual schools and agreements with local councils.

"This was the first time that the fund was approached by a band club and, as the world's local bank, HSBC would like to congratulate it for taking this local initiative to combat a national problem," Mr Camilleri said.