EkoSkola Malta

EkoSkola 14th Young People’s Summit: A Call to Renew Our Common Home

This 14^th edition of the EkoSkola Young People’s Summit brought together young people who are not only learning about sustainability but actively shaping it within their schools and communities. Their energy, insight, and commitment reflect the very heart of EkoSkola’s mission: empowering students to become leaders of change. More than fifty students from eleven schools, accompanied by twenty‑two educators, gathered at the ĊAK Main Hall in Birkirkara on 9 February 2026 for the Summit with the theme: A Call to Renew Our Common Home: Saint Francis’ Vision.

This special edition of the Summit formed part of the global Franciscan commemoration of the 800^th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis of Assisi, whose example continues to guide ecological and social action. As part of the local celebrations, the Franciscan Conventuals in Malta brought to the islands (8–19 February 2026) the Camoscio: a relic from the Basilica of Saint Francis in Assisi consisting of a piece of soft chamois leather that, according to tradition, covered the wound of the stigmata on Saint Francis’s side and absorbed his blood.

The Summit opened with a welcome address by Fr Allister Aquilina (Assistant Director, Secretariat for Catholic Education) and Fr Paul Darmanin (Provincial Vicar of the Franciscan Conventuals), followed by a video clip about the relic and a brief explanation of the Summit’s procedure. Students then moved into theme-based workshop groups (for primary and secondary schools), exploring the following themes:

Theme 1: Care for the Vulnerable: Justice, Solidarity, and Human Dignity: This theme mirrors Saint Francis’s compassion for the marginalised and reflects the call in Laudato Si’ to hear “both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor,” this group reflected on how environmental degradation deepens human suffering and how young people can respond with compassion and solidarity.

Theme2: Care for Creation: Climate, Biodiversity, and Sustainable Living: This theme connects directly to the relic’s symbolism: a wounded world calling for healing. Students explored the ecological wounds of our planet and discussed how their schools are already contributing to biodiversity protection.

During the workshop, each student wrote a prayer to Saint Francis, which will be placed on the Saint’s tomb. After the workshop sessions, students reconvened to present and approve a Declaration that is a collective statement capturing their concerns, hopes, and proposed actions for a more just and sustainable future. The Declaration will be presented to the Archbishop’s Curia, the General Custody of the Franciscan Conventuals in Assisi, and the General Curia in Rome, and will also be shared through local media.

Nature Trust – FEE Malta, the Secretariat for Catholic Education, and the Franciscan Conventuals extend their gratitude to all participating schools, teachers, and students for contributing to a meaningful and hope‑filled gathering.