Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1545873
7 gozotoday | FRIDAY • 17 JULY 2026 NEWS Young Artists, Big Impact returns for its second edition, giving children a voice for sustainability CHILDREN from across Mal- ta and Gozo are promoting the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through art as part of the Young Artists, Big Impact Children's Art Exhibition being held at MUŻA – the National Commu- nity Art Museum. Organised by the Sustainable Development Directorate with- in the Ministry for Energy, the Environment and the Regenera- tion of the Grand Harbour, the initiative places children's per- spectives at the heart of Malta's sustainable development efforts. Through a variety of artistic expressions, including paintings, literature, sculptures and vid- eography, children and young people have shared their inter- pretation of the environmental and socio-economic pillars of sustainable development. Minister for Energy, the Envi- ronment and the Regeneration of the Grand Harbour Miriam Dalli met with a number of par- ticipating students and praised their creativity, talent and un- derstanding of the SDGs and the world around them. "The sculptures and artworks created by these students show that, despite their young age, they already have a strong un- derstanding of the different di- mensions of sustainability, from the wellbeing of people and communities to protecting the environment and safeguarding future generations. Through this exhibition, children are sharing their ideas and aspirations for a better future. Their message is simple yet powerful: every indi- vidual has the ability to make a positive impact on society and on the environment around us," said Minister Dalli. Following the success of its first edition, this year's exhibition has expanded to welcome students from Years 4 to 8. The exhibi- tion attracted 155 submissions from 18 schools across Malta and Gozo, with each artwork re- flecting students' understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals, placing particular empha- sis on environmental protection and social wellbeing. Participating schools included De La Salle Junior (Birgu), Arch- bishop's Seminary (Rabat), Ġużé Aquilina Primary (Sannat), Dr Frans Chetcuti Primary B (Żab- bar), Ġużeppi Maria Caruana Primary B (Żejtun), Leli Camill- eri Primary (Żurrieq), St Ed- ward's Junior and Middle School (Birgu), St Francis Primary (Birkirkara), Bice Mizzi Vassallo Primary (Pembroke), St Martin's College (Swatar), St Dorothy's Junior School (Sliema), Ġużep- pi Aġius Primary (Paola), Ma- donna tal-Mensija Primary (San Ġwann), Patri Feliċ Sammut Pri- mary (St Paul's Bay), St Francis Primary (Cospicua), Carlo Di- acono Secondary (Żejtun), The Malta Visual and Performing Arts School, and Hand in Hand. Francine Pace Caruana, Direc- tor for Sustainable Development within the Ministry, explained that the initiative is built on the principle of collective respon- sibility, while highlighting the important role children play as agents of change who are pro- moting sustainability through their artistic creativity. The exhibition is open at MUŻA from Tuesday, 7 July until Sunday, 19 July. Opening hours are from 10:00 to 18:00 on weekdays. Teachers, fami- lies and the general public are invited to visit the exhibition and be inspired by the powerful message for sustainability that children are conveying through their artwork. European parents call for EU-wide 16+ social media age limit EUROPEAN parent movements are calling for a harmonised minimum age of 16 for social media access, following a report by an EU expert panel which they say confirms that current platforms are not designed with children's safety in mind. The report, delivered to the European Commission on 13 July 2026, concluded that many commercial social media plat- forms used by millions of chil- dren continue to expose young users to risks linked to their de- sign features, including infinite scrolling, harmful content, un- wanted contact and addictive mechanisms. The parent groups said plat- forms should not be allowed ac- cess to children under 16 until their products are independent- ly verified as safe. They urged European Com- mission President Ursula von der Leyen to introduce strong- er protections immediately, arguing that parents cannot be expected to counter the ef- fects of algorithms and engage- ment-driven design on chil- dren's development without regulatory action. "If toys, medicines or food were linked to the levels of harm now being associated with social me- dia, there would be immediate calls for stronger safeguards or even removal from the market," said Johanna Galea, co-founder of Virtually Unplugged Kids. "Childhood should be a time for play, friendships and healthy development, not exposure to products designed to maximise engagement at any cost," she added. Elaine Pavia Grima, co-found- er of Smartphone Free Child- hood Gozo, said families were already taking action by delaying smartphones and social media use until children were older, but legislation was needed to en- sure protection for all children. "While governments and policy- makers debate the issue, protect- ing our children cannot wait," she said, adding that research on the risks associated with ear- ly smartphone and social media use continues to grow. The parent movements warned that millions of additional chil- dren will join social media plat- forms in the coming years if stronger measures are not in- troduced. They said around 30 million children currently aged between six and 12 are expected to enter the age group using ma- jor social media platforms with- in the next four years. The groups said regulation and enforcement of changes to tech- nology platforms may take years, but argued that immediate measures are needed while in- dependent assessments of safety features are carried out. The parent groups argue platforms should not be allowed access to children under 16 until their products are independently verified as safe Art work by students