Find out what’s happening in our school!
EC will once again participate in the Football Marathon in aid of charity to help raise funds for those children sufferning from cancer and their families. We have a pitch booked from 2pm till 4pm on Sturday 5th May. Free Transport will be organised for our students 
Sign up at the EC Reception.
The Feast of St Joseph the Worker (Labour Day) is celebrated in the town of BirkirKara in Malta. This is a Public Holiday in Malta and the school will be closed.
Participants from all over the world are invited to join in “32. Kamera Louis Boutan”. The application form is available for download on the web site of German Diving Association VDST www.vdst.de
THURSDAY
26th April
21.00 – 22.30 hrs St. Paul’s Bay / Bugibba Promenade –
A variety of Maltese Ground Fireworks that relate to the
Chronological development of this form of pyrotechnic
display from traditional Catherine wheels to mechanised pieces. Nine different Maltese fireworks factories are participating.
FRIDAY
April 27
22.00 hrs – 23.00 hrs Valletta Grand Harbour – Pyro-musical display by Pirico Fireworks (Italy), a unique demo display by Ugo Lieto Fireworks (Italy) and closing off with a grandiose pyro-musical finale by Lourdes Fireworks Factory (Qrendi Malta), winners of the Malta International Fireworks Festival 2011.
SATURDAY
28th April
19.00 – 22.00 hrs Gharb, Gozo – Traditional Maltese aerial and ground firework
displays by Gozitan pyrotechnic factories. (This event is being
held concurrently with the village fete known as Seher il-Punent
SUNDAY
29th April
The Valletta Grand Harbour – MIFF Competition of Pyro-musical displays. (DAY ONE)
21.00 hrs Pyro-musical display by Apogee Fireworks of Canada
21.30 hrs Pyro-musical display by Phoenix Fireworks of the UK.
22.00 hrs Pyro-musical display by Jost Fireworks of Austria.
MONDAY
30th April
The Valletta Grand Harbour – MIFF Competition of Pyro-musical displays. (DAY TWO)
21.00 hrs Pyro-musical display by St Michael’s Fireworks Factory of (Lija) Malta.
21.30 hrs Pyro-musical display by Mirnovek Fireworks of Croatia.
22.00 hrs Pyro-musical display by Surex Fireworks of Poland.
TUESDAY
1st May
The Valletta Grand Harbour – MIFF PRIZE GIVING CEREMONY
21.00 hrs Prize Giving Ceremony.
21.30 hrs Final Grand pyro-musical display by Parente Fireworks of Italy
(Non competitive).
End of Festival Programme
The festival is organised by the Ministry for Tourism, Culture & the Environment and the Malta Tourism Authority.
EC Malta hosts classes for asylum seekers to teach various skills to better integrate into Maltese society on EC’s Community Day.
Bianca Caruana
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EC Malta’s English language centre in Paceville held classes for 71 asylum seekers who voluntarily enrolled to learn various skills to help them better integrate into Maltese society.
Mike Xuereb, EC Malta’s CEO, said the classes were being held as part of EC’s Community Day which was set up in honour of Fredric Gonzales who passed away recently.
“Community Day, or giving back for Fred day is part of EC Group’s initiative of setting up a Corporate Social Responsibility team at the end of 2011. The CSR’s main function is to focus on sustainable management, more education and giving something back to the community,” Xuereb explained.
All 15 of EC’s language centres located worldwide participate in Community Day by organising community and environment related projects.
“The projects vary across all the centres. The centre in Cape Town is helping underprivileged children and the one in England is building a birdhouse. The Maltese team is working on two projects today.
“The first is helping the Equal Partners Foundation by giving a facelift to their two properties. The second is teaching asylum seekers essential skills which we feel are important for social integration as well employment,” Xuereb said.
The Equal Partners Foundation was set up by parents to help disabled children to integrate into the community and has two properties. “What EC volunteers are doing, is basically painting, cleaning, gardening… basically giving the places an overall facelift for them to enjoy their surroundings more,” Xuereb explains.
Classes were held by EC teachers on a voluntary basis for asylum seekers to teach them conversation skills, interviewing and phone skills as well as providing them with information about Maltese culture.
Xuereb said that the asylum seekers were free to enrol and hopes that through word-of-mouth, the experience will be shared to eventually result in more classes for them in the future.
“This is just a one day activity as part of EC community day but we are hoping to host more in future with a more structure programme and good rhythm to acquire the language skills which will help them integrate better in Maltese society,” Xuereb said.
Jalal, one of the enrolled asylum seekers from Sudan, seemed to thoroughly be enjoying himself on the day and said it was helping him a lot.
“The service here is good and the classes are useful. They’re important so I can improve my English and gain more skills for work. I study English at the Marsa Open Centre for four days a week,” Jalal said.
When asked if he would like more regular classes to be held by EC, Jalal said, “Although it can be a bit busy with the other classes, it would be very good to have classes with EC more often. I would enjoy them.”
The students are now in their last lessons and all seems to be going well! They are super enthusiastic about learning new things, and are all in high spirits. They spent the break going round speaking to our team, asking for photos and thanking us for everything!
The preperation of certificates is almost done, and each student will receive one upon finishing their final lesson. We believe that this certificate will serve as a motivation to them to keep on trying to learn English and might be useful if it is ever needed. Furthermore, EC will be donating a whole bunch of English books to study from to the students, and any remaining books will be given to the Hal-Far open centre.
All in all, giving back for Fred day was a success and has proved that with enthusiasm and the will to give back, we can make a difference, no matter how small. Their gratitude makes it all worth while, and the whole staff is truly touched by how much they appreciated this small gesture!
The day has finally arrived! Lots of smiley faces and everyone here is in very good spirits and enthusiastic to help and get things done…
Two packed Koptaco Coaches arrived at just past 10:30, and the group of predominantly Somali students flocked in through EC’s doors, and our eager team pulled together, with all 70 students in class within 20 minutes! We set up four different classes including interview skills, basic conversation skills, phone skills and a Maltese culture lesson, all of which the students were more than thrilled to try out.
We are currently setting up for the break with plenty of softdrinks, crisps, crackers, and of course, some yummy pastizzi are on the way! (It wouldn’t be a complete Maltese event without them!)
Got to go for now, reception is flooded again!
Join us to the agricultural village of Imgarr for this annual event where one will find many stalls offering various strawberry made products including: Fresh strawberries, snacks, desserts, shakes, wine, jam, ice cream, ravioli and much more! One of the highlights of the event will be the largest Strawberry gateaux made in Malta. Other stalls include food stands with typical Maltese dishes, souvenirs, artworks and crafts. Throughout the festival there will be entertainment such as folk music and dance as well as games. Book your transport from the EC Reception
