The memory of Lisa Maria Zahra, the 15-year-old who died tragically last March, will live on through a foundation intended to safeguard children and young people.

Ms Zahra was found at the bottom of Dingli Cliffs shortly after her family reported her missing. She died at the scene while her 23-year-old teacher, Erin Tanti, was injured.

Mr Tanti has been charged with the murder of Ms Zahra and assisting her to commit suicide in a case which shocked the country.

“When a tragedy happens you have a choice of either falling into a negative spiral or try to create something positive,” her cousin Winston Zahra told The Sunday Times of Malta.

When a tragedy happens you have a choice of either falling into a negative spiral or try to create something positive

“As tragic as the circumstances are and as horrible as the situation is, we feel we can try do something good and create a proper legacy for Lisa Maria through this foundation.”

The Lisa Maria Foundation will focus on education, and not provide support, since there are already various institutions doing this.

The NGO will lobby for the reduction of risks that children and young people are exposed to and intends to work closely with the authorities to implement strategies that secure a safe environment.

Founded by Mr Zahra and the victim’s father Tony Zahra, it will raise awareness among children and those working with young people about the safe use of social media.

The foundation, which will be launched next month, will also focus its resources on lobbying for effective selection procedures of all those entrusted with the care of children and promote a code of behaviour between adults and young people. It will be calling for the necessary support needed by educational and other institutions to ensure those responsible of youths are properly trained and qualified. Another objective, Mr Zahra added, was to ensure that people became aware of boundaries between educators and children that have “significantly eroded over the years”.