Mellieha schoolgirl wins award for kindness

Mellieha Primary school pupil Gail Mifsud, eight, is this year's winner of the Pope John XXIII Award for Kindness, the Peace Lab announced yesterday.

The Peace Lab has been presenting the award to deserving children for the past 44 years. It said the award is to be presented to Gail in recognition of her assistance over the past four years to fellow pupil Deborah Cilia at Marija Bambina School in Mellieha.

Peace Lab director Fr Dionysius Mintoff praised Gail for her kindness to Deborah, not just at school but also during the holidays.

He said 62 nominations were received for the award and there were many children who deserved the award because of their outstanding kindness and generosity to others. In almost half the cases, their good deeds could not be revealed because some of the persons involved did not wish their names or their condition to be mentioned, he said.

Many children, he continued, were suffering not only physical problems, but the pain and burden that came with their parents' separation. This award was a way by the Peace Lab to promote a sense of altruism as well as to recognise it.

The Award for Kindness will be presented by President Eddie Fenech Adami on Wednesday.