Maltese stationery donated to MSSP mission in Peru

Thousands of Maltese exercise books and pencils were recently donated to schoolchildren of the Missionary Society of St Paul's mission in Arequipa, Peru, by the Association of Lyceum Past Students (ALPS) - Ghaqda Ex-Studenti Liceo.

The stationery, as well as other gifts, had been collected from schoolchildren in Maltese state, Church and private schools in what was called the Pitazz u lapes project.

ALPS President George Stagno Navarra said the association had been only too pleased to take ownership of the project, which had been suggested by its philanthropic commission chairman Dr Nazzareno Azzopardi, who in the past had himself done voluntary work in Papua New Guinea.

Accepting the donation, Fr Louis Mallia, of the MSSP's Centru Animazzjoni Missjunarja, had promised to send them out to Peru in the first available container. Fr Mallia recently presented Mr Stagno Navarra with a set of photographs showing smiling Peruvian children in their classrooms with Maltese exercise books and pencils on their desks.

While the ALPS council of administration had not even expected to receive the photographs, these greatly enhanced the association's satisfaction at the success of its project. "It means so much to see those Peruvian children so happy with exercise books that bear very visible Maltese brand names, as evident in some of the pictures," said Mr Stagno Navarra. "It is hoped that seeing these touching pictures will give satisfaction to all those who contributed to the project, and encourage ALPS to launch some other similar project in future."