The Environment & Resources Authority is collaborating with ŻiguŻajg International Arts Festival for Children and Young People to launch the project Fair with Air at Schools.
This air quality project, which is part of an initiative being carried out by a number of European countries, will bring together school children and their teachers to monitor outdoor air quality around their schools. Specialised monitoring equipment will monitor the levels of nitrogen dioxide, an air pollutant mostly produced by vehicles, around schools in Malta and Gozo to determine the status and effects of transport on the outdoor air quality.
The project was launched this morning at Spazju Kreattiv. As part of this project, Żigużajg is showcasing the winning poster designs by the 5-10 year and the 11-16 year age groups from a Poster Design Competition hosted by ERA. This poster competition on Air Quality: Our Environment & Our Role, focused on air quality, covering aspects such as the science behind the air we breathe and the community’s role in minimising air pollution. The posters will remain exhibited for the public until Sunday 25th November.
This morning, Minister for the Environment Sustainable Development, the Environment and Climate Change Hon Dr Herrera, along with ERA Director Environment & Resources Perit Michelle Piccinino, were shown around this exhibiton by Fondazzjoni Kreattività Chairman Rupert Cefai and ŻiguŻajg Festival Director Daniel Azzopardi. Fondazzjoni Kreattività Chairman Rupert Cefai pointed out that a children’s festival must safeguard our children’s future and work towards a healthy environment for all while Perit Michelle Piccinino recognised that in line with the aim of the festival, ERA’s project was set up to raise awareness on air quality and the role that each citizen has to improve air quality. Hon Dr Herrera also commended ERA’s work in reaching out to youths to empower them in thinking that their decisions have an impact on the environment. He said “It is important that children embrace the environment as an integral part of their lives”.
Submissions for this poster competition surpassed expectations. Hundreds of posters, including a considerable number from various schools around Malta were received by ERA, each one creative and artistic in its own right. Posters were judged and attractive prizes were awarded during a ceremony held earlier this year.
ŻiguŻajg is taking place between 16 and 25 November in Valletta, Malta and Gozo. This year the Festival is undertaking several environmentally-friendly measures, including separating waste and more eco-friendly gifts for children.
