The BOV L-Istrina campaign gains momentum this week as three large piggy banks tour schools to collect money donated by pupils. This phase, which started on Monday when the piggy banks left the tent in Ta' Qali en route to the first set of schools, is expected to last a week.

A total of 7,000 piggy banks have been distributed in 2,800 classrooms as part of the first phase of the campaign. The money raised will now be emptied in the piggy banks by the schoolchildren themselves.

Speaking about the logistics involved in the operation, Gordon Pace, a member of L-Istrina team, said the collection of piggy banks will take place over five school days with three collection routes being run on each day. Each open truck carrying the large piggy bank will be accompanied by a volunteer and a BOV employee and will be escorted by a traffic policeman.

The funds collected will be taken for counting and safekeeping at Bank of Valletta.

The collection in Gozo will take place on Monday.