Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1122280
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 26 MAY 2019 5 THIS WEEK ENVIRONMENT very much and as a school we already approached Kristina and Raffaella to try and find ways how to keep this project going through the coming years," Zikic added, empha- sising the multi-disciplinary nature of the project. "Nimxu Mixja does not simply focus on the physical activity but also encourages the pupils to stop and listen and observe the surround- ings through experiential learning. During the walks, the pupils had the opportu- nity to record what they ob- served through note taking or by taking pictures using their tablets. After each walk the pupils had an activity in class where they used dif- ferent genres to express and share what they observed, be it a drawing, writing a poem, or a slogan. All this tied up well with the academic sub- jects." Weighing in on the expe- rience, the pupils' teachers – Melanie Camilleri, Maria Bonanno, Cynthia Grima and Kimberly Said – observed how the 'pre-walk' stage of the process was also a key factor in ensuring they get the most of out of the project. "At this stage, the students acquired skills involving the use of tablets, reading and interpreting maps. It was also an opportunity for the students to explore differ- ent areas of Birkirkara which they weren't aware of before, while sharing suggestions on how they can improve their hometown." In effect, the project seeks to broaden one's experiential horizons even within one's own hometown - some- thing that we cannot take for granted when we're discour- aged from walking and con- centrating. "The project helped the children become aware of the negative but also the posi- tive aspects of their environ- ment and so, it helped them to think of ways on how they can protect their environ- ment from such negative sit- uations," the teachers added. Increased experiential awareness, coupled with an understanding that we should, in fact, look for ways to tangibly change our im- mediate surrounding are certainly welcome outcomes of the 'Nimxu Mixja' pro- ject, and Borg has certainly witnessed this play itself out during the sessions. "Though most of the stu- dents live in Birkirkara, it was thought-provoking to learn that 'Nimxu Mixja' has al- lowed them to explore new areas of their hometown, spe- cifically a number of alleys," Borg said, pointing out how the children's own percep- tions throughout the exercise could also help set the right priorities for society at large. "In our fast-paced life we are too alienated. How many of us do stop and think? Chil- dren are less inhibited to act and deal with the situation. A slogan that they had come up with – 'Less poop. More trees' shows how frustrated they are with what they find while walking. Once the nec- essary elements are provided, we can become more aware of our environment," Borg added. 'Nimxu Mixja' will have a culminating event on June 2 at 9.15am in front of the Birkirkara Primary School, Brared Street, where pupils, their parents and teachers and members of the commu- nity will be invited to walk together to The Mill - Art, Culture and Crafts Centre to see an exhibition of the participating pupils' works. The 'Nimxu Mixja' exhibi- tion will remain open until June 14. Opening hours: 5pm to 7pm on Monday, Thurs- day and Friday. The project is developed in collaboration with the Gabriel Caruana Foundation, and supported by Arts Council Malta's Kre- attiv fund Raffaella Zammit and Kristina Borg during the Nimxu Mixja sessions at St Theresa College, Birkirkara Year 5 participants from St Theresa College during one of the Nimxu Mixja sessions