🇬🇧 During the first week of December, Mikiel Anton Vassalli, St Ignatius College Ħandaq Secondary School celebrated Animal Awareness Week through a series of educational and inspiring activities aimed at promoting responsibility and compassion towards animals. Throughout this week, students had the opportunity to attend engaging talks delivered by several guest speakers, each offering a unique perspective on animal welfare.

On Monday 1st December, KTI students, together with students from the Reach Unit, took part in meaningful hands-on activities involving horses from Second Chance Horse Rescue, which provided a unique learning experience beyond the classroom. Under proper guidance, students interacted closely with the horses, learning how to care for them through grooming, feeding, and handling activities.

These sessions helped students develop a sense of responsibility, empathy, and confidence, while also promoting teamwork and inclusion. This experience allowed students to build a positive connection with the animals in a safe and supportive environment, making the activities both educational and enriching for all participants.

Throughout the week, representatives from the Service Dogs Foundation demonstrated the valuable role service dogs play in supporting individuals with various needs. Volunteers from the MSPCA delivered an informative session on responsible pet ownership and the importance of adoption. Animal activist Althea Galea shared her experiences in rescuing and protecting animals in need, while Ms Ann Marie Micallef spoke about her journey of adopting two dogs and the positive impact this had on her life.

To conclude this meaningful week, the school community came together for a special initiative: a bottle collection drive in support of Second Chance Horse Rescue. We were pleased to welcome Mr George Farrugia from the Office of the Commissioner for Animal Welfare to this special ceremony. Thanks to the enthusiasm and dedication of both students and staff, the school achieved a Malta Record for the largest number of bottles and cans collected for a good cause. A total of 2,044 bottles and cans were collected.

Through education, activities, and community involvement, Animal Awareness Week encouraged students to understand and promote animal welfare.

🇲🇹 Matul l-ewwel ġimgħa ta’ Diċembru, fl-iskola Mikiel Anton Vassalli, Kulleġġ San Injazju ġiet iċċelebrata ġimgħa li kollha kemm hi kienet iddedikata għall-ħarsien u l-kura tal-annimali. Din il-ġimgħa kienet mimlija b’attivitajiet u laqgħat edukattivi biex jippromwovu l-ħarsien tal-annimali. L-istudenti attendew diversi taħditiet minn mistiedna differenti li kull wieħed minnhom ta perspettiva unika dwar il-kura u l-protezzjoni tal-annimali.

Matul il-ġurnata tat-Tnejn, l-1 ta’ Diċembru studenti tal-KTI, flimkien ma’ studenti mir-Reach Unit, ħadu sehem f’attivitajiet diversi maż-żwiemel minn Second Chance Horse Rescue. L-istudenti ġew offruti esperjenza ta’ tagħlim unika lil hinn mill-klassi. Taħt gwida xierqa, l-istudenti kellhom l-opportunità li jieħdu sehem f’attivitajiet varji, fejn tgħallmu kif għandhom jieħdu ħsieb iż-żwiemel. Dawn l-attivitajiet għenu lill-istudenti jiżviluppaw sens ta’ responsabbiltà, filwaqt li setgħu jaħdmu f’tim. Permezz ta’ din l-esperjenza l-istudenti setgħu jibnu rabta pożittiva mal-annimali.

Matul din l-istess ġimgħa, membri mis-Service Dogs Foundation tkellmu dwar l-irwol siewi li għandhom il-klieb biex jassistu nies bi bżonnijiet diversi. Voluntiera mill-MSPCA tkellmu dwar kif wieħed għandu jkun sid responsabbli tal-annimali domestiċi. Apparti minn hekk ukoll, l-attivista tal-annimali Althea Galea qasmet l-esperjenzi tagħha fis-salvataġġ tal-annimali li jkunu fil-bżonn, filwaqt li Ms Ann Marie Micallef tkellmet dwar l-esperjenza personali tagħha meta addottat żewġt iklieb.

Sabiex nagħlqu din il-ġimgħa bil-kbir, l-iskola tagħna rnexxielha tikseb rekord nazzjonali tal-akbar ammont ta’ fliexken tal-BCRS li nġabru biex ikunu jistgħu jingħataw bħala donazzjoni lil Second Chance Horse Rescue. B’kollox inġabru total ta’ 2,044 flixkun. Kien ta’ pjaċir għalina li s-Sur George Farrugia mill-Uffiċċju tal-Kummissarju għall-Ħarsien tal-Annimali ngħaqad magħna għal din iċ-ċerimonja speċjali. Permezz tal-attivitajiet u l-laqgħat kollha ta’ matul din il-ġimgħa, l-istudenti setgħu jifhmu aktar l-importanza tal-ħarsien tal-annimali u komplew isaħħu l-ispirtu ta’ komunita` li jeżisti fl-iskola tagħna.