“The Labour Brigade is aimed at educating children and raising them close to the Labour Party. This is not an act of politicising children but one that raises them in socio-democratic values.”

Marie-Louise Coleiro-Preca said this yesterday at a meeting to explain her vision for the Labour Brigade as part of her MLP leadership election campaign.

The leadership contender said that the Labour Brigade is not outdated in today’s times but “more resources need to be allocated for the brigade to move forward.”

Also speaking at yesterday’s meeting were the Labour MP Joe Debono Grech and Dr Charles Cassar.

Dr Debono Grech explained that the Labour Brigade started as a children’s movement that brought children up in an educational environment. “We need to teach children about the party’s history and the hardships we faced to improve the standard of living of workers’ children,” he said.

He added that Marie-Louise Coleiro-Preca always worked hard on a voluntary basis together with others to push forward the party’s ideals. “The issue of voluntary work must be strengthened and given its due importance for the party be strengthened,” Dr Debono Grech said.

Dr Charles Cassar continued to speak about whether there is still a place for the Labour Brigade in today’s society and how this will operate.

“We cannot throw out the baby with the bath water,” he said. Thus, the brigade needs to be better synchronised with today’s times with operations based on the process of children’s development.

“By means of physical activity and games, children learn to trust the environment around them and develop mentally, physically and emotionally,” said Dr Cassar. The Labour Brigade is an occasion for children to experiment and grow up within a safe environment.