Valletta revealed to Form 1 students through a Valletta 2018, Bank of Valletta collaboration

Discover Valletta is a series of brief narratives about locations in the capital city Valletta, available in audio format through MP3, a pack of flash cards and a map. The packs are being distributed to Form 1 students attending state, Church and independent schools around Malta and Gozo.

This was revealed during an event at St Ignatius Middle School in Ħandaq, where the second edition of Discover Valletta packs were presented to the Form 1 students.

Present for the press conference were Jason Micallef, Chairperson of Valletta 2018 Foundation and Kenneth Farrugia, Chief Business Development Officer at Bank of Valletta.

Addressing the students, Mr Micallef explained that this project was launched for the first time last year and it received very positive feedback both by students and their teachers. “Discover Valletta, is delivering historical and cultural information in an interactive way since children listen to information about 24 sites in Valletta during school visits to the capital,” Jason Micallef noted. “Thousands of kits are being distributed to Form one pupils, every year up to 2018.”

The Discover Valletta pack includes an MP3 player, loaded with 24 bi-lingual audio tracks. Every track tells the story of a different location in Valletta. There is also a flashcard that provides fun and educational information about every location. A map of Valletta linking the different locations and tracks is also included in the pack. Students will be able to retain the pack, so that they can revisit Valletta and share their experience with their family.

Mr Farrugia expressed the bank’s satisfaction at the outcome of the project. He said: “It gives us great satisfaction to be collaborating with the Valletta 2018 Foundation on this educational project. Discover Valletta opens a window on the rich heritage that our capital city encapsulates and helps children uncover hidden gems. This project puts technology to good use, providing an innovative way in which children can relive our history together with their families.”

Speaking about the bank’s involvement, he explained: “It has now been well over 15 years since Bank of Valletta felt it had to take upon itself the role of patron of national heritage and culture. This led us to undertake various projects, including several in Valletta, some of which are places that feature in your pack – Teatru Manoel and the Cupola of Santa Caterina d’Italia to mention just two instances. As the Maltese bank, we feel that we are duty-bound to do our bit to conserve what has been handed down to us.”