A group of 15 children of BOV staff members just honed their culinary skills with a Mini Chef course.

Organised by the BOV Sports and Social Club, the 10-session course, held at the kitchen lab at Marija Regina School Complex in Mosta saw the children try their hand at a variety of dishes under the watchful eyes of chefs Mandy Micallef Decesare and Maria Sant Fournier.

"This is the third year that we are holding this course, which is fully booked within minutes due to its popularity,"  said Vanessa Borg, secretary from BOV Sports and Social Club. "Beyond the cooking experience, these children learn how to work in teams, a social skill that will definitely serve them well as they grow up."

Micallef Decesare on behalf of Minichefs Malta said that: "Teaching children to cook is always a satisfaction for us. We never prepare the children in advance as to what we are cooking in the following session, so it is always a last minute surprise. It is difficult to express in words their enthusiasm and curiosity. Children of such a young age do not bother with recipes, but pick up instructions easily and in an intuitive manner, which inevitably means that every session is a messy but fun experience. We also make it a point to cook healthy dishes, using natural ingredients."

The BOV Sports and Social Club committee is made up of Bank of Valletta staff members who volunteer to organise events to nurture friendships among the 1,500+ workforce and reinforce team spirit away from the office, sometimes also involving immediate family and young family members.