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MINISTER FOR SOCIAL POLICY ATTENDS HSBC CARES FOR CHILDREN FUND MAJOR INITIATIVE TO PROMOTE MALTESE LITERACY
pr1906
17/12/2001
17/12/2001
| A new book and CD were launched on Friday by the HSBC Cares For Children | Fund at the Ministry for Social Policy in Valletta. Present for the launch were Mr Jeremy Hunt, Chairman of the HSBC Cares For Children Fund, Dr Philip Farrugia Randon, the author, narrator and illustrator of the Puttinu u Toninu stories, and Dr Lawrence Gonzi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Social Policy. |
| HSBC Cares For Children Fund, has reinforced its | constant efforts to promote Maltese literacy among children with the launch of the publication: Puttinu u Toninu – Stejjer ghal Tfal ta’ Kull Eta’. This new book, written and illustrated by Dr Philip Farrugia Randon, a volunteer staff member of HSBC is accompanied by the launch of a new Compact Disc featuring the stories of Puttinu u Toninu. |
| This new HSBC Cares For Children Fund publication, | features twelve separate stories featuring Puttinu who is the youngest angel in Heaven. Unable to fly well, he clumsily plunges down to earth where a young boy, Toninu, takes care of him. The most extraordinary thing is that this young boy can actually see and talk to Puttinu. The two manage to convince St Joseph to let Puttinu be Toninu’s guardian angel. They soon become the best of pals. The stories recount some of the experiences and adventures of these two characters. |
| "The HSBC Cares For Children Fund was set up on | 2 June 2000 to celebrate the Bank’s 1st anniversary in Malta and support educational programmes for underprivileged children and for schools in economically deprived areas," said Mr Hunt. "The Fund is really proud to promote both this beautiful book as well as the two recordings of delightful and enchanting children’s stories in Maltese written and narrated by a wonderfully talented HSBC staff volunteer," concluded Mr Hunt. |
| Puttinu and Toninu made their first appearance in | June this year, with the launch of the first CD, containing six stories. The CD was launched to mark the first anniversary of the HSBC Cares For Children Fund. The second CD, being released now also contains six stories. All twelve stories are contained in the new book. |
| Dr Farrugia Randon said: "As I wrote these | stories I became more and more attached to Puttinu and Toninu. I can honestly say that they have become my friends and I hope that readers will also feel the same about these two characters. I would like readers not only to associate themselves with the characters and stories of the book but also to feel the same sentiments and emotions that will hopefully remain in the readers’ mind as a memory of childhood." |
| Speaking during the press conference, the Deputy | Prime Minister and Minister for Social Policy highlighted the need for children to be given a voice and to participate in the decision making processes of a democracy. The Social Policy Minister said that the Ministry is trying very hard to provide services for children in need and those at risk on a number of fronts, as well as trying to provide the space for children to participate in decision making processes, particularly with respect to those decisions which affect their present and future environments. "We are also stressing the need to educate our children in preventive measures in a number of fronts, particularly with respect to lifestyles which would then impinge on behaviours related to drug-use and occupational health and safety". Minister Gonzi announced that during the coming year a pilot-project will be done to educate primary school children on occupational health and safety hazards. |
| Both the book and the two Compact Discs featuring the | stories of Puttinu u Toninu are now available from all HSBC branches. The book is priced at Lm4.00 while the Compact Discs are priced at Lm2.00 each. The entire set is available for the reduced price of Lm7.00. |
| All funds collected through the sale of publication | and compact discs will go towards the HSBC Cares For Children Fund. They will be used in a number of educational, recreational and rehabilitation programmes currently being undertaken by the Fund. |
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