In an age of unlimited digital entertainment, Malta needs high-quality educational technology to keep the Maltese language alive and thriving among younger generations.

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Francesca Borg Bellanti, CEO of Magic Games Factory, saw a clear gap in the market for Maltese-language learning apps for children. Determined to address this, she brought together a small team to develop Nina u Ninu, a smartphone app that offers young users meaningful and enjoyable language-learning experiences in Maltese.

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This month marks the second anniversary of Nina u Ninu, and to celebrate, Magic Games Factory has launched new features designed to help children expand their vocabulary and improve their language skills. The update includes Il-Kelma tal-lum (Word of the Day), with audio and visual context to encourage daily language use, and Imla l-vojt (Fill in the Blank), a spelling game that helps sharpen written Maltese in a playful way.

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“We’re celebrating an important milestone with new content that underlines the success Nina u Ninu has enjoyed over the past years,” said Borg Bellanti. “The app was born out of a simple but powerful need – to give my children engaging, screen-based experiences in their own language.”

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She emphasised the need for purposeful use of ever-present technology in children’s lives. “We’ve shifted to a world that’s always on – kids have unlimited access to content through smart TVs, tablets, and smartphones. But it’s up to us to guide their development. Streaming platforms like Netflix let you switch between English and Italian easily, but there’s a real lack of modern, high-quality digital content in Maltese. And this matters – our language is central to our identity and crucial for success in school and in future careers.”

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Nina u Ninu is aimed at children aged two to eight and features ad-free educational games focused on Maltese vocabulary, literacy, numeracy and logic. It is available for a one-time purchase – significantly cheaper than monthly streaming subscriptions or most online games – via the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

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“Magic Games Factory is investing in building content that’s genuinely useful to Malta’s youngest learners,” Borg Bellanti said. “Parents will find that the value of educational, safe and engaging content in Maltese is truly priceless when they see their children’s language skills grow.”

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The company is also developing a white-label platform to support other projects aimed at language preservation, including Parlini Land, continuing its mission to fuse innovation and education through meaningful digital experiences.

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