Four teenagers yesterday left Malta for London where they will meet a number of Commonwealth dignitaries.
The sixth formers had taken part in an essay competition organised by the British High Commission in conjunction with the Education Ministry and the Australian Embassy. The prize for those placing in the first four places was a trip to London.
Three of the youngsters - Marija Farrugia, Daniela Bartolo and Matthew Mizzi - attend St Aloysius College, while Andrew Camilleri attends De la Salle College. For Daniela and Matthew this is their first visit to the UK.
The students had to write an essay explaining the part played by the promotion of human rights in the development of the Commonwealth, and to voice their opinion on whether the adoption of the British parliamentary model in many Commonwealth countries was a helpful factor.
The visit comes just months before the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) which will be held in Malta in November, and a state visit by the Queen that will come just before.
During their five-day visit the students, who are accompanied by Jean Paul De Lucca, a teacher at St Aloysius College, will be meeting Commonwealth Parliamentary Association general secretary Denis Marshall, Commonwealth Secretariat secretary general Don McKinnon, Commonwealth Foundation deputy director Rudo Chitiga and Royal Commonwealth Society director general Stuart Mole. They will also have a meeting with Maltese High Commissioner Michael Refalo. The students will also be meeting the Council of Commonwealth Societies.
Mr De Lucca also happens to be the chairman of the Commonwealth Youth Forum planning team, which will be meeting in Malta in November just before CHOGM. He will present Mr McKinnon with a letter from Education, Youth and Employment Minister Louis Galea inviting him to attend the closing of the youth forum, where he would be presented with the final communiqué.
Mr De Lucca stressed the importance of this being made available to the heads of governments attending the CHOGM since the communiqué would set the agenda of the Commonwealth Secretariat in the youth sector.
The youth forum will be meeting between November 16 and 23, and will be addressing sustainable development, good governance, health and sexuality and enterprise. Young people from all the Commonwealth countries are expected to attend.