Children from the Northern Region were the first to get a seat at the table in an initiative by the Malta Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society.

The Northern Region has proudly hosted the first meeting of its Regional Children’s Council. This Council aims to give children a voice, a platform to share their concerns, desires, and ideas for both the present and the future – a future that ultimately belongs more to them than us.

This exciting initiative, composed of children aged 6 to 13, fills me with immense hope. It’s a testament to the incredible work of The Rights Project team, part of The Malta Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society, led by Her Excellency Marie Louise Coleiro Preca, former President of Malta.

Her Excellency’s vision for empowering children is both genuine and impactful. We witnessed this firsthand as seven children from various localities within the Northern Region participated in the Council’s inaugural meeting.

Listening to these innocent voices discuss challenges that dominate adult conversations leaves you speechless. It’s humbling to hear their observations about adult behaviour – things we might think they overlook, but clearly don’t. Children notice everything, and they expect action, not excuses. The environment, responsible driving, mutual respect, cleanliness, and inclusion were just some of the topics raised by these young Council members.

As Her Excellency perfectly stated in her opening remarks, children are important, and their voices deserve our attention. This Council was created to ensure they are heard and empowered, regardless of their age.

It was a joy to see children from diverse backgrounds speak Maltese fluently and confidently. Their empathy towards our work and their eagerness to contribute were truly inspiring.

The Northern Region is committed to providing a space for everyone, especially children. The Regional Children’s Council will convene every three months. They’ve already begun working on a project to attract even more participants from across the Region.

I want to express my sincere gratitude to The Rights Project team for their tireless dedication to making every project a success. We left the event feeling happy and optimistic about the future. A big thank you also goes to our regional staff, who are always a pillar of support for every event, project, and worthy initiative.

The Northern Region is proud to be the first to embrace this brilliant idea – a concept that truly immerses us in the reality of children’s needs and aspirations.

Clifford Galea Vella is the President of the Northern Region. Located in the northwestern part of Malta, the Northern Region is one of the six administrative regions of the country.

-Written by Clifford Galea Vella for The Journal; link to original article here.