HSBC employees who have participated in HSBC Group’s Investing in Nature programme have begun visiting secondary schools throughout Malta to share their experiences with students and to encourage them to be proactive in protecting Malta’s environment.

This new initiative is being coordinated by the HSBC Cares For The Environment Fund (HCEF) together with the Department of Student Services and International Relations within the Education Division.

“All the employees who have participated in an Earthwatch environmental project are encouraged to use their experience to benefit the communities from which they come,” said Mr Godfrey Swain, HSBC head of marketing and communications, and director of the HSBC Cares For The Environment Fund (HCEF).

“A number of Maltese HSBC staff have already set up their own environmental projects. Now, through this new initiative, we will be able to share our experiences and knowledge with school children and hopefully help to instill in them a greater sense of responsibility towards our environment,” said Mr Swain.

HSBC’s Investing in Nature programme was established in 2002. It is a $50 million five-year programme to support three leading environmental charities – Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI), Earthwatch Institute and World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Investing In Nature will protect 20,000 plant species from extinction, breathe life into some of the world’s major rivers, train scientists and, in partnership with the Earthwatch Institute, send HSBC employees on conservation projects worldwide.

“2005 has been declared The Year of Citizenship Through Education by the Council of Europe and the Education Division has been developing programmes that will help Maltese students become good citizens. Environmental awareness is a fundamental aspect of this and, thanks to HSBC, Malta now has a group of people who have first hand knowledge of environmental protection projects around the world. This is a valuable national resource and I am delighted that HSBC has agreed to let these employees take the time to visit our schools and share their experiences with our children,” said Student Services and International Relations director Mary Rose Mifsud.

“Earthwatch engages people worldwide in scientific field research and education to promote the understanding and action necessary for a sustainable environment. By 2007, a total of 2,000 HSBC employees around the world, including dozens from Malta, will have been involved in conservation projects that might not otherwise happen. Our aim is not just for staff to take part in a one-off activity but for them to take what they have learnt back to their local communities. This new initiative, of sharing these experiences with school children, is excellent and I hope secondary schools can take advantage of this opportunity,” said HCEF chairman Shaun Wallis.