Agenzija Appogg, in collaboration with the Education, Youth and Employment Ministry, is involved in the organisation of the annual event for school children, on the occasion of World Children’s Day. This event, which is going to be held this morning at the Cottonera Sports Complex, is being attended by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and HRH the Duke of Edinburgh. Around 2,500 children will be present for this celebration. This event is being sponsored by the HSBC Cares for Children Fund.
During this event, which starts at 9am and ends at around 11.30am, schoolchildren of various ages will perform in front of Her Majesty and hundreds of other children. What is striking during this event is the diversity of the schoolchildren who will come together to celebrate World Children’s Day and pass across the message of integrity and children’s rights. Family and Social Solidarity Minister Dolores Cristina and Commissioner for children, Sonia Camilleri together with the operations director of Agenzija Appogg, Sonia Camilleri, will be present for this event and will address those present.
Starting two years ago, Agenzija Appogg took up the commitment to commemorate World Children’s Day locally, creating further awareness of their rights, and conveying messages to society at large on pertinent issues specifically related to childhood. This support its ongoing efforts to promote children’s rights, while ensuring that they get the necessary help for them to be able to live in a safe environment.
The best interest of the child must be of primary consideration in all actions concerning the child, whether by public or private social welfare institutions, courts of law, administrative authorities or legislative bodies, so as to ensure to the maximum extent possible the proper development of the child. So, Appogg appeals to all those who can in some way or another, affect the child’s life, including other organisations, educators and parents, to come together and collaborate to safeguard the children’s rights to protection and safety.
During this event, there will also be a performance by the Young Talent Team, who will perform their new song Bikja Ohra / 179. This song is about children who are passing through difficult situations in their lives such as living with abusive parents/carers, children experiencing problems in the family, experiencing abandonment and neglect. This song voices the feelings and thoughts of these children who wish to live in a peaceful, loving and united family, and through their song are calling out for help in order to live a better life in a healthy environment. Moreover, the song brings awareness and encourages both adults and children to call supportline 179 of Agenzija Appogg.
Bikja Ohra/179 is composed and written by Andrew Zahra and Deo Grech respectively, while production was done by Andrew Zammit.