An application entitled Travel Buddy, aimed at two- to three-day travellers and developed by nine students from Sir Michelangelo Refalo Sixth Form, Victoria, for a Junior Achievement Young Enterprise programme, won the Best Use of Technology award presented by Playmobil.

The app’s innovative aspect is that information has to be inputted by people with local knowledge about particular destinations. App users have the facility to choose itineraries in line with their particular interests from a choice, including adventure, country walks, culinary, cultural and nightlife. Gozo is used as a prototype.

The students – Maria Bonnici, George Mallia, Jasmine Xuereb, Manuel Caruana, Kim Scicluna, Michael Joe Cini, Malcolm Farrugia, Rudolf Camilleri and Lucian Camilleri – were led by Amanda Sultana.

The Travel Buddy was the main app developed by Code X, the company they set up to create mobile applications and internet based solutions for the JA-YE (Malta)’s company programme.

The programme’s aim is to equip students with skills that bridge the gap between the school desk and the world of work by giving them the opportunity to set up their own business to develop concepts into reality.