Young Gozitan wins prize for kindness

Eight-year-old Riona Attard, from Xaghra, is the first Gozitan to win the Pope John XXIII Prize for Kindness organised annually by the Peace Laboratory of Hal Far.

Riona, who attends the Patri Mattew Sultana Primary School, in Xaghra, earned the prize for the way she has supported a fellow student who needs the assistance of a facilitator.

The winner was yesterday presented with her prize at the Palace, in Valletta, by President Eddie Fenech Adami in the presence of Peace Lab Director Fr Dionysius Mintoff.

The prize citation says that the fellow student was able to communicate with others and take part in various school activities only through the support given to her by Riona who dedicates her time helping her and keeping her company.

While she was doing this, Riona was going through a difficult time herself having to look after her father who fell sick and eventually died.