Notwithstanding the pressure that a scholastic year jam-packed with a heavy curriculum brings, as well as the many projects proposed by environmental NGOs, heads, and teaching staff at primary schools are showing incredible energy and enthusiasm for Birdlife Malta's Dinja Waħda education project.

"Our school gives great importance to environmental issues," says Fiona Mifsud, assistant head at the Antonio Galea Floriana Primary School.

"We believe that awareness should start from a very tender age for such a campaign to be successful. Most of the activities are incorporated in the syllabus and are done during the mid-week activity."

Dinja Waħda, an environmental education project launched by Birdlife in the 1990s as a practical project developed by teachers for teachers, is now in its sixth edition.

This year it is bigger and better than ever since Bank of Valletta has come on board as Birdlife's education partner. In fact, while Dinja Waħda was previously a biennial project, it is now going to be a yearly project, with the number of activities proposed increasing from 18 to 30. So far this year, over 50 primary schools are active participants. The number is set to increase since schools can submit their work at any given point during the scholastic year.

All primary school teachers were given a detailed and colourful action guide at the beginning of the scholastic year packed with fun activities that can be used as lesson plans, extra-curricular activities, for school open days or even to develop school performances and other creative projects.

Most activities offer different levels of participation and give suggestions to teachers who would like to give that extra bit of input on a particular green subject.

"The various activities help to generate environmental awareness in school children," explains Irene Abela, a teacher at the Patri Ġużé Delia Primary School in Siġġiewi.

"Teachers take an active part in the project and they can link the various activities to subjects in the curriculum. Most activities encourage creativity and a continuous exhibition of the students' work enhances their self-esteem."

Having proven to be an effective and easy-to-use resource book for teachers who wish to instil a respect for life and nature in their students, Dinja Waħda is now also being sought by Kindergarten teachers who have found the guide to be an excellent tool even at pre-primary levels, while naturally adapting the activities to better suit the abilities of the students they teach.

This year's project is nearing its peak with an array of events being organised by the schools themselves and by Birdlife Malta. At the end of March a 'Walk for Nature' is being organised for Klabb Ħuttaf members (Birdlife's Kids' Club) and students from primary schools participating in Dinja Waħda.

This event sees these young nature lovers undertaking an 11km sponsored walk through some of the most spectacular sites in Malta.

Moreover, the month of April will host lots of exciting 'Nature Days' organised by schools wishing to openly express their appreciation of Malta's natural heritage through performances, poetry, prose, drawings, paintings, workshops and many more creative ways.

Furthermore, as part of the project in April, the Dinja Waħda schools co-ordinator together with Birdlife's educational committee will be organising a children's hearing where selected students will read letters they have written to the environment minister.

Probably the most important task Dinja Waħda carries is that of continuing education beyond the classroom. Through the students, their parents, relatives and friends can also be exposed to a greener way of life. In fact, the project encourages children to undertake activities with their families outside the classroom. At the end of the day, while Dinja Waħda sets out to educate children, it's not only the kids who 'become green'.

For more information on Birdlife Malta and the Dinja Waħda project, visit www.birdlifemalta.org.

Do your bit

Here is a good idea for you if you want to promote nature further. Now that spring has kicked off, it is breeding season again and our little feathered friends are looking for a safe place to make a nest and raise their chicks.

Why don't you set up a nest box in a safe spot at home, away from cats? You can find instructions on how to do this by visiting the children's section of the Birdlife website under the heading 'Things to Do'.

In the meantime, remember never to disturb a nest box while it is occupied as this may cause the parents to abandon their chicks.

Ms Mifsud is Birdlife's schools co-ordinator.