EkoSkola 14th Young People’s Summit: A Call to Renew Our Common Home
This 14th 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 800th 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.
Malta Participates in Global Environmental Education Summit in Malaysia
From 15 – 20 September 2025, Kuala Lumpur became a global hub for ESD as it hosted two major international events convened by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE): the FEE National Operators Meeting (NOM) and the EcoCampus International Conference (ECIC). These gatherings brought together nearly 200 delegates from 48 countries to strengthen collaboration, share best practices, and advance climate action through education. The Maltese delegation actively engaged in networking and collaboration with international partners, fostering new connections and sharing insights across diverse educational contexts.
The FEE National Operators Meeting, held from 15 – 18 September, focused on the strategic development of FEE’s flagship programmes: Eco-Schools, Learning about Ecosystems and Forests (LEAF) and Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE). The meeting focused on th
e importance of measurable sustainability outcomes, green skills development, and the integration of ESD into national curricula and community initiatives.
Malta was represented by three national operators from Nature Trust – FEE Malta: Prof. Paul Pace, EkoSkola National Operator, shared Malta’s long-standing commitment to ESD and its whole-school approach to climate literacy. Johann Gatt, LEAF National Operator, presented Malta’s innovative outdoor-based learning initiatives, which reconnect communities with ecosystems and promote biodiversity awareness. Audrey Gauci, YRE National Operator, highlighted the transformative power of youth-led environmental journalism in fostering civic engagement and critical thinking.
Following the NOM, the EcoCampus International Conference took place from 18 – 20 September, exploring the theme Transforming Higher Education for Climate Action: A Whole-System Approach. The conference showcased how universities and colleges can become 
living laboratories for sustainability, integrating climate action across teaching, research, governance, and operations. Prof Pace also announced that he is currently exploring how the University of Malta can formally adopt the EcoCampus programme, aligning higher education with FEE’s whole-institution sustainability framework.
The delegation’s contributions in both events highlighted Nature Trust – FEE Malta’s central role in advancing ESD. Through its coordination of national programmes and ongoing efforts to embed sustainability across the Maltese educational system, Nature Trust has helped position Malta as a leading example of ESD integration in global fora.
Children’s Voices Drive Climate Action at Eco-Schools Young People’s Summit
The 13th Young People’s Summit, organised by Nature Trust FEE Malta, in collaboration with the Climate Action Authority, gave over 130 students from 30 schools from Malta and Gozo the opportunity to voice their ideas on the environment and climate action. This event, held on the 10th March 2025, highlighted the shared commitment of both entities to integrating children’s perspectives into policies, ensuring their proposals lead to tangible change.
The students’ concerns and suggestions were collated into a declaration that was approved by the young people attending the Summit. This declaration will be shared as a publication aimed at serving as an educational tool and a call to action. As in previous editions of the Young People’s Summit, the declaration will feature in a motion discussed at the upcoming 19th edition of the EkoSkola Parliament.
Ministers Miriam Dalli and Clifton Grima engaged directly with the students in workshops. Minister Dalli emphasised the importance of everyday choices alongside ambitious environmental projects, while Minister Grima underlined the value of children as active contributors to Malta’s present and future.
During the event, Luke DeBono received recognition for placing third in the international Children’s Eye on Earth competition. Nature Trust FEE Malta President Vincent Attard praised the EkoSkola programme for empowering children to implement practical solutions within their schools and communities. Chief Executive of the Climate Action Authority, Ing. Abigail Cutajar, reinforced the importance of involving students in shaping policy, ensuring their voices remain at the forefront of climate action.
Celebrating Young Climate Champions: 10 Inspiring School Projects Recognized
On 14th February 2025, Lidl hosted an event to highlight 10 school projects addressing climate change and responsible food consumption. These projects reflect the efforts of 
students to tackle issues such as food waste reduction, sustainable packaging, and growing their own food.
From 20 proposals submitted by schools across Malta, a blind jury selected these 10 projects. The high standard of all entries made the process challenging, demonstrating the students’ dedication and innovative ideas.
Through its grant programme, Lidl provided the resources needed for these initiatives to be implemented in their communities. This collaboration with Nature Trust – FEE Malta reaffirms Lidl’s focus on promoting sustainability and supporting practical solutions led by young people.
42 Maltese Schools are awarded the Green Flag
During a ceremony held at the Westin Dragonara Resort on the 20th November 2024, and presided over by H.E. President Myriam Spiteri Debono, students from forty-two schools across Malta and Gozo were awarded the prestigious Green Flag eco-label.
St Clare College, Madonna tal-Mensija, San Ġwann Primary School celebrated their 9th consecutive award, reflecting nearly two decades of dedication to sustainability. Meanwhile, Sacred Heart Minor Seminary in Gozo, St Benedict College in Żurrieq, and other schools, including Verdala International School, proudly received their first Green Flag.
Organized by Nature Trust – FEE Malta in collaboration with the Local Councils Association, the event also highlighted collaborative projects like the Sustainable Mobility Campaign, promoted by Transport Malta, and the launch of the EkoSkola Eco-Community Collaboration Award, which honours exceptional partnerships between local councils and schools. These efforts underline Malta’s commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and provide students with hands-on learning opportunities through programs like Learning about Ecosystems and Forests (LEAF) and Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE).
