Dinja Waħda Primary is our environmental education programme, run in collaboration with the Education Directorate, for children aged 4-11.
Dinja Waħda taps into young people’s innate fascination with nature and seeks to develop it into a sense of responsibility towards the natural world. Through engaging environmental education activities, children are made aware of human impact on the environment and works to develop values that lead to sustainable behaviour.
How does it work?
The Dinja Waħda primary programme is based on an Action Guide given to all teachers and coordinators in Malta and Gozo. The guide contains interactive activities, tailor-made for the Maltese context and is accompanied by a wealth of online resources and posters.
Through the activities, children learn about nature, habitats, the environment, and our relationship with it. Most activities are school-based but some involve visits to places of natural interest. Each activity carries points and at the end of each year, participating schools win either a gold, silver, bronze or merit award according to successful completion. The Blue Banner is awarded to schools that win the gold award three years in succession.
Want to know more?
Simply get in touch with our education team on [email protected] to discuss the Dinja Waħda programme in more detail.
- Activities
- Syllabus Links
- Dinja Waħda Coordinators
- Feedback Form
- Logos
- Book A Visit To Our Nature Reserves
- History
Activities
Syllabus Links
Dinja Waħda activities are carefully planned and reviewed to fit with the current schools syllabus, here are some suggestions but there are many other links.
Dinja Waħda Coordinators
A Dinja Waħda school coordinator plays an exciting role in connecting school children with the natural world. They are instrumental in ensuring the success of our schools programme by providing students with an opportunity to better understand and appreciate wildlife and wild places.
Dinja Waħda coordinators are invited by BirdLife Malta to attend a number of events throughout the year in order to promote their understanding of the Action Guide and broaden their knowledge of environmental education and outdoor learning. These gatherings provide extra support in addition to that offered by our field teacher Ms Maryrit Zammit.
Each coordinator ensures the Action Guide is understood by the other teachers in their school so that they are able to confidently deliver a variety of sessions. With our support, a coordintor will be available to answer any questions that teachers may have about the programme and its delivery. Additionally, they will make sure that different activities are carried out throughout the year to engage as many students as possible.
At the end of the scholastic year or at the end of each term, the Dinja Waħda school coordinator records all completed Dinja Waħda Activities on the Feedback Form, collects the photos for verification and sends them to us to help us prepare for the end of year award ceremony. BirdLife Malta is incredibly grateful to have such a committed group of coordinators already supporting the Dinja Waħda programme. For any questions or queries about the role of a coordinator or information on how to get more involved please email: [email protected].
Feedback Form
Please click the link to download the Dinja Waħda Feedback Form and the Nature Days for Early Years feedback form.
The filled-in form is to be sent by email to [email protected]. In the subject field please write: ‘FEEDBACK FORM: [name of school]’. As well as the feedback form we need to see photos of the activity being carried out.
We would like to encourage schools to upload pictures of Dinja Waħda Activities onto their school websites. You can then send us the link and we’ll allocate the points without the need for sending them in an additional email. This idea will help us to see your work and also give the school more promotion of the great work being done and teachers’ better recognition for their efforts. We will also accept photos by email, online transfer or CD.
NOTES:
1) You can use the new Feedback from to compile all of your school’s activities and send it to us at the end of each term.
2) You need to send/upload photos of each Activity and the different steps of the activity in order to get the full points.
3) Photos are enough; no need to send the actual children’s work. It would be better if the children kept it as a reminder of what they learned.
4) Please note that Foster a Forest or Join the Club money should be sent by cheque not cash.
5) Once we have received your feedback form and photos you should receive a confirmation email, if you don’t hear from us please do get in touch to check that the files haven’t gone missing.
Logos
Book A Visit To Our Nature Reserves
A visit to the nature reserves is a great way for the students to learn first-hand about Maltese habitats and the creatures that live in them. We offer visits linked to the Science or Social Studies syllabus or a general educational nature experience. For details of the sites and what we offer please click on the image below. Gozo groups can also visit Lunzjata Valley. 
For more information please call the BirdLife Malta office, extension 503 for Education – 21347645/6
If possible please call so we can confirm your booking straight away and book early to avoid disappointment.
Alternatively fill booking form by clicking here. Your booking is not confirmed until you receive a confirmation email from BirdLife Malta The following details will be needed upon booking;
- Name of school:
- Site requested:
- Preferred date:
- Year group:
- Number of pupils:
- Contact name:
- Contact number:
- Contact email:
History
Dinja Waħda is an environmental education and education for sustainability programme in formal education, run by BirdLife Malta in collaboration with the Education Directorate.
The Dinja Waħda programme started in 1994, after years of specific-subject education campaigns, the most sustained of which was the Robin campaign, which targeted the practice of Robin trapping among children. Following the success of this educational initative, BirdLife Malta broadended its scope to include the environment as a whole and human influence on it. At this point a need was felt to create a resource applied to local local flora, fauna and habitats, as all existing environment education material was based in other countries. An Action Guide was written by educators within the NGO and distributed to all Primary Schools in Malta and Gozo. Local businesses sponsored the publication.
The programme has always enjoyed the support of the Education Authorities, with its Action Guide endorsed by successive Directors General. In its first year 74 schools participated in Dinja Waħda and since 2003, 80% of schools have participated annually. The first award ceremony took place in 1995, and in 2004 the Dinja Waħda balloon design was established in bass-relief ceramic plaques as the standard award with bronze, silver and gold levels. In 2013, an additional blue banner award was created for schools that showed continued commitment to the programme’s aims. After various trials and pilot projects, Dinja Waħda in Secondary Schools was launched nationally in 2016, with the first five schools receiving awards in 2017. Adapted to youths and the secondary school structure, the programme is based on three areas of activity: connecting with nature, action for biodiversity and outreach for awareness.
Over the years and as a result of experience, study and reseach, the organisation has refined its programme to focus on connecting children, youths and adults with nature. A growing body of research directly relates unsustainable behaviour to disconnecteness from nature. Dinja Waħda aims to generate understanding and respect for nature and to inspire change in people’s behaviour towards sustainable lifestyles.
The Dinja Waħda programme grew out of BirdLife Malta’s mission. Its methodology is based on international research applied to the local scene with original materials and resources for educators created locally. Now, BirdLife Malta is seeking to transfer its knowledge and experience to all the BirdLife partner countries. It is currently carrying out an Eramsus project (One World Learning) whose eventual output will be to make Dinja Waħda an international environmental education and awards programme.
