Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1542372
7 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 4 JANUARY 2026 COMMERCIAL Xjenza Malta and Youth Alive Foundation partner to advance STEAM and Sustainability Education XJENZA Malta and the Youth Alive Foundation (YAF) have signed a three-year Memoran- dum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on the delivery of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education through hands-on, community-based learning. Signed earlier this year, the agreement formalises a strate- gic partnership centred on na- ture-based educational experi- ences that strengthen outreach, environmental awareness and community engagement. A key focus of the collaboration is the development of extended educational activities for Esplo- ra visitors and school groups, including beekeeping and per- maculture-related visits at Dar Frate Jacoba. Sustainability and biodiversi- ty underpin the partnership, with both organisations work- ing together to promote envi- ronmental stewardship through practical learning. As part of its support, Xjenza Malta will provide financial assistance to the Youth Alive Foundation for the installation of an accessibil- ity ramp leading to the fields at Dar Frate Jacoba, as well as the creation of a bee pond and water feature to enhance accessibility and improve the overall visitor experience. The agreement also provides for the sharing of expertise and resources. Xjenza Malta will assign a technical staff mem- ber to support apiary opera- tions, while covering transport costs for school groups travel- ling from Esplora to Dar Frate Jacoba. In turn, the Youth Alive Foundation will host Esplora school groups within its apiary, organic fields and animal quar- ters, and collaborate on lectures and presentations on permacul- ture. The MoU was signed by the respective leadership of the two organisations. Xjenza Malta, which includes the Esplora In- teractive Science Centre, was represented by its Chief Exec- utive Officer, Mr Silvio Scerri, while the Youth Alive Founda- tion was represented by its President, Fr Raymond Scicluna OFM." "Commenting on the agree- ment, Mr Scerri said that Es- plora remains committed to us- ing its resources, expertise and reach to benefit the wider com- munity. Through this collabo- ration, he noted, Xjenza Malta is investing in education and sustainability while strengthen- ing its responsibility to future generations, emphasising that corporate social responsibili- ty is a long-term commitment rather than a one-off initiative. Fr Raymond Scicluna, Pres- ident of Youth Alive Founda- tion, said, "We at the Youth Alive Foundation are delighted to be partnering with Xjenza Malta on this exciting project. This collaboration presents a valuable opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to the educational journey of many students. We are particularly excited to start seeing the fruits of this initiative, as it strongly reflects our belief in practical, hands-on education." He added that, "Experiential learning in real-life scenarios is at the heart of what we stand for, and we are proud to be an edu- cational resource that supports this approach. It is encouraging to see this type of innovative ed- ucation taking place, and we are honoured to be part of it." Through this partnership, Xjenza Malta and the Youth Alive Foundation aim to foster knowledge sharing and practi- cal education, inspiring future generations to engage with sci- ence, sustainability and envi- ronmental responsibility. Groove Technologies sets sights on ICE Barcelona 2026, showcasing the future of scalable iGaming growth GROOVE Technologies, the award-winning, technolo- gy-driven B2B iGaming solu- tions partner, today announced its participation in ICE Barcelo- na 2026. The company will join over 600 global exhibitors and 65,000 industry professionals at the world's premier gaming trade fair, being held at the Fira Barcelona Gran Via from Janu- ary 19-21, 2026. Groove's team will be on-site to demonstrate how its full-service platform, featuring industry-leading game aggregation and growth-focused tools, provides operators with a single, powerful engine for nav- igating a rapidly evolving global market. The decision to attend ICE comes at a pivotal moment for the iGaming sector. As the mar- ket matures, the focus is shifting toward sustainable growth pow- ered by innovation, operational discipline, and deep market un- derstanding. Groove's platform is engineered to empower this evolution by making growth simple, granting partners access to an extensive portfolio of over 15,000 games from more than 150 top-tier providers through a single integration. "The spirit of ICE Barcelona aligns perfectly with our vision of global partnership," said Ra- chel Tourgeman, Head of Part- nerships at Groove Technolo- gies. "The industry is moving beyond just offering games; it's about delivering the right local- ised content with the right tools to engage players in an increas- ingly competitive landscape. For us, ICE is the definitive venue to connect face-to-face with part- ners who are serious about scal- ing their business intelligently. We're bringing our full suite of solutions to the table to explore how we can build and accelerate that growth together in 2026 and beyond." This philosophy of growth through collaboration was further emphasised by Giusy Campo, Business Development Director at Groove Technolo- gies. "Every meaningful partner- ship in this industry starts with a conversation," said Campo. "Our entire platform is built to be that growth catalyst for am- bitious operators. As the lead on B2B sales, I'm personally looking forward to expanding my net- work and discussing the specific mechanics of success with cur- rent and future partners. Let's transform potential into perfor- mance." The company's participation is underscored by key trends iden- tified in leading industry fore- casts for 2026. These include the growing importance of person- alisation, a heightened focus on safer gambling and compliance, and the continued dominance of mobile and social gaming features that build community. Navigating these trends requires a platform partner that can offer both cutting-edge content and robust operational support. During the three-day event, the Groove team will be available for meetings to discuss market entry, platform scalability, and tailored game curation. Partners and prospective clients are en- couraged to schedule a meeting to explore actionable strategies for 2026. "At Groove, we believe the fu- ture belongs to agile partners who can simplify complexity for operators," said Yahale Melt- zer, Co-Founder and COO of Groove Technologies. "Our plat- form is more than an aggregator; it's a comprehensive growth eco- system. From the moment of in- tegration, we give operators the marketing tools, analytics, and vast content library they need to launch fast, adapt to local player preferences, and scale efficiently across diverse regulatory envi- ronments. Meeting at ICE allows us to translate these capabilities into concrete strategies for mu- tual success in the year ahead." For further information visit the new web domain at www. groovetech.com