Maltese volunteer nominated for European youth prize

Nicolette Busuttil, a 20-year-old law student who provides voluntary service among asylum seekers in the Safi and Hal Far detention centres, is Malta's nominee for this year's European Charlemagne Youth Prize.

Winners from each of the 27 Member States of the European Union have been selected after the European Parliament and the Foundation of the International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen made an open call for young people to submit projects on EU development, integration and European identity issues.

Ms Busuttil has been serving voluntarily on a weekly basis at the detention centres since the end of 2006. Her work in the centres has consisted mainly of providing moral support through informal contact with asylum seekers and assistance with religious services on Sundays.

She has sought to be a sympathetic ear to the asylum seekers in detention, hoping to express some solidarity in a context that often signals otherwise.

"I see my contribution as a necessary extension of my personal beliefs in the dignity of every human being," Ms Busuttil, who works closely with the Jesuit Refugee Service Malta, said.

Received and checked by the Valletta Office of the European Parliament, Ms Busuttil's application was deemed the national winner by a national jury set up for this year's European Charlemagne Youth Prize, which was made up of Maltese MEPs Simon Busuttil (EPP-ED) and Louis Grech (PES), who are the respective heads of delegation of their political parties in the European Parliament. The jury was also composed of a representative of the National Youth Council (KNZ).

The top winners in the international contest will be chosen at the beginning of April from among the 27 national nominations by a European jury consisting of the President of the European Parliament, Hans-Gert Pöttering, and three other MEPs, as well as four representatives from the Foundation of the International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen.

As the Maltese nominee, Ms Busuttil will be participating in the award-giving ceremony that will take place in Aachen, Germany, on May 19.