In this age when so much is being said about the growing generation’s selfishness and lack of care, we grown-ups have to examine ourselves seriously and see how much of this is our fault. At school we try to instil clear Christian values in our students, and for this reason we participate in diverse projects including activities to help others who are in need, to protect the environment, to help create a better world.

However why is it that so often we encounter so much indifference from those who should be supporting and encouraging such activities?  A case in point is our school’s participation in the LEAF (Learning about forests) Project.  Last year, after several failed attempts, we finally gained permission to plant Widnet il-Baħar plants in a plot of land opposite the school, which forms part of the unfinished play area in Victoria. Every day different children, accompanied by a staff member, carried buckets of water down to the plot to water the plants.  The pupils cared lovingly for these plants.

When a Danger Sign was put up at the entrance to this site, which is truly in a disgraceful state, the pupils were not permitted to go and so the plants dried up. At the beginning of this scholastic year LEAF officials  commented about the state of the plot, and so we once again bought Widnet il-Baħar saplings and planted them. We only desired that the local council would confirm in writing that it was safe for the children to water the plants and care for the plot once again.

The student council members were very eager to progress with this project and so they themselves visited the local council offices not once but thrice, asking the officials to help them out and to give them a reply.

However, after two months we have still not received anything.  This is truly a disgrace when the children are showing such enthusiasm. Actually, if I may ask, do we have a local council in Victoria and a mayor who cares for the locality, as it doesn’t seem so at the moment?

I am writing in the name of our students who want to improve the environment and are ready to sacrifice their breaktime to do so.  My appeal is: please do not stifle our children’s eagerness to protect the environment.