ERASMUS+ project ESD Train the Trainer towards the Green Deal
27 educators working in various colleges and networks in Malta were involved in three different training mobilities focussing on Education for Sustainable Development and the EU Green Deal in Athens, Greece with an opportunity to meet and collaborate with other educators from Greece, Cyprus, Spain and Italy. This ERASMUS+ project cofunded by the European Union was coordinated by the EkoSkola team at Nature Trust – FEE Malta.
The first mobility was aimed at giving educators more confidence in using technology and adapting its use to promote ESD topics. It mainly consisted of learning to produce animations, that, is short videos, to drive a message across. They had the opportunity to interact with other educators and university students from different countries and different ages, discuss different approaches and perspectives and also through hands on workshops produce such animations. Participants were then asked to share their experience with other educators to widen the exposure experience. Those more adventurous later went a step further and guided their students to do the same. Animations focussed on sustainable mobility, being Eco-Warriors, local farming – farm animals and fruits and vegetables grown, the great Pacific garbage patch, reusing and upcycling, saving marine life, etc.
The second mobility was a Train-the-trainer course on Marine Litter Education. Participants in the mobility had various opportunities to learn about marine litter and single use plastics, meet various other educators from different countries, students, share experiences and resources and create new ones. They also had the opportunity to learn about the related EU law on marine litter, design a beach monitoring and cleanup event, use the resource educational pack “Know, feel, Act! to Stop marine Litter”, design related games, do interviews with locals including fishermen, taverna owners, port facilities and local authorities, visit a plastic recycling factory BLUECYCLE, HELMEPA, the Centre of Environmental Education of Lavrio, SHEDIA HOME, make crafts using tubes and tires by CONVERT ART, do role play about making Behavioural Changes in plastic consumption, visit a school, do a beach cleanup and collect related data, watch an underwater cleanup demo. They also met up with MEDASSET to learn about marine litter threats for animals especially turtles. Well a very packed mobility, which also resulted into outreach to over a hundred other educators in Malta and the creation of an educational resource pack full of related lesson plan and activities: https://online.publuu.com/565180/1275791
The third and final mobility was focused on Education for Alternative Water Resources. The educators participating in this mobility learned about the Alter aqua educational resources, non conventional water resources, various other water related materials and programmes of MIO-ECSDE, followed a water tour in Athens exploring Museums, Sites & Monuments, visited the Marathon Dam and its water museum and a water supply and sewerage company, learning about different water and wastewater treatment systems, did a guided study visit of Erasinos River – a NATURA2000 site experiencing ways to do educational sessions for different ages and abilities around wetlands, marshes, meadows and linking to biodiversity. All this was done linking to various curriculum and extracurricular themes in the company of other educators from Greece, Cyprus and Spain. This mobility also resulted in the production of an educational resource pack including various creative lesson plans and activities which provide students, young people and the community in general with lots of insights and other learning opportunities about the importance of water, our dependence on it and how to use it wisely and sustainably: https://online.publuu.com/565180/1275798
Those interested in obtaining a copy of the lesson plans and/or animations are kindly asked to send an email to [email protected]
Youth concerns and proposals for European Youth Week
Giving young people a voice…
European Youth Week project by Nature Trust – FEE Malta to empower young people and give them an opportunity to send a message to MEPs and MEP candidates and get closer to the policy making table. Youth concerns and proposals were collated into this video.
This project was supported by the European Commission.
With Erasmus+ & European Solidarity Corps – EUPA Malta
Acknowledgement: The video clip of the EkoSkola Parliament session held on 19th April 2024 is part of the whole session recording provided by the Parliament of Malta.
Ġimgħa Żgħażagħ Ewropej – Vuċi liż-żgħażagħ permezz tal-programm EkoSkola
Nhar id-dsatax ta’ April, waqt it-tmintax-il edizzjoni tal-EkoSkola fil-Parlament iż-żgħażugħa Lisa Aquilina, students ta 17-il sena, f’isem żgħażagħ bħalha qrat u preżentat memorandu li inġabar wara diskussjonijiet bejn diversi żgħa’agħ fejn identifikaw temi li jinkwetawhom u għamlu proposti konkreti relatati magħhom. Wara li inqara, din il-memorandu bi proposti għal Malta u Ewropa ġie imressaq lill-Kamra bil-permess tad-Deputy Speaker, Onor. David Agius. Kopja tal-istess memorandu ingħata wkoll lill-mexxejja taż-żewġ partiti sabiex dawn jgħadduh lill-Membri Parlamentari Ewropej u kandidati tal-partit tagħhom.
Dan il-memorandu u l-preżentazzjoni tiegħu sar bħala parti minn proġett minn Nature Trust – FEE Malta għall-Ġimgħa Żgħażagħ Ewropej issapportjat mill-EUPA u Kummisjoni Ewropeja.
