The National STEM Community Fund 2024 – Project Reports

Tech Beyond Borders

Who was the awardee?

Port Regional Council

What came out of the project?

Children developed basic coding, robotics, and problem-solving skills.
The project successfully enabled children with ADHD, Autism, and diverse learning needs to participate fully in STEM activities.
Strengthened partnerships between the Port Regional Council, STEM providers, environmental NGOs, and local councils.
Fostered interaction among children from different localities and backgrounds, enhancing social inclusion and collaboration.

What did they do?

Facilitated hands on coding and robotics workshops in collaboration with Nobel Courses, during which participants built, coded, and operated robots.
Integrated environmental awareness sessions into selected workshops through collaboration with Żibel Malta.
Organised heritage-based treasure hunts and quizzes tailored to each locality, linking STEM learning to local history and place-based knowledge.
Carried out on-site outreach to engage passersby and encourage spontaneous participation.

Challenges and triumphs

There were some challenges in keeping clear communication with potential attendees.
However, one of the most successful aspects of the project was the ability to reach participants from the respective localities, many of whom joined the workshop on site.

What next?

Tech Beyond Borders generated strong interest from parents and communities for future STEM initiatives, indicating sustained engagement beyond this project.
They also aim to collaborate with specific communities within the region’s various localities, tailoring the workshops to their needs and interests.

Legacy and resources

Anyone can do the Heritage quizzes and treasure hunts created for the project!

DriveSTEM

Who was the awardee?

Chamber of Engineers

What came out of the project?

Increased visibility and public understanding of engineering careers in Malta, particularly the diversity of roles and their contribution to society
Strengthened interest in STEM subjects and engineering pathways among students through exposure to relatable role models and real-world career stories.
Supported educators and career guidance professionals by providing high-quality, reusable outreach resources.
Achieved significant national reach through combined online dissemination, media coverage, and public events, including television broadcast exposure.

What did they do?

Reviewed existing studies and enrolment data on engineering education trends in Malta to contextualise the project.
Conducted on-site filming sessions, showcasing real working environments, and hands-on engineering practice.
Identified key Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) themes relevant to engineering in Malta.
Organised a stakeholder dissemination and launch event at Esplora on 18 September, attended by engineers, educators, career guidance professionals, and policymakers.
Presented and further disseminated project resources during the Engineer Your Career Goes Live (EYC) event on 10 November, including screening of videos and participation of featured engineers in panel discussions.

Challenges and triumphs

The main challenges faced during the project were primarily linked to time constraints.
One of the most rewarding aspects of this project was the opportunity to meet and collaborate with a wide range of engineering professionals from different sectors.

What next?

The plan is to revitalize the campaign on a regular basis through external funding and to encompass other evolving careers within the engineering sector.

Legacy and resources

You can watch and use the videos created here, here, here and here.
You can read these two articles about the project.

Dwejra Lines

Who was the awardee?

The Malta Chamber of Scientists

What came out of the project?

Neurodiverse participants developed practical ecological skills, including species identification, survey techniques, and basic biodiversity monitoring.
The project generated useful biodiversity records for citizen science platforms.
Participants translated scientific learning into creative outputs that communicated conservation messages to the public.
The project fostered collaboration between youths, educators, artists, and local authorities.

What did they do?

Organised a guided tour of the Victoria Lines fortifications led by Friends of the Victoria Lines Trail to provide historical and environmental context.
Held three creative sessions at Valletta Design Cluster where participants brainstormed environmental and conservation themes, designed artwork, stickers, and tote bags, developed interactive games and quizzes for public engagement.
Facilitated the collection of biodiversity data on plants, trees, and insects.
Held meetings with Regjun Tramuntana, Regjun Lvant, and Project Green to share project activities and discuss local conservation priorities.
Developed inclusive ecological activities and drafted a sustainable trail guide.
Shared resources online and with educational institutions.
Supported participants to take part in the Science in the City festival, where they presented their activities and learning.

Challenges and triumphs

One of the main challenges faced during the project was securing and maintaining the involvement of experts.
Another challenge was participant retention once the workshops shifted into the summer period. The predictable structure of the school year no longer applied, and many children had packed summer schedules, family commitments or holidays planned.
The most meaningful success was watching the young participants grow in confidence and connection, knowing that the project gave them a space where they felt accepted, heard, and free to express who they are.

What next?

The organisers plan to use this project as a pilot for future initiatives. The experiences and insights gained have given them a strong foundation to build on, and they would like to repeat and expand some of the deliverables, particularly the outdoor workshops and the arts-based sessions.

Legacy and resources

Read more about the project in its dedicated webpage.
You can repeat the Dwejra Lines workshop by following this resource!

Botanical Bridges: Linking Education and Environment

Who was the awardee?

Sacred Heart College, Senior School

What came out of the project?

The area identified for the botanical garden was cleaned, the trees were pruned, and the area prepared for a transformation into an outdoor educational space.
Plants were sourced and planted by both students and teachers, with generous support from Ambjent Malta and parents.
Educational signage for the plants was designed, and digital project resources were created for future use.

What did they do?

The teachers coordinated planning meetings and mapped out a suitable outdoor area on the school grounds to serve as both a botanical garden and an outdoor classroom.
They designed a series of student-focused workshops on plant biology, native species and sustainable gardening.
The team establishing a clear picture of the technical and financial requirements for the space. In the meantime, basic seating was provided by the school administration, allowing the area to start functioning as an informal outdoor classroom.
Most plants were sourced through Ambjent Malta and through parent donations, with both students and teachers taking part in the planting.

Challenges and triumphs

After the trees were pruned, the debris remained in place for a prolonged period, making it unsafe to bring students on site for hands-on activities.
Additionally unforeseen technical difficulties delayed the project timeline.
Despite these hurdles, the project generated real community enthusiasm. Parents stepped in to donate plants and contribute funds, demonstrating strong backing for the initiative beyond the immediate school team.
The process of planning workshops, designing signage and building a digital archive was professionally rewarding for the teachers involved, who developed new skills in outdoor learning design and the integration of digital tools into STEM education.

What next?

Workshops on plant biology, native species and sustainable gardening will be held in the garden.
The school intends to revisit the irrigation and path design.
With the existing digital resources, community support and preliminary planning already in place, the school is well positioned to gradually develop the area into a fully functional outdoor classroom and living botanical resource.