Il-Kunsilli Lokali tat-Tfal iħeġġu lill-partiti politiċi biex jikkommettu ruħhom għall-Malta li se jirtu
Il-Manifest tat-Tfal isejjaħ għal bidla vera
Rappreżentanti ta’ aktar minn 500 tifel u tifla minn 65 Kunsill Lokali tat-Tfal qed isejħu lill-partiti politiċi biex jikkommettu ruħhom għal toroq aktar sikuri, spazji ħodor protetti, appoġġ aħjar għas-saħħa mentali, protezzjoni online, u rwol formali fid-deċiżjonijiet li jiffurmaw il-futur tagħhom.
Illum, it-Tnejn 11 ta’ Mejju 2026, it-tfal membri tal-Kunsilli Lokali tat-Tfal, nehdew il-Manifest tagħhom u ppreżentawh lill-partiti politiċi.
Il-Manifest tat-Tfal, żviluppat mill-Kunsilli Lokali tat-Tfal, li huma kkordinati mill-Malta Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society, jinkludi 132 proposta li t-tfal iridu li l-partiti politiċi jikkommettu għalihom qabel l-elezzjonijiet ġenerali tat-30 ta’ Mejju.
Waqt it-tnedija tal-Manifest tat-Tfal, li ġie mniedi mit-tfal infushom, il-fundatriċi u l-kap tal-Malta Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society, Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, qalet li t-tfal membri tal-Kunsilli Lokali qed iħeġġu lill-partiti politiċi biex jagħtu konsiderazzjoni lill-proposti għall-Malta li se jirtu.
“Permezz ta’ dan il-manifest, it-tfal mhumiex qed jitolbu konsultazzjoni superfiċjali; Huma qed jitolbu impenn konkret fuq kwistjonijiet li diġà qed jiddominaw il-konverżazzjoni nazzjonali. Din hija sejħa lill-partiti politiċi biex ipoġġu lit-tfal fil-qalba ta’ kull politika,” qalet is-Sinjura Coleiro Preca.
Il-Manifest tat-Tfal tal-2026 ġie żviluppat wara snin ta’ xogħol, diskussjonijiet u konsultazzjonijiet mal-Kunsilli Lokali tat-Tfal f’65 lokalita’ f’Malta u f’Għawdex.
Il-Manifest tat-Tfal huwa strutturat madwar sitt pilastri: Il‑Komunità u l‑Ambjent; Saħħa u Mental Wellbeing; L‑Edukazzjoni; Diversità u Inklużjoni; Id‑Drittijiet tat‑Tfal u Parteċipazzjoni Attiva; u, It-Teknoloġija, il-Protezzjoni Online u l-Intelliġenza Artifiċjali.
Elena Curmi, tifla ta’ 14-il sena, mill-Għarb, Għawdex, esprimiet tama sinċiera li dan il-manifest jingħata l-attenzjoni vera fuq dak li t-tfal u ż-żgħażagħ f’Malta u Għawdex verament għandhom bżonn.
“Nittamaw li dan id-dokument iwassal għal bidla reali. Il-messaġġ tiegħi lill-partiti politiċi huwa: Nittama li tkomplu tisimgħu lilna t-tfal u taħdmu magħna biex tagħmlu l-ideat tagħna realtà; Nispera li ttejjbu l-edukazzjoni, il-wellbeing, l-opportunitajiet u l-ħajja fil-komunita’, sabiex ilkoll inħossuna aktar kunfidenti dwar il-futur tagħna,” qalet hi, u ħeġġet lill-partiti politiċi biex jaddottaw il-proposti tagħhom.
Sadanittatant, fid-19 u l-20 ta’ Mejju, il-kandidati elettorali se jiġu mistiedna biex jiffirmaw dikjarazzjoni biex jikkommettu ruħhom favur il-proposti tal-manifest tat-tfal u d-drittijiet tat-tfal.
Is-Sinjura Coleiro Preca żiedet tgħid li l-Kunsilli Lokali tat-Tfal f’Malta u Għawdex huma mezz essenzjali biex il-vuċi tat-tfal u ż-żgħażagħ tinstema’.
“Inħossni mħeġġa li nara qabża fil-kunfidenza tat-tfal biex jidjalogaw u jressqu ‘l quddiem dak li hu ġustament tagħhom.
“Għal mexxejja politiċi, dawk li jagħmlu l-politika u l-awtoritajiet, dan id-dokument joffri opportunita’ unika b’valur imprezzabli. Jistedinna biex nisimgħu b’attenzjoni u nirrikonoxxu li t-tfal spiss jaraw il-futur b’ċarezza, onestà u kuraġġ.
“Issa hija r-responsabbiltà kollettiva tagħna li nħarsu l-vuċijiet tagħhom, nieħdu l-proposti tagħhom bis-serjetà, u naħdmu magħhom biex nibnu l-pajjiż li tant jixtiequ jaraw. L-ideat tagħhom jisfidawna. Il-kuraġġ tagħhom jispirana. Il-viżjoni tagħhom issejjħilna biex naġixxu.”
Il-proposti fil-Manifest tat-Tfal jitkellmu direttament dwar il-kwistjonijiet li jiddominaw il-konversazzjoni nazzjonali: it-traffiku, is-sigurtà tat-toroq, l-iżvilupp żejjed, aċċess għal spazji ħodor, l-ispiża tal-ħajja, il-faqar, l-inklużjoni tad-diżabilità, is-saħħa mentali, l-edukazzjoni, u l-ħajja komunitarja.
It-tfal ukoll iridu li l-Intelliġenza Artifiċjali tintuża b’modi li tagħmel ħajjithom aktar produttiva, filwaqt li jiżguraw li t-tfal ikollhom alternattivi sinifikanti minn ħin fuq is-screen u l-użu tat-teknoloġija.
