The students at the Education Hub are following the Prince’s Trust International XL programme, which, besides giving them the opportunity to achieve a qualification, also helps in cultivating them into becoming responsible citizens.

One of the units in the programme promotes community work and giving without expecting anything in return. So, since we’re celebrating the festive season, we thought it would be the perfect opportunity to work on a project based on these values.

The students themselves identified the elderly as the generation they would like to give something back to and therefore it was an easy choice because, parallel to the school, there is the Msida Home for the Elderly.

The boys, together with the teachers, brainstormed what they could do tohelp out and decided to combine the Prince’s Trust XL programme together with their gardening project and cleaned up the home’s garden, which was wild and abandoned.

Each student was assigned a teacher and, together with a team from HSBC, in two days they managed to unravel a hidden gem which the elderly can now enjoy and appreciate.

The students also went to the home to visit the elderly who, unfortunately, are sometimes forgotten due to our busy lifestyle and schedules and also offered them a few food items as gifts.

The project was a success and the students have realised that giving to others ultimately makes you happier than receiving something from someone else.