Thursday 28 March 2024

Children share festive cheer with elderly

Primary schoolchildren brought a dose of cheer and chuckles to residents of St Vincent De Paul Residence this morning as they went around handing Christmas cards to the elderly.

This is the third consecutive year that the Malta Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society organised the Nanniet Post Office initiative, born during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 to alleviate the elderly’s loneliness.

During this heartwarming, intergenerational event, the children were accompanied by MFWS chair Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, Active Ageing Minister Jo Etienne Abela and Education Minister Clifton Grima.

Ms Coleiro Preca said: “Roughly a third of the Maltese population, particularly seniors, suffer from loneliness, and this festive period can be an emotional one especially for those who unable to join loved ones. So we hope the children’s presence will bring a momentary sparkle in these people’s lives.”

Over the past weeks, children from Luqa and Marsa primary schools focused on drawing and designing a Christmas card with a few uplifting words to share with elderly citizens in homes, as part of the project that was first created in collaboration with Prof. Alexiei Dingli and his team.

Dr Abela said he was moved to be part of this intergenerational activity.

“We have to get to the point where we attach a greater value to the relationship between children and senior citizens to foster a sense of respect towards the elderly,” he said.

Meanwhile, Dr Grima spoke about the importance of children learning to be responsible citizens, adding that it was touching to see a rapport flourish between young and old.

During the event, students from the Marsa Primary School brought a sense of youth as they sang Christmas Carols; their sweet voices ringing through the corridors.

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