L-iktar bidla qawwija f’dan il-manifest hija l-importanza li t-tfal jagħtu lill-komunità. L-ewwel pilastru, Komunità u l-Ambjent, fih aktar proposti minn kull pilastru ieħor, u jibgħat messaġġ ċar lill-partiti politiċi li t-tfal madwar Malta u Għawdex jixtiequ ħajja komunitarja aktar siewja, spazji pubbliċi aktar sikuri, aktar ħodor, u postijiet fejn jistgħu jiltaqgħu, jilagħbu, jinstemgħu u jħossuhom parti mill-komunita’.
Il-president tal-Assoċjazzjoni tal-Kunsilli Lokali, Mario Fava, qal li l-parteċipazzjoni diretta tan-nies fil-ħajja tal-komunità tinsab fil-qalba ta’ kull demokrazija; prinċipju li japplika bl-istess mod għat-tfal.
“Il-fatt li dawn it-tfal ħassew il-bżonn li jorganizzaw lilhom infushom, jipparteċipaw fid-diskussjoni, u jippreżentaw proposti konkreti għandu jkun sinjal ċar għal kulħadd – inklużi l-kunsilli lokali – li rridu nkomplu nsaħħu l-mekkaniżmi ta’ konsultazzjoni u parteċipazzjoni attiva tat-tfal.
“Ma nistgħux nitkellmu dwar viżjoni fit-tul jekk dawk li se jgħixu u jmexxuh fil-futur jiġu esklużi mid-deċiżjonijiet li qed jittieħdu llum. Dan il-Manifest tat-Tfal għandu jitqies bħala l-ewwel pass fi vjaġġ usa’. Il-pass li jmiss għandu jkun l-involviment dirett ma’ dawn it-tfal… Huwa biss permezz ta’ dan il-proċess li nistgħu nibnu soluzzjonijiet li verament jirriflettu l-bżonnijiet u l-aspirazzjonijiet ta’ kulħadd,” qal is-Sur Fava.
Tista’ taqra l-Manifest tat-Tfal hawn.
Childrens-Manifesto-ebook
Children’s Local Councils urge political parties to commit to the Malta they will inherit
Children’s Manifesto calls for real change
More than 500 children from 65 Children’s Local Councils are calling on political parties to commit to safer streets, protected green spaces, better mental-health support, online protection, and a formal role in decisions that shape their future.
The Children’s Manifesto, spearheaded by the Children’s Local Councils, and coordinated by the Malta Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society, lists 132 proposals children want political parties to commit to ahead of the May 30 general election.
It was launched today by the children themselves and presented to political parties. Then, on May 19 and 20, electoral candidates will be invited to sign a declaration committing to champion the children’s manifesto’s proposals and children’s rights.
President Emeritus Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, MFWS founder and chair, said: “Through this manifesto, children are not asking for token consultation; they are asking for concrete commitments on the issues already dominating the national conversation. This is a call for political parties to put children at the heart of every policy; to take into consideration their proposals for the Malta they will inherit,” Ms Coleiro Preca said.
The 2026 Children’s Manifesto was drawn up following years of work, discussions and consultations with Children’s Local Councils in 65 localities. It is structured around six pillars: The Community & Environment; Health & Mental Wellbeing; Education; Diversity & Inclusion; Children’s Rights & Active Participation; and Technology, Online Protection & AI.
Elena Curmi, 14, from Għarb, Gozo, expressed a sincere hope that this manifesto would bring real attention to what children and young people in Malta and Gozo actually need.
“We hope this document leads to real change. My message to political parties is: I hope you continue listening to us children and work with us to make our ideas a reality; I hope you improve education, wellbeing, opportunities, and community life, so that we can all feel more confident about our future,” she said, urging political parties to take their proposals on board.
Ms Coleiro Preca added that the Children’s Local Councils in Malta and Gozo were an essential vehicle for children and younger people to make their voices heard.
“I am heartened to witness a leap in children’s confidence to debate and to demand what is rightfully theirs.
“For political leaders, policymakers and authorities, this document offers a valuable compass. It invites us to listen carefully and to recognise that children often see the future with clarity, honesty, and courage.
“It is now our collective responsibility to honour their voices, to take their proposals seriously, and to work with them to build the country they so clearly envision. Their ideas challenge us. Their courage inspires us. Their vision calls us to act.”
The proposals in the Children’s Manifesto speak directly to the issues dominating the national conversation: traffic, road safety, overdevelopment, access to green spaces, cost of living, poverty, disability, inclusion, mental health, education, and community life.
The children also want AI to be used in ways that make their lives more fruitful, while ensuring children have meaningful alternatives to screen time and device use.
The strongest shift in this manifesto is the importance children attach to community. The first pillar, Community and Environment, contains more proposals than any other, sending a clear message to political parties that children across Malta and Gozo are yearning for stronger community life, safer public spaces, more greenery, and places where they can meet, play, belong and be heard.
Local Councils’ Association president Mario Fava said the direct participation of people in community life lies at the heart of every democracy; a principle that applied equally to children.
“The fact that these children felt the need to organise themselves, engage in discussion, and present concrete proposals should serve as a clear signal to all – including local councils – that we must continue to strengthen the mechanisms of consultation and children’s active participation.
“We cannot speak of a long-term vision if those who will live and lead it in the future are excluded from the decisions being made today. This Children’s Manifesto should be seen as the first step in a broader journey. The next step must be direct engagement with these children… It is only through such a process that we can build solutions that truly reflect the needs and aspirations of all,” Mr Fava said.
You can read the proposals in the Children’s Manifesto here.
