THE HON. GEORGE HYZLER, PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY IN THE MINISTRY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES ADDRESSES PRESS CONFERENCE ON THE YOUNG CONSUMER COMPETITION 2001 "BUYING FOOD ? MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICES"

The Parliamentary Secretary, the Hon. George Hyzler yesterday addressed a Press Conference on the Young Consumer Competition 2001, "Buying Food – Making the Right Choices"

The Parliamentary Secretary spoke about the importance of this initiative particularly the Government's efforts to strengthen consumer education among young people. Dr Hyzler said that in affluent societies young people fall prey to misleading advertising and very often find themselves in financial difficulties. The Young Consumer Competition aims at instilling in young people the skills to design strategies through which others learn about their rights as consumers and apply these in the market place.

The Parliamentary Secretary stressed the importance that young consumers must act as a catalyst in the education of other consumers through projects such as poster campaigns, new magazines, the creation of a video and web sites and other means that would serve as educational tools. Although the Division for Consumer and Competition, particularly the sector for Information and Client Affairs is doing its utmost, through regular initiatives on the media to educate consumers, yet this is the first time that young consumers will, themselves act as trainers in consumer education.

In referring to this year's chosen theme Buying Food - Making the Right Choices, Dr Hyzler emphasised the fact that in educating consumers, the choice of food must be taken as a priority, particularly in a society like ours where choice is increasingly becoming a problem for many young consumers in terms of their physical appearances. The Parliamentary Secretary referred to cases of anorexia among young consumers who often emulate film stars as their role models.

Intervening in the course of the Press Conference, the Chairman of AirMalta Mr.Louis Grech said that the Customer Care is of great importance to Air Malta. "Our clients", he said, "evaluate us as they experience our service. Mr.Grech pointed out that Air Malta constantly evaluates feedback from their customers by means of Consumer Surveys, direct word of mouth from travellers through their Flypass Frequent Flyer Programme and other complaints systems". Mr Grech said that it was a pleasure for him to associate the Company with the Consumer Affairs Councils and the Division for Consumer and Competition in this activity to mark Consumer Rights Day 2001. As main sponsors of this activity, Air Malta, will be giving six airline tickets to Prague and Tunisia to the winners.

The Chairman of the Consumer Affairs Council Mrs Carmen Delia highlighted the main objectives of the competition as well as the rules and regulations for participation.

The Young Consumer Competition is organized by the Consumer and Competition Division and the Consumer Affairs Council. It aims at making young consumers and teaching staff in Malta more aware of major consumer issues. Young people need to be educated on consumer issues in order that they can become well-informed citizens of the future. In order to be effective and have a lasting impact, the learning process should not be just a passive one. This is why the competition requires young people to act as "trainers", allowing other young people and/or adults to benefit from their work. They may present their projects in schools, to community groups, youth groups, senior citizen groups, consumer groups, professional organizations, local businesses, local government groups, etc.

The implementation of this project is being guided by a small team made up of officials from the Consumer and Competition Division and the Consumer Affairs Council. The coordinator of the competition is Miss Joyce Borg, Information & Client Affairs Directorate, Consumer & Competition Division Cannon Road, Sta. Venera CMR02. Tel Nos: 446250/5. E-mail address: joseph.p.schembri@magnet.mt.

Participants

The Competition is open to groups of between 2 and 4 students attending Secondary Schools between Forms II and Forms V preferably guided by a teacher. There is no restriction on the number of entries which may be submitted by any one school, although each entry must be completed by at least 2 and not more than 4 students.

Participants must register by duly completing and returning the registration form to the coordinator by sending the required information by e-mail or by post.

Participants have to produce by not later than the 31^st May 2001 (date of postmark):

1. A project on any one of the following:

a) A poster campaign (maximum of 6 posters)

b) A magazine (maximum of 8 sides of A4 paper)

c) A video (lasting between 5 to 7 minutes)

d) A website (maximum 4000 words plus diagrams and illustrations)

2. Two dossiers as follows:

The first dossier consisting of a minimum of three A4 pages should

a) List the documents used and persons consulted (giving their names and functions)

b) Describe in detail how the work was organized and carried out.

c) Summarise the experience gained by the participants

d) Contain a bibliography of research sources.

The second dossier:

a) Provide evidence in the form of photos, of the presentation of the finished product to other young people and/or adults.

b) Analyse the impact of the product on the young people and/or adults to whom it has been presented.

3. The Entry Form duly filled.

Failure to submit these descriptive dossiers, and in particular photos showing that the product has been presented to other young people and/or adults will result in automatic disqualification.

In order to facilitate assessment, participants who have opted to produce a video must submit a typed script for all scenes.

Disc must be legible on a standard PC, running MS Windows 95 or later.

The Entry Form will be sent to participants on receipt of their completed registration form.