This year’s winner of the Pope John XXIII prize for kindness has been won by Shaun Cassar, a 15-year-old student at St Paul’s Missionary College in Rabat. Shaun hails from Zejtun.

Shaun is being rewarded for the way he cares for a fellow student, Matthew, who is suffering from cerebral palsy.

The Peace Lab said in a statement that Shaun carries Matthew’s books and helps him in so many other ways. He gives him constant attention and has great patience with him. He even sacrifices his free time to be with Matthew and helps him in art classes.

Whenever group work is set, Shaun goes all the way up to Rabat to help Matthew with the project work. They have now become inseparable and Shaun never grumbles even when Matthew is being difficult.

Shaun will be presented with the prize by President Fenech Adami on Wednesday.