In a series of meetings, the children from the locality have been holding their own meetings, electing their own mayor, deputy mayor and secretary and submitting and voting on motions which deal with the needs of children in the locality.

In their last meeting, the children approved six motions which deal with more cleanliness in the locality, better security through more CCTVs, better traffic management and more pedestrian crossings.

Present at this last meeting were the Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Justice and Home Affairs, Dr Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici, the Children’s Commissioner Sonia Camilleri, the Pieta mayor Dr Malcolm Mifsud and the parents of the children.

At the end of the sitting the children presented the motions approved by them to Dr Mifsud so that these are discussed by the local council.

In comments, Dr Mifsud said his council has come up with this initiative so that children may be trained, from an early age, to understand more about civic responsibility.

Mrs Camilleri said she has been very favourably impressed by the sitting. In her opinion, it is very significant that the very first motion discussed by the children regarded cleanliness and that the children offered to help in the cleaning up of the locality.

Dr Mifsud Bonnici said he will be mentioning this experiment in all the visits he will be doing to local councils.