Learning from Max and Amy's adventures

The latest initiative by Sedqa in supporting its prevention programmes in schools is the production of two new interactive and educational CD-Roms, L-Avventura ta' Max u Amy and Crossroads.

The new products were launched recently during a press conference at St Margaret College, Cospicua, presided over by Micheline Sciberras, director general of the Education Department, and Joe Gerada, chief executive officer of the Foundation for Social Welfare Services.

Ms Sciberras commended the initiative and said that all educators had their students' best interest at heart. She added that "the Department for Educational Services has been working for years now to protect each child from any type of abuse or situation that might hinder their development".

She explained that the main aim of the reform in education is to improve the quality of support services given both to students and teachers.

Each prevention programme and educational tool offers children the opportunity to experience a tranquil childhood and adolescence, thus also facilitating their education.

Mr Gerada said communication with young people was about listening to what they have to say and to trust them. This approach opens up huge opportunities to develop the right strategies to address many issues, in particular those relating to children and young people's health.

He emphasised that the education of the young was a job that had to be undertaken by all members of society.

However, parents and professionals must be innovative and proactive to protect and prepare children and young people by providing them with skills and tools to face the ever-changing situations in society.

He added that children and young people came across new challenges every day and adults had the responsibility of looking for new and effective ways to teach and prepare the young for life.

Albert Buttigieg, co-ordinator of Sedqa's prevention services emphasised the need for parents to work hand-in-hand with teachers and other community leaders in delivering a common and consistent message. He said both CD-Roms were developed with the co-operation of children and young people themselves and are excellent examples of educational aids that were attractive to children and adults alike and therefore credible and effective.

L-Avventura ta' Max u Amy is the third CD in this series, aimed as a follow-up programme for pupils between the ages of seven and 10 who followed Tfal Favur Ambjent Liberu (Tfal) 1 and 2 programmes launched in November of 2006 and 2007 respectively.

Apart from the possibility of being used in schools, the interactive tool has been designed to enable the parents to use it with their children at home, thus facilitating the parents' inclusion in the education role and emphasising their position as major players in their children's life.

Tfal is part of Sedqa's prevention services in schools and is tailor-made for pupils. It features two main characters, Max and Amy, who, through various life situations, pass on messages and empower children to participate in positive behaviour and decision-making.

Max and Amy, together with Gremx, a responsible character in all the presented stories, follow students throughout primary school. This educational tool represents real life situations and its interactivity permits children to analyse them, associate themselves with the characters, and get feedback on their answers.

Topics dealt with include decision-making, choices, self-appreciation, conflict, friends and grief. These topics are similar to those addressed by PSD and Social Studies teachers in primary schools so they can use it as a tool in the classroom.

Targeting educators is also an important aspect of Sedqa's programmes, and this has led to the production of the third edition of the Crossroads series. The latest edition is a resource pack aimed at Home Economics teachers in secondary schools which contains information material and case studies, class notes and classwork, homework and tasks/investigative sheets, games and quizzes, and Powerpoint presentations which they can use in class as part of their curriculum.

A group of 2007/2008 B. Educ. Home Economic students at the University of Malta contributed to the production of the content under the guidance of Dr Suzanne Piscopo, co-ordinator and lecturer within the Faculty of Education's Nutrition, Family and Consumer Studies office. The two previous editions targeted teachers of PSD and Maltese.

'Building a Europe for Children and with Children' is another online game which focuses on safe internet use by children and children's rights, is aimed at children over three years of age and forms part of the Council of Europe (CoE)'s programme. This game, available in 20 different languages including Maltese, which can be uploaded from the Appogg and Sedqa websites www.appogg.gov.mt and www.sedqa.gov.mt, as well as from the CoE's website: www.coe.int.

A free copy of the new Tfal programme can be obtained by contacting Sedqa on Tel. 2388 5110 or e-mail sedqa@gov.mt. The Crossroads CD-Rom will be passed on to teachers of Home Economics in secondary schools on request.

Sedqa forms part of the Foundation for Social Welfare Services which incorporates Appogg (www.appogg.gov.mt) and Sapport (www.sapport.gov.mt).