Spurred on by the unmitigated success of a similar project two years ago, the Association of Lyceum Past Students (Ghaqda Ex-Studenti Liceo – ALPS) has again launched Project Pitazz u Lapes jew gugarell (Pencil and Exercise Book or Toy) to help schoolchildren think about their less fortunate counterparts in mission lands during the upcoming festive season.

ALPS President George Stagno Navarra said the first project of this kind two years ago, yielded thousands of pencils and exercise books that were handed over to the Missionary Society of St Paul, which sent them to Arequipa in Peru. “The image of smiling Peruvian children in their classrooms with exercise books that bore clearly-visible Maltese brand names is still fresh,” he said, “and we are looking forward to repeating the experience, possibly on an even-larger scale.”

The proceeds of the current project will be handed over to the Malta Mission Fund.

Like the first project, this one is being handled by Nazzareno Azzopardi, Chairman of ALPS’s Philanthropic Projects Commission who, with the cooperation of the Education Division, has written to the heads of all State, private and Church primary schools to urge their students to take part in the contributions.

“The toy in this year’s project has been thrown in for good measure, following comments received by many after the first project,” said Dr Azzopardi. “It is well known that over Yuletide many children receive toys as presents, and sowing in them the thought of giving something that they like to children who are less fortunate, could do a lot of good for the development of their characters.”

The toys, pencils and exercise books will be collected in January, following the start of the second term of school. ALPS has recommended to its members and friends, many of whom have grandchildren at school, to encourage their families to cooperate in the project.