YRE Awards 2022

An awards ceremony was held at St Benedict College Kirkop Secondary School on the 2nd June.  The National Coordinator, Ms Audrey Gauci, highlighted the achievements of this year, and launched the participation of Malta in the Litterless Campaign Phase V.  The only 4 countries selected from the YRE network were China, New Zealand, India and Malta.  Malta is once again very proud to be among the selected few. More details on the running of the campaign will be announced in the beginning of the next scholastic year.

 

The following are this year’s winners, with a selection of shortlisted entries for the international jury.

 

 

Best Campaign Photo – Shortlisted

St Nicholas College, Dingli Primary School: Watch Your Steps! – Ruby Mifsud & Zack Abela Medici

 

Animals and insects need our help, especially bees and snails. They need our awareness and our protection. The most important thing to do is to be careful where to step. The worst thing to do is to not take notice and act like nothing is going on around you. The world needs our help and we have to do something. Remember, teamwork makes the dream work and that means we have to work together to save the world. Take a small step to save the world by first helping the living things around you.

https://yrecompetition.exposure.co/malta-62

 

Best Reportage Photo

 

Gozo College Middle School: Save the species! – Martha Sultana

 

We, as the people of the planet, are responsible of making Earth a home. Humans are capable of the impossible but what’s possible for the little creatures that wander through the earth? Pollution and habitat damage that we created is posing danger for these unique creatures. Hedgehogs are decreasing because they can get hit by cars, get entangled in litter or simply because their natural habitat is shrinking to satisfy our greed. With a little extra effort, we can all live in harmony. The photo, which shows an Algerian hedgehog, the only species of hedgehog in the Maltese islands, was taken in my family’s field. Hedgehogs are threatened by the destruction of the countryside as well as using insecticides which accumulates in its body after eating poisoned insects and other invertebrates. The Algerian hedgehog is protected by Maltese law and it is illegal to kill or keep hedgehogs, however, this does not protect it from cars, pesticides and habitat destruction. Approximately 500 hedgehogs are rescued per year by the wildlife volunteers within the NGO Nature Trust FEE Malta.

https://yrecompetition.exposure.co/malta-67

 

 

Best Series of Photos – Shortlisted

 

Gozo College Middle School: Loss of Natural Habitat – Emma Lynn Cauchi

 

Photos show contrasting realities of wildlife living in their natural habitat with a growing concern that these must adapt to new surroundings which are often overwhelmed with human progress and urban sprawl.

 

Photo 1: The spreading of urban developments destroying wildlife habitats. ‘Malta’s construction industry is continuing to grow at a rapid rate despite concerns over rampant abuse and environmental issues, increasing its production by more than 20% in a single year, Eurostat figures show. Eurostat latest figures for production in the construction industry show that from the last quarter of 2018 to the last quarter of 2019, construction increased by 21.9%. It was up by 4.9% when compared with the previous quarter’ from Building Spree: Construction In Malta Increases By Over 20% In A Single Year (lovinmalta.com)

 

Photo 2 and 3:  The wasp is admired in its natural habitat. Bees are facing many threats both locally and internationally. According to an article (Causes of bee decline published by Friends of the Earth) the main threats are habitat loss, intensive farming; land use change, climate change and excessive use of pesticides.

 

Photo 4: the snail is seen happily wandering on leaves in its natural habitat which is still untouched by human beings.

https://yrecompetition.exposure.co/malta-68

 

Article – Press Kids

 

San Gwann Primary: To Walk or Not to Walk? – The Eko Skola Committee

 

In January the Eko Skola conducted a research about traffic in our mainroad and a survey within the school community. In this article you can see the results

 

https://yremalta.org/past-entries/to-walk-or-not-to-walk/

 

Best Article 11-14 years – Shortlisted

 

St Ignatius College Handaq MS: Let’s give new life to our school’s water reservoirs – Giulia Agius, Isaac Mifsud, Jamie Warren Cefai, Kelly Cilia, Kylie Gauci, Lara Giordmaina, Liana Tabone, Luigi Zammit

 

Reservoirs that were built around ten years ago at St Ignatius Middle School, Qormi to store rainwater that flows down from fields and the streets of Handaq Industrial area have unfortunately been overlooked, resulting in heavy loss of valuable water. We became aware of this after discussions that started off when we attended a workshop on Climate Change focusing on Energy and Water.

https://yrecompetition.exposure.co/malta-63

 

Best Article 15 – 18 years

 

Gozo College Secondary School: Measuring the air Quality (the amount of Nitrogen Dioxide) in three different areas around our school – Hannah Vella, Daniel Grech, Neil Mizzi, Maya Bajada, Mariah Borg, Haley Xuereb, Thea Sultana, Julian Saliba

 

Air quality and the level of air pollution are important factors and have significant impacts on the health and wellbeing of humans. It is now considered that any level of air pollution is not acceptable and poses a risk. High levels of nitrogen dioxide cause harm to the human respiratory tract and increase a person’s vulnerability to, and the severity of, respiratory infections and asthma. Long-term exposure to high levels of nitrogen dioxide can cause chronic lung disease and are carcinogenic. People with asthma, as well as children and the elderly are generally at a greater risk.

https://yrecompetition.exposure.co/malta-64

 

Best Video Press Kids

 

Mrc Naxxar Primary: Interview with The Coast Is Clear Founder – Ninu Scicluna

 

Young reporter Ninu Scicluna interviews the founder of The Coast is Clear to learn more about marine pollution.

https://yremalta.org/past-entries/interview-with-the-coast-is-clear-founder/

 

Video 11-14 years – Shortlisted

 

St Nicholas College Secondary School Ħad-Dingli : An ethical wardrobe – Antonia Ciappara, Amy Smith, Julienne Portelli, Faith Bondin, John Mizzi, Angelo Graham, Lisa Aquilina, Sara Marie Mifsud

 

A group of budding environmentalists at St Nicholas College Secondary School Ħad-Dingli have been investigating the environmental impact of the clothing industry. They were not happy with just highlighting the issue but have also come up with suggestions how changes in our lifestyle can reduce the negative impact on the environment of this industry. So join us…let’s redesign fashion!

https://yrecompetition.exposure.co/malta-65

 

Video 11-14 years

 

Gozo College Middle School: The Climate is changing, so should we! – Elly Cutajar

 

Young Reporter for the Environment, Elly Cutajar, highlights the importance of using alternative modes of transport to help stop climate change.

https://yrecompetition.exposure.co/malta-66