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"This is another initiative through which we are continuing to emphasise the importance of reading among our children. Through the National Qaritona, now in its 9th edition, we are encouraging more children to read more and better". This was said by the Minister for Education, Sports, Youth, Research and Innovation Clifton Grima, when together with the President Emeritus and Chairperson of the Malta Trust Foundation Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, he launched this year's edition of the National Qaritona. "It is our main mission as a government to ensure that education reaches everyone – all forms of education. Education takes many forms – and it is certain that reading is the basis of a healthy education in the educational path", said Minister Clifton Grima. During the launch, Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca said, "The launch of the National Qaritona 2026 is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the beauty of reading and its profound impact on learning. Reading not only strengthens literacy and writing skills, but also sparks imagination, critical thinking and creativity. By encouraging children and young people to engage with stories, we are fostering their ability to express themselves, think innovatively and address challenges with new ideas. Initiatives like the Qaritona inspire a lifelong love of reading, which is the foundation for personal growth and academic success." The theme chosen this year is 'Tales Across Cultures — Connecting Young Voices Through Storytelling'. During the launch, four students shared stories and experiences from their cultures with distinguished guests, reading ambassadors and their fellow students. Afterwards, students had the opportunity to ask questions about reading to President Emeritus Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, Minister Clifton Grima, and the reading ambassadors. This is an intercultural initiative designed for primary and secondary school students and encourages students of different cultures and languages ​​to share, explore and reimagine folkloric stories or fairy tales, as a means of fostering unity between children from different cultures. Through a range of activities that can be done in the classroom or at home, students will share traditional stories from their cultures, explore Maltese stories, and collaborate creatively with their peers to create new stories. The National Qaritona is a collaboration between the Malta Trust Foundation, the National Literacy Agency, the Malta Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society and Malta Public Transport and with the participation of State, Church and Independent Primary and Secondary Schools. This project aims to encourage and foster a love of reading, along with the promotion of literacy. The launch took place at Santa Clara Primary College, San Ġwann and was also attended by David Muscat, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Literacy Agency.