An Angel Tree Club art and essay competition collected close to 300 paintings and essays from school students across Malta and Gozo. A selection of the competition entries were later exhibited for the public at the Education Ministry in Floriana.

The artworks competition was organised by the Angel Tree Club, within the National Campaign for the Prevention of Crime, in collaboration with the HSBC Malta Foundation in support of children who must cope with the challenges of having a relative in prison. The aim of the activity was to encourage local school students to think about crime prevention and to express their views.

Education Minister Evarist Bartolo, together with the Commissioner for Children, Helen D’Amato, and the foundation’s deputy chairwoman Sarah Watkinson, attended the event to reward the successful students and to inaugurate the art exhibition.

Together with prizes for outstanding entries, a special award was given to St Benedict College Ħal Għaxaq Primary for the highest number of submissions from a single school.

“The artworks show a great deal of depth in thought and compassion, as well as impressive talent, from students across Malta and Gozo,” said Prison Fellowship Mlata director Mark Vella.

“Children growing up with an incarcerated family member must cope with social stigma, concerns and challenges generated by this situation. The competition is one way through which the fellowship’s Angle Tree Club is reaching out to children to encourage them to think about and discuss their thoughts on this important and delicate subject.”

Prison Fellowship is a Christian outreach organisation dedicated to helping prisoners, ex-prisoners, victims of crime and their families. The club is a Prison Fellowship programme reaching out to children of inmates and their families to offer support and address the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of the prisoners’ families.