A total of 87 primary schools across Malta and Gozo are celebrating their outstanding achievements in connecting children with nature through BirdLife Malta’s Dinja Waħda schools programme.

Following on from the successful secondary awards in October, the primary schools accomplishments for the 2016-2017 scholastic year were recognised at the Dinja Waħda Primary prize-giving ceremony 2017 which was held at Salina Nature Reserve’s Visitors’ Centre on Wednesday.

This year, 53 schools received gold awards, nine schools received silver awards, four schools were awarded with bronze awards and 21 schools with certificates. Seven schools also received a blue banner, after being awarded the gold award three years in a row.

The awards were distributed to schools by BirdLife Malta CEO Mark Sultana and Bank of Valletta’s PR & marketing executive Charles Azzopardi, who were accompanied by BirdLife Malta education officer, Sarah Brady.

BirdLife Malta’s Dinja Waħda initiative forms part of the NGO’s commitment to protect wildlife and its habitats through outdoor activities for school children both in school grounds and through educational visits to Malta’s nature reserves to help them connect with nature.

The programme is run in collaboration with the Directorate for Quality and Standards in Education (DQSE) and is supported by the European Commission Representation in Malta. It has been running for more than 20 years.

Bank of Valletta (BOV) has resumed support for the Dinja Waħda programme, after an absence of a number of years.

During the ceremony, BirdLife Malta launched its new children’s book, Għasafar Madwarna. The second edition of this colourful junior guide to birds in the Maltese Islands created by Victor Falzon is aimed at engaging children in learning about and identifying Maltese nature.