Over 5,500 children in 24 schools in Malta and Gozo have been taking part in a fundraising campaign to help some of the most deprived children in Syria get an education.

Church, state and independent schools have participated in the initiative, by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) Malta, by giving up sweets and other treats and instead donating the money to help Syrian children.

The small donations from pocket money have raised over €8,000 that are going towards education projects in Syria for children who have been worst affected by the war.

Enough money has already been raised to fund 195 scholarships for children from the poorest families whose parents could not otherwise afford to send them to school.

ACN Malta’s fundraising campaign is also providing 20 weeks of individual homeschooling for a number of children in parts of Damascus that were worst affected by recent bombing.

ACN Malta thanked the children who took part and heads of school, teachers, administrators and parents who worked to promote the campaign and organise the collection of donation including  Fr Effie Masini (Gozo bishop’s delegate), Fr Reuben Gauci (responsible for spiritual development in State and Church schools), Joe Farrugia (the Archbishop’s delegate for the laity) and Lawrence Aquilina.

The conclusion of the fund-raising initiative has coincided with ACN's celebration of the fourth anniversary since the opening of its Malta office. Cardinal Piacenza, International President of ACN, has sent a message to congratulate ACN Malta.

A thanksgiving Mass will be held this Sunday at 9am at Good Shepherd church in Balzan.