20th May 2024 | World Bee Day | Bee Engaged with Youth
Few weeks ago, the Foundation for the Conservation of the Maltese Honey Bee (KNM) partnered with HSBC Malta Foundation and launched “BeeCreative: Maltese Honey Bee artVenture,” a unique competition designed to foster creativity and environmental awareness among Malta’s youngest citizens. Through this initiative centered around the Maltese Honey Bee, the island’s proposed National Insect, we invited students from Years 4 to 6 (ages 8-11) to explore its world through drawings, poems or paintings, expressing their creativity and highlight the significance of the Maltese Honey Bee in beekeeping, for the environment and as natural heritage. By combining educational and artistic elements, this initiative aimed to cultivate a deep appreciation for this special pollinator.
Today, the 20th of May 2024 marks World Bee Day, an annual celebration observed worldwide to raise awareness about the crucial role of bees and other pollinator which this year focuses on the theme “Bee Engaged with Youth”, highlighting the importance of involving young people in beekeeping and pollinator conservation efforts, recognising them as the future stewards of our environment.
On this significant day, we are delighted to announce that 125 submissions have been received from various primary schools across Malta and Gozo! The top 15 entries announced below will be awarded a hand-knitted Maltese Honey Bee as a token of appreciation. Selecting the best submissions proved a challenging task as all entries were crafted with passion! We placed emphasis on submissions that incorporated Maltese elements into their artwork. Furthermore, in recognition of Paola, St. Joseph (Sliema) and Żurrieq Primary Schools’ remarkable participation, several A3 posters showcasing the initiative to designate the Maltese Honey Bee as Malta’s National Insect by the Foundation for the Conservation of the Maltese Honey Bee, will be distributed to them.
This initiative served as part of the KNM Foundation’s Empowerment through Education campaign, linked to the designation of the Maltese Honey Bee as Malta’s National Insect.
“An interesting observation was the misconception about the Maltese Honey Bee’s colour, often depicted as yellow instead of its actual darker appearance. The continuous importation of yellowish Italian Honey Bees poses a significant risk to the local population, contributing to the extinction threat faced by our endemic subspecies. This underscores the need for increased educational efforts to raise awareness among the younger generations about Malta’s unique biodiversity and the urgency to protect it for the future,” said Abner Joe Buttigieg, an Administrator from the KNM Foundation.
“HSBC Malta Foundation is proud to support this initiative, which not only fosters creativity among young students but also raises crucial awareness about the importance of preserving our local biodiversity. By educating and inspiring the next generation, we are taking significant steps towards ensuring the sustainability of Malta’s natural heritage,” said Glen Bugeja from HSBC.
Let’s protect our precious Maltese Honey Bee!
Happy World Bee Day!
| Skye Rose Caruana | Mellieħa Primary School |
| Luke Bonnici | Żurrieq Primary School |
| Dimitar Zlati Zlatev | St. Francis Primary School, Msida |
| Mattia Bonnici | Żurrieq Primary School |
| Ksenya Cardona | St. Joseph Primary School, Sliema |
| Michela Zammit | Żurrieq Primary School |
| Lea Zammit | Paola Primary School |
| Francesca Attard | St. Joseph Primary School, Sliema |
| Katrina Micallef | St. Joseph Primary School, Sliema |
| Gaia Mizzi | St. Joseph Primary School, Sliema |
| Mira Attard Kurtulan | St. Joseph Primary School, Sliema |
| Michela Refalo | St. Joseph Primary School, Sliema |
| Jerome Xuereb | Sannat Primary School, Gozo |
| Niah Briffa Caddoo | St. Joseph Primary School, Sliema |
| Alessia Farrugia Schembri | Żurrieq Primary School |
Foundation for the Conservation of the Maltese Honey Bee 
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