A cheerful new children’s song and character that are set to become fixtures in schools across the country are being officially launched on World Bee Day, which falls on May 20.
Developed as part of the project Maltese Honey Bee Education Through Songs and Rhymes, the song and its accompanying mascot, In-Naħla Katerina (Katerina the Bee) aim to inspire curiosity, language development and ecological responsibility among Malta’s youngest learners.
A celebration of the Maltese honey bee
The star of the project, In-Naħla Katerina, introduces young audiences to Malta’s own endemic honey bee − Apis mellifera ruttneri − through a spirited original song written and composed by Michael Piscopo and sung by Phyllisienne Brincat, the same celebrated team behind the popular children’s tune Fonzu l-Fenek.
The Maltese honey bee plays a vital role in local pollination and the island’s biodiversity. In-Naħla Katerina brings this small yet mighty insect to life through lyrics and melody that depict the bee’s daily tasks − from visiting flowers to returning to the hive at sunset.
These vivid musical images help children connect with the natural world around them and encourage a sense of environmental responsibility from a young age.
But In-Naħla Katerina is more than just a catchy tune. Developed with expert pedagogical input from professor Suzanne Piscopo, the song has been carefully crafted to be age-appropriate, educational and engaging for children aged 0 to 6. It offers a unique way to spark early interest in environmental topics while also supporting key areas of early childhood development, particularly language and motor skills.
Malta’s newest educational mascot
Alongside the song, the project also introduces In-Naħla Katerina as Malta’s newest educational mascot. This cheerful bee character is designed to engage children with her friendly personality.
Her name, Katerina, is derived from the Greek word for “pure”, symbolising the purity of Maltese honey and the goal of preserving the pure genetic traits of this unique subspecies through dedicated conservation work.
The mascot has been designed to reflect the Maltese honey bee’s characteristic dark colouration.
In addition to appearing in song videos and learning materials, In-Naħla Katerina will take part in a national school tour, visiting classrooms around Malta. These interactive visits will allow children to meet the mascot in person, sing along to her song and take part in engaging activities that bring environmental concepts to life.
Learning Maltese through song
A key feature of In-Naħla Katerina is its ability to support language learning, especially for children aged 0 to six years.
Singing has long been recognised as a powerful tool in early language development, helping children to improve memory, pronunciation and vocabulary.
The song introduces a range of simple and more advanced Maltese words, providing an enjoyable and structured way for children to engage with their native language.
The song’s playful use of sound, especially the repeating “Bzz Bzz Bzz” refrain, mimics the buzzing of a bee and instantly captures children’s attention. This sound play helps develop phonemic awareness − an essential building block for literacy. Its rhythmic structure also lends itself perfectly to movement-based learning.
One especially interactive line goes:
“Bzz Bzz Bzz, she flutters her wings, and those behind her, do the same.”
This line invites children to flutter their arms like wings and follow each other in a line, promoting gross motor skills, spatial awareness and group cooperation.
These types of activities are especially suited to early years education and make learning joyful and memorable.
A trio of songs for a greater cause
In-Naħla Katerina is the first in a series of three original songs being released throughout 2025 as part of the foundation’s broader educational effort. Each song focuses on a different theme:
- In-Naħla Katerina (Katerina the bee) celebrating this remarkable insect’s role in Malta’s ecosystem.
- Festin Għad-Dakkara (A feast for pollinators) is a lively exploration of how bees and other pollinators are essential to food production and biodiversity. It is to be released on June 16 to mark Pollinator Week.
- In-Naħla u Sħabha: L-Għanja tal-Ispeċi Nazzjonali (The bee and her friends: the song of the national species)– A celebratory finale highlighting the designation of the Maltese Honey Bee as a National Species, along with other native flora and fauna. The song is scheduled for release on September 24, the first anniversary of the Maltese honey bee being declared a national species.
All songs will be accompanied by visually engaging videos and sung in Maltese, reinforcing both ecological and linguistic learning.
A future full of buzz
With the launch of In-Naħla Katerina, the Foundation for the Conservation of the Maltese Honey Bee is ushering in a new era of environmental education − one that is dynamic, accessible and inspiring. By blending music, movement, visuals, and in-person engagement, the project ensures that children not only learn about Malta’s natural heritage, but also form positive emotional connections to it.
As Katerina the Bee begins her journey through Malta’s classrooms, she carries with her a message of hope, joy and environmental stewardship. Through her song and story, she invites children everywhere to buzz along, sing loud, and help protect the precious biodiversity that makes Malta so special.
This initiative is made possible through the Small Initiatives Support Scheme (SIS), managed by the Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector (MCVS) and supported by the Ministry for Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector (MIV). The project is being coordinated by Dylan Farrugia and Abner Joe Buttigieg on behalf of the Foundation for the Conservation of the Maltese Honey Bee.
This article was provided by the Foundation for the Conservation of the Maltese Honey Bee.
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