The BOV Istrina campaign 2004 has entered its final phase this week. As from last Tuesday three large open trucks, each carrying a big piggy bank, are visiting all schools in Malta and Gozo to collect the donations made by schoolchildren towards this year’s Istrina campaign.

Speaking about this final phase, Peppi Azzopardi said, “What started off as an exciting idea when we were discussing with Bank of Valletta has turned out to be a wide ranging initiative that has involved around 65,000 schoolchildren in Malta and Gozo. We have distributed 8,000 piggy banks in all schools. Over the past week, the children have been making donations in aid of Istrina. This has helped instill a greater appreciation of the value of solidarity amongst children who have made an effort to donate part of their savings in aid of those who are most in need,” said Mr Azzopardi.

Until tomorrow, over 60 personalities will be assisting in the collection of the donations from all the schools.

Amongst these, President Edward Fenech Adami will be at St Aloysius College to show his support towards this initiative. Members of Parliament and other personalities will also be giving their support.

It is planned that the funds collected, which will be placed in one large piggy bank, will be symbolically presented to Dr Fenech Adami, President of Malta on 22 December at Freedom Square Valletta. The amount of money collected by the schoolchildren will then be revealed during the live transmission of Istrina 2004 on the 26 December on TVM.