Ta’ Qali’s Picnic Area was transformed into a children’s playground, for the occasion of World Children’s Day, commemorated on November 20, and celebrated in Malta last Sunday. Hundreds of families participated in a three-hour activity of fun and learning, where children socialised and made new friends, in the company of animators.

HSBC Cares For Children Fund was the main sponsor for this celebration, which saw hundreds of children enjoy themselves in games such as tug-of-war, bocci, bungee runs, bouncy castle and others. Sports activities were also organised, and these included basketball, football, and mountain climbing.

A number of well known personalities took to the stage to provide entertainment for the afternoon. A children’s corner, just like Hyde Park’s very own “speakers’ corner” provided the opportunity for the discussion of issues related to children’s rights.

“This event went beyond providing an outing for the family. The underlying themes that were promoted during the event – the adequate protection of children, their right to having a voice and be listened to, the importance of living in harmony with our environment, the importance of the family – will resonate after the activity has come to an end. A main objective of the HSBC Cares For Children Fund is to promote awareness about such issues,” said the Fund’s Chairperson, Mrs Catherine Gonzi.

World Children’s Day was organised by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Employment, the Ministry for the Family and Social Solidarity, the Commisioner for Children, and Agenzija Appogg. The main theme of this event was “Towards the better protection of children”.

The Rural Affairs and the Environment Ministry also participated in this activity, and organised a talk on the environment and a tree planting session as part of the celebrations.