Following the local success of the outreach project, through which children in local schools are given a presentation about Malta’s underwater cultural heritage, the Programme has now been exported abroad.

Over 100 students and teachers from various schools across Sydney, Australia were introduced to the incredible underwater world surrounding our small archipelago in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. Dr Tim Gambin of the University of Malta delivered the lecture about Malta’s underwater cultural heritage at the National Maritime Museum in Sydney.

It is widely acknowledged that our islands are full of priceless gems that bear testimony to our rich and turbulent history. However, it is not often that we are exposed to the maritime heritage that lies on the seabed surrounding our shores.

Speaking on his return from Australia, Dr Gambin expressed his excitement at the warm reception he received. “It really makes it all worthwhile to watch the wonder on children’s faces as they are introduced to this world. This project is bringing to the surface completely new evidence about our rich past. It is laborious work, but the outcome is priceless.”

Through this Programme, Dr T. Gambin visits school children and enthralls them with stories about Malta’s rich maritime past. Since it was established by a local NGO - the Mediterranean Institute of Marine Studies in 2007, over 9,000 local school children benefited from this initiative. This project already has a track record covering an average of 2,000 students in 25 schools every year for the past three years. The sessions started in October and will continue until May 2014. For further information, one may contact the MIMS Coordinator Maria Baldacchino on [email protected].

This is another exciting project which is brought to light thanks to the support offered by Bank of Valletta’s extensive Community Relations Programme. “This project addresses two important pillars of our Programme – education and heritage, in a manner that adds value to both. This is why we are excited to see this Programme reaching out to more and more children,” said Kenneth B Micallef, Head CEO Office at Bank of Valletta.

Dr Gambin’s presentations are also supported by the Department of Classics and Archaeology at the University of Malta.