HSBC rallies Malta and Gozo on World Water Day

For the fifth consecutive year, HSBC Malta celebrated World Water Day with a number of events designed to promote the notion of effective water conservation in Malta.

The celebrations were launched with the opening of an art exhibition by St Ignatius College students at the President’s Palace, Valletta. Inaugurated by President MarieLouise Coleiro Preca, the exhibition Ilma (Water) showcased artworks on the theme of water. All the 55 art pieces are to be sold.

Proceeds from this initiative will be donated to the L-Istrina fund. Participating students also presented the President with a cheque of €605 raised from last year’s sales. The exhibition has since moved to HSBC Malta Head Office on Archbishop Street Valletta, where it is open to the public, during normal business hours, until the end of this month.

On the eve of the World Water Day, held annually on 22 March each year, students from Valletta Primary and San Ġwann Primary carried out street fund-raising in Pjazza San Ġorg. Money was collected for Missio Malta, which is running a water sanitation programme in Zambia.

But perhaps it was the HSBC Water Programme-sponsored Secondary School Quiz which attracted the greatest participation. Now in its third year, this nationwide quiz saw the participation of 21 secondary schools from across Malta and Gozo. All the quiz questions were themed around water, with the support of the Department for Curriculum, Research Innovation and Lifelong Learning.

The 2018 quiz edition was held at St Benedict College Kirkop Middle School and was won by the Archbishop Seminary Rabat. A unique feature of the event this year was the donation of funds by participating schools to Missio Malta for their Zambia project. Last year’s winners St Theresa College Mrieħel shared their experience following a recent visit to the European Parliament. The students were addressed by the Minister for Sustainable Development, the Environment and Climate Change Dr Jose’ Herrera.

In Gozo, the Ministry for Gozo organised a student activity at Għar Ilma, which was restored in 2016 thanks to the funds by the HSBC Water Programme. Additionally, students also visited an underwater gully of the Aqueducts as well as the Għadira ta’ San Raflu where they were greeted by the Minister for Gozo Dr Justyne Caruana.

The World Water Day was designated by the United Nations in 1993 and since then has been marked around the world around a chosen theme. The theme for 2018 is Nature for water.

Since 2013, HSBC has invested close to €1m on water conservation projects in Malta. For past World Water Days, HSBC Water Programme collaborated with MCAST, the Energy & Water Agency, Malta International Airport, Esplora, Living Waters and a host of other partners.