The Central Bank of Malta and the Malta Community Chest Fund have collaborated on the launch of a social responsibility coin programme involving students in all secondary schools, with the theme Mit-tfal b'solidarjetà.

The programme was officially launched on Friday, 5 June by President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca and the Governor of the Central Bank of Malta Professor Josef Bonnici, during a press conference held at the Central Bank of Malta.

The programme, planned over a number of years, involves five themes: Love, Peace, Nature/Environment, Heritage and Games. The theme selected for 2016 is Love. This falls within the Mission Statement of the Malta Community Chest Fund as through love and generosity the Fund promotes activities to help individuals with various needs. 

The Love theme will be represented on a €2 commemorative coin to be issued by the Central Bank of Malta through coin cards and commemorative coin rolls and will be available for sale in 2016. The proceeds from the sale of the coin cards will go to the Malta Community Chest Fund.

The coin design will symbolise Love in the wider sense to reflect the important aspect of solidarity. A competition on the coin design will be launched in all secondary schools and an expert panel will shortlist five designs, which will then be submitted for voting by the students. The winning design will be reflected on the coin and a prize will be awarded to the student submitting it. The two runners-up will also be awarded a prize while all students participating in the design competition will be given a certificate and memento.

The remaining four themes will also be reproduced on commemorative coins over the coming years.

The schools will be informing the students on the regulations guiding the design competition. Designs must be submitted by not later than Friday, 30 October at 2pm to Winnie Vella, Projects & Initiatives Section, Coin Design Competition, Student Services Department, Fra Gaetano Pace Forno Street, Hamrun HMR 1100.