European Conference on Youth Participation

Graziella Camilleri from the Generades Youth Group, and Mario Borg, representing the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, attended the European Conference on Youth Participation entitled 'Please do Disturb' held in Hanover, Germany, last month.

They were chosen by the Malta Youth National Agency, managing the European Union's Youth Programme to represent Malta at the conference which aimed to bring out experiences through the Youth Programme, find new alternatives to increase youth participation and bring up all the ideas into the Youth Programme. They were among 120 participants from 28 countries, including youth workers, scientists, local government officials and members of political organisations.

The main role of inviting local government officials and members of political organisations was to address participation at national, European and academic level, appeal for real and impetus participation and also make concrete recommendations. Unfortunately, the participants shared the notion that the European papers and documents on youth participation were not yet able to guarantee more active youth participation in the various countries.

During this seminar each organisation had the opportunity to promote a nearby project or the organisation itself by displaying charts and photos, distributing souvenirs and much more. The idea was to attract other organisations to partner with the group representing it.

Each seminar participant also could take part in workshops according to their preferences.

During the Open Space Technology (OST), 28 participants delivered their own workshops which ranged from discussing concrete projects on youth participation, fears and new skills that one should implement to increase youth participation. The Generades Youth Group presented a workshop entitled "Teambuilding skills involving the physically impaired", while the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities presented a workshop entitled "Drama and performing arts for disabled youths".