A project by Maria Regina College Mosta Primary A Kindergarten Annexe to transform an unused school area into an ecological haven has been inaugurated with the help of HSBC’s Catch the Drop Water Programme.

Linking the two curriculum targets of literary activities and education for sustainable development, Ġnien Naqra Qatra (Small Drop Garden) created an ecological literacy space, incorporating a reused reading chair area and stools made out of recycled wood.

The area now serves as a water collection basin to fuel the school’s garden. It is estimated that in a year the area will collect over 4,800 litres of water. The first harvested water from the area was used to plant an olive tree during the opening ceremony led by Environment Minister Leo Brincat.

The Minister said the garden would give children the opportunity to broaden their knowledge by exploring the nature habitat around them.

In partnership with the HSBC Water Programme, a huge amount of work was undertaken by parents, children and local volunteers over three Saturdays to bring the project and the new ecological literacy space to life.

Two parents spoke about the project during the opening ceremony, saying that the direct involvement of the community has already broadened water conservation awareness.

Catch the Drop, the largest ever campaign of its kind in Malta, aims to forge a blueprint for progress on the sustainability of water as a resource.

The kindergarten project was one of 21 that won funding from the campaign for the 2014-2015 scholastic year.