At the National Skills Council, we launched the Hila fil-Qawl campaign, a strong message that brings together the richness of Maltese heritage with the relevance of modern skills.
We selected 16 traditional Maltese proverbs and invited two generations to share their understanding of each one: Ċensina, who is 81, and Aiden, who is 21. Their reflections offered a beautiful contrast of experience and perspective, showing how the same proverb can carry different yet equally meaningful lessons.
After exploring each proverb, we linked its message to a skill that is important in today’s world, such as resilience, problem-solving, adaptability, or teamwork. This connection highlights an important truth: skills are not something new. They have always shaped people’s lives, and our ancestors relied on them just as much as we do today.
Through this campaign, we wanted to show that the wisdom found in Maltese sayings still speaks to the challenges we face now. By blending tradition with contemporary skills, Hila fil-Qawl reminds us that learning, growth, and capability have always been part of our story as a nation.
Watch the full series below, we will be uploading 2 proverbs each week starting 6th January 2026.
1st Proverb: He who sows the wind, reaps the whirlwind. | F’kull għemilek aħseb dejjem x’jiġri wara. (Out 6th January 2026)
2nd Proverb: Skill turns a reed into a fishing rod. | Raġel bla ħila, ma jiswiex tebaq fwiedu. (Out 8th January 2026)
3rd Proverb: Two heads are better than one. | Erba’ għajnejn aħjar minn tnejn. (Coming Soon)
4th Proverb: He who waits, eats the best. | Qattusa għaġġelija frieħ għomja tagħmel. (Coming Soon)
5th Proverb: Little by little, the cat eats the mouse. | Bin-naqra n-naqra, timtela l-ġarra. (Coming Soon)
6th Proverb: Work makes the person. |Ix-xogħol salmura tal-ġisem. (Coming Soon)
7th Proverb: He who does not work, does not grow fat. | Min jistenna l-bajtar jaqa’ f’ħalqu jibqa’ bil-ġuħ. (Coming Soon)
8th Proverb: He who tells you the truth doesn’t touch the bone. | Bniedem tal-ġieħ miġjub minn kulħadd. (Coming Soon)
9th Proverb: Better one in the pocket than ten in the air. | Aħjar għasfur f’idek milli mija fl-ajru. (Coming Soon)
10th Proverb: He who seeks, finds. | Min ifittex isib. (Coming Soon)
11th Proverb: Man learns until he dies. | Aktar ma tikber, aktar titgħallem. (Coming Soon)
12th Proverb: He who swims against the current, reaches where he wants. | Kull kobba għandha tarfha. (Coming Soon)
13th Proverb: Time is the best doctor. | Iż-żmien l-aqwa galantom. (Coming Soon)
14th Proverb: The lazy person works twice. | L-għażżien xogħlu għali. (Coming Soon)
15th Proverb: Words are carried by the wind, but deeds remain. | Il-kliem iqanqal, iżda l-eżempju jkaxkar. (Coming Soon)
16th Proverb: He who sleeps, catches no fish. | Min jorqod ma jaqbadx ħut. (Coming Soon)