MVO for chairman of President's Award

The chairman of the President's Award Programme in Malta, Charles Cilia, was made a Member of the Royal Victorian Order by Queen Elizabeth II during her recent state visit to Malta.

The President's Award Programme is in the context of the International Award of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme, launched by the Duke in 1956.

The Award Scheme came to Malta in 1961, and the patron of the Award Programme in Malta is the President of Malta.

Malta was the first country outside the UK to take up the Duke of Edinburgh's Award challenge.

Three million young people in 60 countries now participate in the programme every year.

The Award Programme is a free time non-formal educational programme of activities aimed at developing a sound character through various social, cultural and sporting activities aimed at young people between the ages of 14 and 25.

As chairman of the President's Award in Malta, Mr Cilia was elected to sit for the third consecutive three-year term on the International Council of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award representing the European, Mediterranean and Arab states region.

Mr Cilia is the assistant director of Education for Development within the Planning and Development Department of the Education Division.

The Royal Victorian Order is given by the Queen to people who have served the monarchy in a personal way and was founded in 1896 by Queen Victoria.

The Order is sometimes conferred on non-British subjects and is awarded during official visits overseas.

Mr Cilia was the only Maltese to be conferred with the MVO during Queen Elizabeth's visit.