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HSBC Cares for Children Fund (HCCF) is sponsoring a class from the Cospicua Primary School to attend the Helen O’Grady Academy. Sessions are designed to boost self-development in children, improve their life skills and tap their artistic talent, whilst teaching English through usage.
Mrs Gonzi and representatives from HCCF attended a sample lesson of the Academy programme during which the children also presented a short play in English about pirates with a hidden message about bullying.
The internationally-acclaimed Helen O’Grady Academy was founded in Australia in 1979 with the aim of boosting self-esteem in children and equipping them with life-skill tools to perform, communicate and relate in a positive and constructive way. It is now present in 15 countries. The dynamic curriculum being offered by the Academy is extremely specific, and training in its implementation is on-going.
“Children are the foundations of the future, so it is our duty and social responsibility to help them develop to move forward in life in a focused, positively-disciplined and confident way,” said Mrs Catherine Gonzi, HCCF’s Chairperson. “The HCCF lends its support to this cause as it feels that investing in children’s self-growth and character-building is the best return it can guarantee for a sound society.”
Children benefiting from this programme have been attending weekly sessions in developmental drama and language skills. Classes cover movement, creative drama, speech and language development. The programme is designed to be educational and therapeutic with a fun and playful approach, to encourage children to bring out their best in a natural way. No end-of-term examinations are held at the Helen O’Grady Academy.
There has been a marked improvement in self-confidence, and in understanding and usage of English in the sponsored class” said Alan Montanaro, Academy Principal for Malta. “HCCF’s support towards this cause is a show of trust in the Academy’s potential to uncover children’s resources and a clear message to children that by trusting their abilities they help make the world a better place to live in. It is my hope that our wonderful programme will be available to more children”. |