Il-Memorandum jgħid hekk:
Aħna ż-żgħażagħ impenjati fil-programm EkoSkola, inħeġġukom sabiex f’ħidmietkom tagħtu prijorità lill-iżvilupp sostenibbli fit-territorju Ewropew. Id-deċiżjonijiet li sa jittieħdu mill-Parlament Ewropew għandhom impatt kbir fuq il-futur tagħna. Għalhekk nemmnu li ħidmietkom trid tindirizza dawn it-tliet punti ewlenin:
Azzjoni Klimatika: It-tibdil fil-klima hu theddida għall-pjaneta tagħna u kull min jgħix fiha. Nappellaw lill-kandidati għall-elezzjonijiet għall-Membri Parlamentari Ewropej biex jappoġġaw u jippromwovu politika klimatika ambizzjuża li tagħti prijorità lill-enerġija rinnovabbli, in-
newtralità tal-karbonju, u l-miżuri ta’ adattament. L-Unjoni Ewropea għandha tmexxi bl-eżempju fit-tnaqqis tal-emissjonijiet tal-gassijiet serra u t-tranżizzjoni lejn ekonomija sostenibbli u b’livell baxx ta’ karbonju.
Konservazzjoni tal-Bijodiversità: Ir-rata li biha qed tinqered il-bijodiversità hi allarmanti, u qed tipperikola l-ekosistemi u s-servizzi li jipprovdu. Il-kandidati għall-elezzjonijiet għall-Membri Parlamentari Ewropej għandhom jappoġġjaw u jippromwovu inizjattivi li jipproteġu u jirrestawraw il-bijodiversità madwar l-Ewropa, inkluż il-konservazzjoni tal-abitati naturali, prattiċi agrikoli sostenibbli, u l-preservazzjoni ta’ speċi fil-periklu. Iż-
żamma tal-bijodiversità hija essenzjali għas-saħħa tal-pjaneta tagħna u tal-abitanti kollha tagħha.
Ekwità Soċjali u Inklużjoni: L-iżvilupp sostenibbli għandu jkun inklużżiv u ekwu, u ma jħalli lil ħadd lura. Il-kandidati għall-elezzjonijiet għall-Membri Parlamentari Ewropej għandhom jappoġġaw u jippromwovu politika li tindirizza l-inugwaljanzi soċjali,
jippromwovu l-aċċess għall-edukazzjoni u l-kura tas-saħħa, u jiżguraw opportunitajiet ta’ impjiegi ġusti u dinjitużi għal kulħadd. Il-bini ta’ futur sostenibbli jeħtieġ impenn għall-ġustizzja soċjali u s-solidarjetà fost il-membri kollha tas-soċjetà għax b’hekk tinħoloq klima ta’ rispett, serħan il-moħħ u paċi.
Aħna, iż-żgħażagħ ta’ EkoSkola, lesti nappoġġaw u nikkollaboraw mal-Membri Parlamentari Ewropej li jagħtu prijorità lil dawn il-kwistjonijiet kritiċi. Flimkien, nistgħu nsawru triq lejn futur aħjar għall-ġenerazzjonijiet li ġejjin.
Grazzi għall-attenzjoni tiegħek.
Żgħażagħ impenjati fil-Programm EkoSkola
18th EkoSkola Parliament Session – 20 years anniversary of young peoples’ voices
open throughout the month of April in the foyer of the Parliament building. The exhibition was sponsored by APS Bank Malta Ltd.
Young People’s Summit 2024
Nature Trust FEE Malta and the Office of the Commissioner for Children
join forces for youth empowerment
Qrendi, Malta – January 30, 2024
For the past two decades, Nature Trust FEE Malta has been unwavering in its commitment to empowering the voices of young people through various events. The annual Young People’s Summit, a flagship initiative, provides a dynamic platform for young minds to share ideas and concerns, contributing significantly to the betterment of life in Malta.
Nature Trust FEE Malta has partnered with the Office of the Commissioner for Children to organise the yearly Young People’s summit at St Benedict College, Helen Keller Resource Centre in Qrendi. Students from 19 schools participating in the EkoSkola programme had a unique opportunity to express their perspectives on two crucial national documents currently under consultation:
- The Children’s Policy Framework 2024-2030
- The National Education Strategy 2024–2030: Visioning the Future by Transforming Education
During the summit, students delved into the recommendations outlined in these documents, fostering comprehensive discussions on key issues. Discussion groups tailored for primary and middle/secondary schools were facilitated by EkoSkola teachers. The invaluable feedback from students will be collated into a declaration, which will be ratified by the young participants and subsequently presented to the relevant Ministries at an EkoSkola parliament sitting in April. Furthermore, the recommendations will be also forwarded to the relevant ministries ; Ministry For Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation as well as the Ministry for Social Policy and Children’s Rights just in time before the consultation period ends in February.
Nature Trust FEE Malta recognizes the right of the children to voice their ideas whenever decisions taken affect the children’s quality of life, as outlined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The EkoSkola programme is sponsored by the Local Councils Association, Transport Malta, HSBC Malta plc, Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation, Wasteserv and Ambjent Malta.
A huge thanks goes to St Benedict College, Helen Keller Resource Centre and St Benedict College, Qrendi Primary School for providing the premises and making their resources available for the event.
Photos by Nicholas Gatt & NTM
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