Bank of Valletta employees and their young children are experiencing first-hand the magic of Read with Me sessions through two weekly programmes. Bank of Valletta has been supporting the Read with Me programme that is coordinated by the National Literacy Agency, for the past two years. This early literacy programme which is recognised by Book Trust in the UK puts emphasis on the important role of the family and the wider community in the education of the child and the promotion of higher levels of literacy.'

Since its launch in 2014, the Read with Me programme has reached 21,678 children and their parents, through sessions in Maltese and in English by trained tutors in 50 centres across Malta and Gozo.

Speaking about the initiative, Charles Azzopardi Head of BOV PR & Marketing explained how the project came to be. "It was actually our people themselves who instigated the project we are witnessing here. Following a call for applications, we realised that we had a sufficient response to cater for two programmes, one in English and one in Maltese." The outcome was that every Wednesday afternoon, the foyer at BOV Centre takes on a completely different guise. "Our people come to the Head Office after office hours with their babies and toddlers to attend the sessions. Two separate areas have been designated, and the children are given access to a mini library, with books that are intended for them."

Miriam Schembri, programme coordinator at the National Literacy Agency expressed her delight at the way the programmes were progressing. "The children and their parents are participating actively in the sessions.  The children enjoy shared reading, participate in fun games and sing nursery rhymes that introduce them to colours, numbers and basic everyday vocabulary. It gives us great satisfaction to watch the children involved so actively, playing with the books and singing, alongside their parents. This really embodies the spirit of the Read with Me programme."

Further information about the Read with Me programme is available from the Facebook Page Aqra Miegħi/Read with Me.