As part of the BOV Joseph Calleja Foundation’s objectives of promoting art and culture with children, Joseph Calleja paid a visit to children attending Senglea Primary School.
The school’s 130 students, their teachers and parents gave a very warm welcome to the Maltese Tenor, who looked very much at ease as he answered children’s many questions of every nature, Joseph Calleja viewed the visit as an opportunity to give his audience, young and not so young, an overview about how he has developed into a world renowned tenor and what this entails.
The artist who has made a name for himself and for Malta across important theatres internationally, claimed that this visit is the first step in realizing another important goal of the Foundation. “I am a firm believer that art has a crucial role to play in achieving a truly holistic education. It is important not only for the inherent value that art and culture can provide to a child’s development, but also in relation to its qualities to heal certain pain that some children suffer in silence on a day-to-day basis.”
Rita Buhagiar, the Head of School explained how she works hard with her team to ensure the wellbeing of the children, whilst trying to eradicate the stigma bred by misconceptions that tends to cling to the locality. She explained that the staff at the schoolwork closely with the parents, and a healthy discourse is encouraged with a view of improving the level of education provided to the children. “To say that we are proud to host Mr Calleja at our school is an understatement,” she said. “Such an occasion brought together the community feeling that the school seeks hard to inculcate – parents and teachers worked together to prepare the small feast we have spread here to give Joseph Calleja the welcome he merits.” Speaking about the children, Ms Buhagiar agreed that such a visit definitely gives a boost of confidence to the children. “At the same time, it opens a window on an exciting world that is probably foreign to many. Coming up close and interacting personally with such a renowned artist, and listening to him tell stories of the world of the arts makes it come alive to these children in a way that would not have been possible otherwise.”
Launched two years ago, the BOV Joseph Calleja Foundation has the objectives of supporting talented young persons in realising their full potential in the field of performing arts, and providing assistance to underprivileged children whose situations are not catered for by existing social support programmes.