The Malta Community Chest Fund Foundation, and Bank of Valletta, welcomed a number of schoolchildren who participated in this year’s design of the eco-friendly cardboard Piggy Banks. These will be distributed in all primary and secondary schools during this year’s BOV Piggy Bank Campaign in aid of L-Istrina.

This years’ theme aims to create more awareness about Bullying among children, who had to prepare and submit a drawing bearing the theme of friendship and inclusion and combating bullying in classrooms and peer groups.

Mrs Miriam Vella, wife of the President of Malta and Mr Simon Azzopardi, Chief Wealth Management Officer at Bank of Valletta thanked all the participants during an event held at the President’s Palace at San Anton. The best 3 drawings  were selected by a panel of judges, featuring students from the University of Malta studying Masters in the History of Arts and appointed by the MCCFF. These drawings will feature on the eco-friendly cardboard piggy banks that will be distributed in all primary and secondary schools in Malta and Gozo to collect funds for the L-Istrina effort.

Mrs Vella was pleased to host all participants and reminded everyone present on the importance of this year’s theme “Be a friend not a Bully”. “Bullying has no place in our society, and children should be the first to remind us all, that we need to fight it by friendship and inclusion” said Mrs Vella. Whilst admiring the children who participated for being an example to others, she also thanked their teachers and parents who are helping to instil a culture of inclusion and solidarity in our schools.

Mr Azzopardi, on behalf of the Bank, spoke about the annual BOV Piggy Bank Campaign, which in 19 years of existence, raised more than €2.6 million in aid of the Malta Community Chest Fund Foundation. “The Bank has a strong presence in the Community, and our aim is to drive altruism in the society we operate in. With the funds raised during the BOV Piggy Bank Campaign, the Malta Community Chest Fund Foundation, continues to support vulnerable persons who require vital moral and financial aid during the toughest times of their life”.

Last year’s L-Istrina BOV Piggy Bank Campaign raised the sum of €60,800 which funds were presented by BOV during the live broadcast of L-Istrina together with the Bank’s donation.