Students and teachers at St Thomas More College Middle and Secondary School in Żejtun recently held a tree-planting event, where about 100 saplings were planted across the school grounds.
The significant number of trees was earned by the school through the combined dedication of students and teachers, who collectively walked an impressive 5,000 kilometres as part of their participation in the MOVE for Trees initiative. Under the initiative, the school earned a tree for every 50 kilometres covered.
“The bountiful reward of this collective effort shall be treasured in the years to come, as individuals seek solace under the comforting shade of these trees. By planting them today, we exemplify the essence of cathedral thinking, symbolising our commitment to investing in the future generations and bestowing upon them a priceless legacy to embrace and cherish,” Cynthia Debono, MOVE Malta director said.
Encouraging active engagement, the MOVE For Trees initiative supports individuals to engage in walking, running, jogging and cycling activities, while generously donating the accumulated kilometres towards the noble cause of planting trees. As an incentive, the HSBC Malta Foundation commits to donating a tree for every 50 kilometres completed. Additionally, the initiative extends a warm invitation to the wider community, inviting members of the public, local councils and schools to actively participate by recording their own walking, running or cycling kilometres using their preferred fitness app and sharing a screenshot of their activity on movemalta.org.
The collaboration between HSBC Malta Foundation and the NGO MOVE has yielded remarkable results since its launch in March 2022. Over the course of the initiative, 90,000 kilometres worth 1,800 trees have been generously donated. Of these, approximately 1,500 trees have been successfully planted across diverse locations in Malta including the Senglea Community Gardens, public spaces in Żurrieq, Żejtun, Attard, and MCAST in Paola. Additionally, numerous schools have been embellished with more greenery.
In addition to this tree-planting initiative, MOVE and HSBC Malta Foundation have joined forces on various other events aimed at promoting sustainability and well-being within the community. These include the Valletta Green Festival, where participants cycled to plant trees at the Valletta Primary School, as well as a series of community cycling events, including bikeability sessions, that champion an active lifestyle and environmental consciousness.
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