Children’s Day will be a day to remember for more than 2,000 boys and girls attending the official celebrations on 24 November at the Cottonera Sports Complex. The spectacular event, sponsored by HSBC Cares For Children Fund as part of its fifth anniversary celebrations, will be visited by HM Queen Elizabeth II and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, as part of their forthcoming State Visit to Malta.
The programme for Children’s Day 2005, which is being organised by the Education Ministry, will feature a special performance by the band of the Royal Marines, a display by school children and the presentation of a collage prepared by eight different schools. This collage represents the different member states and various cultures of the Commonwealth. Other events taking place will include a performance by the St Joseph School Choir and the Scouts Band. The event will also provide a platform for the launch of a new jingle for the 179 children’s support line, which is run by Agenzija Appogg.
“This year’s Children’s Day is going to be like no other. The event is possibly one of the biggest ever organised for children in Malta. The HSBC Cares For Children Fund has assisted the Education Ministry in its organisation. Today we are adding to that support a donation to cover the entire cost of this event,” said HSBC Malta chief executive officer Shaun Wallis.
“Children’s Day is an event which the government has been keen to promote and thanks to both the logistical and financial support provided by HSBC Cares For Children Fund, we will be able to celebrate this day in a big way. The Education Ministry and the HSBC Cares For Children Fund have been partners for many years now and this event shows how much can be achieved when the public and private sectors work together for the benefit of our community,” said Education Minister Louis Galea.
British High Commissioner Vincent Fean said: “The State Visit by Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh is going to be a very hectic one, with both having very different but just as intense schedules. Both the Queen and the Duke, however, expressed a wish to attend this event, as it will give them an opportunity to meet with hundreds of Maltese youngsters. I know that both the Education Ministry and the HSBC Cares For Children Fund have been working very hard for this event and I have no doubt that it will be a great experience for everyone who is there.”
The Children’s Day celebrations, including the participation of HM The Queen and HRH the Duke of Edinburgh, will be broadcast live on PBS on 24 November, starting at 9am.