Giving value to life

Last Sunday, the Youth Section within the Ministry of Education and the National Youth Council kept their annual meeting with society when they celebrated the National Youth Day.

Various organisations set up stands and held activities on this year's theme All Different - All Equal. The event consisted of a feast of colours and activity with young people working together.

Thousands of youths in our country offer their free time to society and contribute to the good of others. Many professionally-trained volunteers are offering services both at community and at national levels.

This aspect is, unfortunately, forgotten at times. We hear a lot about young drug victims but rarely does one hear of the young people who work to prevent drug addiction.

I would like to show all my gratitude to these young people who make such a valued contribution to our society by offering not only their organisation's service but also set examples for the public to follow.

The Nationalist Party believes in our children and deems that investment in our offspring is a guarantee for our future. The government is investing Lm1,400 per year per child in order to provide the best education. This is complemented by structural projects such as the building of new schools, like San Benedittu College in Kirkop and the new college in Qormi, and expansion projects, such as in the case of the schools in Marsascala and Luqa.

It also recognises the need for good practices in extra curricular activities. These are being catered for by assisting organisations that work within communities and by providing facilities, such as sport complexes, to be used by the community.

This month, two new pilot projects in the sphere of sport will be launched. Girls On The Move programme and the Community Sports Programme will offer the possibility to practise sport at a convenient time and in a familiar environment. These programmes will initially be offered in four public schools around Malta.

We hear a lot about trade and economic opportunities that membership of the European Union offers. Another area that presents a vast number of opportunities is the youth sector.

Numbering about 75 million, young people play an important and critical role in the EU's future planning. That is why greater account of the youth factor is being taken when drafting policies for other sectors.

Thanks to Malta's accession to the EU, a young person that is furthering his/her studies can benefit from the Socrates/Erasmus programme. This programme offers the possibility of studying in another member state and receive academic recognition together with a small grant to cover extra expenses.

Young people, more inclined towards vocational training, may take advantage of the Leonardo da Vinci programme. This aims at giving young people access to training and apprenticeships while at the same time they may acquire new skills thus making it more possible for them to find a job. Programmes such as YOUTH are tools provided by the EU to young people to discover, develop and empower themselves in a healthy way. Experiencing diversity and encouraging young people to be active citizens are among the fundamental pillars of this programme.

This year, Youth in Action, a new programme, will replace YOUTH. The European Commission proposed a new programme with the aim to develop a sense of personal responsibility, initiative, concern for others, citizenship and active involvement at local, national and European level among young people. The programme will also help to improve support systems for youth activities. The proposed budget for this programme is €915 million.

These possibilities, together with other opportunities offered by the Nationalist Party in government, are providing young people with the tools enabling them to get the cream of the crop within their youth days.

The opportunities that are out for grabs for our youth are preparing our young people to become the future leaders. The availability of opportunities and information are raising the level of knowledge while at the same time the young can share this knowledge and gather further knowledge through activities offered through the various EU programmes.

The PN has always believed that young people are key players for the future of this country; by investing in young people we are investing in our future.

Mr Casa is a Nationalist member of the European Parliament.

david.casa@europarl.europa.eu, www.davidcasa.eu