Best Entry

From Eco-School student to environment entrepreneur.

submitted by Immaculate Conception School, Tarxien : Kyla Nicole Psaila  for 11-14
campaign: YRE Entry
dissemination(s): other, School Facebook page and shared by influencer, school magazine, school media, website
filed under Articles
awarded: Best Entry, Finalist

The article is about how Eco-Schools is a great opportunity for anyone and how greatly it can affect your life. It also is about how positively it affected Samira Axiak. An ex Eco-School student who is now an environmental entrepreneur. She is also a thrift shop co-owner with Maya Mifsud. The article has also a transcribed interview that I carried out with her. It shares information about the shop and her views and perspectives on certain things.



Read More

Who said it’s a 1-time plastic?

submitted by Independent Candidate : Luke De Bono  for 7-10
campaign: YRE Entry
dissemination(s): Facebook page, other
filed under Campaigning photo Photos
awarded: Best Entry, Finalist, WasteServ Award

Plastic Oceans International state that “50% of all plastic produced (380 million tons per year) is for single-use purposes – used for just minutes and then thrown away”. So let’s wash 1-time plastic bags and use them several times. Who said it’s a 1-time plastic?



Read More

Adaptability Despite Adversity

submitted by Ninu Cremona Gozo College Secondary School : Emma Lynn Cauchi  for 11-14
campaign: YRE Entry
dissemination(s): school media
filed under Photos Reporting photo
awarded: Best Entry, Finalist

Two adult ducks watch over their ducklings as they make the most of a pothole filled with filthy water, showcasing nature’s resilience in the face of urban challenges.



Read More

Act fast Save the hedgehogs

submitted by MRC NAXXAR PRIMARY : Liam Camilleri  for 11-14
campaign: YRE Entry
dissemination(s): school media, website
filed under Reporting video Video Clips
awarded: Best Entry, Finalist



Read More

Resilience Under Care

submitted by San Gwann Primary : Amy Borg Stevens  for 11-14
campaign: YRE Entry
dissemination(s): school media
filed under Photos Series Of Photos
awarded: Best Entry

In this series of images captured at Xrobb il-Ghagin Sustainable Development Centre, injured turtles find refuge and healing amidst compassionate care. Each photograph portrays the delicate beauty of these creatures, in contrast with the trash that injured them and the visible scars and injuries they bear. Through the lens of these snapshots, viewers witness the resilience of these turtles as they undergo rehabilitation and treatment, guided by the dedicated staff of the Centre. Amidst the tranquil surroundings of the Centre, the images convey a sense of hope and renewal, highlighting the importance of conservation efforts in safeguarding vulnerable species. We are invited to reflect on the impact of human activity on wildlife and the crucial role of such places in nurturing and protecting our natural world.



Read More

The Mediterranean Sea: friend or foe?

submitted by MRC NAXXAR PRIMARY : Jack Bartolo Lautier  for 7-10
campaign: YRE Entry
dissemination(s): school media, website
filed under Reporting video Video Clips
awarded: Best Entry



Read More

Making our school tuck shop greener

submitted by St Thomas More College Middle & Secondary School Zejtun : Aiden Delia, Avril Muscat, Cleavon Borg, Cressida Azzopardi, Gabriella Caruana, Leah Marie Camilleri, Liam Galea, Luca Attard, Mariah Victoria Grima, Neil Demarco, Shelley Callus  for 15-18
campaign: YRE Entry
dissemination(s): other, School Celebration Day, school magazine, school media, website
filed under Reporting video Video Clips
awarded: Best Entry

The EkoSkola committee of STMC Middle and Secondary School Zejtun carried out an environmental review of the school at the beginning of the scholastic year. They noticed that many single use disposable items were being distributed by the tuckshop, including paper bags, wooden cutlery, paper cups and plastic lids. The students decided to implement a tuckshop loyalty card system which encourages students to bring their own reusable containers, cups and cutlery from home, for which they get a stamp on their loyalty card. Once 20 stamps are collected, this is exchanged for positive points. Waste data was collected from the tuckshop supplier before and after implementing the system. Following the successful implementation of the tuckshop loyalty card system, the amount of paper bags decreased by 15%, the amount of wooden cutlery decreased by 10% and the number of cups and lids decreased by 50%, in just 4 weeks.



Read More

Nature finds a way, but at what cost?

submitted by Sacred Heart College : Elizabeth Jade Pace and Zoe Zammit  for 11-14
campaign: YRE Entry
dissemination(s): other, school media, Students' personal social media platforms
filed under Photos Reporting photo
awarded: Best Entry

Nature has an incredible ability to adapt and find a way to survive even in the most challenging conditions. However, this resilience often comes at a significant cost. Malta is an example of how rapid population growth, overdevelopment and loss of habitat have a negative impact on our lives and the islands biodiversity.   Malta has a rapidly growing population. Malta’s population grew from 417,432 in 2011 to 519,562 in 2021, that is roughly an increase of 25%. On a more worrying note, Eurostat figures show that between 2000 and 2021, construction activity in Malta shot up by an astronomical 330%. This is leading to the destruction of many natural habitats and rural areas in and around our towns and villages.     This loss of habitat has had a significant impact on the country’s biodiversity, with many species now endangered such as the Maltese Freshwater Crab and the Vagrant Hedgehog. The destruction of habitats has also had a knock-on effect on the ecosystem, affecting the pollination of plants and agriculture.  The Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (BES) index, formulated by the Swiss Re Institute, marked 100% of Malta’s ecosystems as fragile!   Nature may find a way to adapt to these changes, but the long-term consequences of overdevelopment and loss of habitat can be catastrophic. It is crucial that we take action to protect and preserve the natural world before it is too late.   Location: Delimara, Marsaxlokk Malta



Read More

Nothing to see here

submitted by Sacred Heart College : Melissa Sansone Sciberras, Nicole Farrugia Wismayer  for 11-14
campaign: YRE Entry
dissemination(s): other, school media, Students' personal social media platforms
filed under Campaigning photo Photos
awarded: Best Entry

What happened to our precious world? Is there really anything left to see here? Construction is one of the largest industries in Malta. The high demand for property development in Malta is having a significant impact on the island’s natural environment. One of the main concerns is the loss of green spaces and the fragmentation of habitats due to urbanization. Additionally, the construction process can lead to soil erosion, water and noise pollution and can have negative effects on local biodiversity. Furthermore, construction activities generate large amounts of waste, which can be difficult to manage and dispose of in a sustainable manner. While the Maltese government has introduced regulations to minimize the environmental impact of construction, there is still much work to be done to ensure that construction activities are carried out in a sustainable and responsible way that preserves Malta’s natural environment for future generations. Building excessive buildings everywhere is ruining our natural environment, filling our hometowns with apartment blocks, offices, casinos and hotels. What about our new generations?  What oxygen are we breathing? When are we going to stop building unsustainably? Are we ready to start taking down built-up areas and return them to nature, by planting trees instead? Location: St. Julian’s, Malta



Read More

Out of mind but not out of sight: The problem with litter

submitted by St Martin's College : Catriona Jo Buhagiar  for 11-14
campaign: YRE Entry
dissemination(s): other, Youtube channel
filed under Campaigning video Video Clips
awarded: Best Entry

When we throw away something, where does it really go? Waste is something we can never get rid of, and has detrimental effects on the environment. Despite this, there are ways to reduce its impact it has on our Earth through sustainable waste management.



Read More