The Guzè Ellul Mercer Foundation (GEM) is giving lessons in Kalkara, Nitghallmu Flimkien 2007 aimed at helping children between five and 10 years of age with Maltese literacy problems.

GEM Foundation executive director David Caruana said that many children are attending.

The project is being carried out in collaboration with Kalkara local council and lessons are being delivered at the council’s library.

Qualified teachers are using story-telling techniques in which children learn to read and write through the interest generated by stories. The children discuss characters and write about their feelings for the story and how the stories apply to their daily lives.

The foundation also announced the start of similar programmes in Cospicua and Vittoriosa.