As a young candidate, I cannot fail to direct my attention to the young voters and their fundamental role in the respective localities. Many people seem to have adopted a disinterested attitude towards the young generation, as if all young people do is party and lying around. This cannot be farther than reality.

When I was studying at the University of Malta, I was involved in the executive committee of one of the main student organisations. The most precious reward I got from this stint is first-hand experience of the immense energy and dedication which young people are ready to offer to what they believe in.

Consider the involvement of young people in the various activities held in different localities. Without their selfless involvement, many projects would fall through.

But what are young people interested in? The answer to this question can only be answered by the youth themselves.

The fundamental problem with most projects aimed at reaching out for the younger generations is lack of real contact with those at whom the efforts are directed. We tend to assume that a certain measure will affect everyone more or less in the same manner when, in fact, every single person will inevitably attach his/her own perceptions to it.

People who offer their service to the community, especially as counsellors, must be in touch with the various realities. Appropriate structures must be set up to encompass the whole community. In other words, our local councils must speak the language of the residents of their locality.

Especially in the case of the young generation, the social media plays a central role in the formation and dissemination of ideas. Every individual has access to the events in real time and is in a position to express his/her views and opinions in a matter of seconds.

In this reality, where every feed can potentially become an internet sensation, the individual is inevitably empowered and emancipated from the traditional means of communication. Politicians cannot refuse to see this reality as a tool which enables them to connect with the people they represent.

The concept of local governance is full of uncapped potential

Nowadays, an individual does not have to wait for the elections to send his message over to the governing folks. In a way, this creates the opportunity for discussion and exchange of ideas. Unlike in the past, the younger population in any locality may be difficult to identify in a given physical location nowadays but certainly the social media offer a valid meeting place.

Maybe the most differing feature between the young generation and the rest of society is the natural predisposition to dream; to dream of new concepts in full confidence that everything can be achieved.

For various reasons, as we start growing older we tend to suppress our capacity to dream, becoming more concerned with what is practical and real. It is true, one has to add practicality to what is endeavoured but as Eleanor Roosevelt once said “the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams”.

Young people tend to have varying interests than the rest of the community. Whereas, for some, a practical inconvenience such as a malfunctioning street light or lack of adequate street cleaning may well constitute an elevated level of priority, for a young individual other matters should be given prime attention.

As a result, local councils must ensure that the right balance is struck between the vast array of different interests. Whereas the authorities should always address the imminent situations and issues with the full attention required, space must be given to every sector in the community to express itself and propose new ways.

The concept of local governance is full of uncapped potential precisely because it brings governance closer to the people.

The lowering of the voting age to 16 years has certainly been a good move in the right direction. At the age of 16, a person is more than capable to contribute in an active manner in the community.

It is very unfortunate that local councils are being used as an ‘experiment’ to test the suitability of voters in the range of 16-18 years of age. This mode of action is disrespectful not only to the young voters but also to the concept of local councils, which are being labelled as inferior.

Local governance should never be considered as less important but as a partner in the service of society.

As a candidate of the Nationalist Party for the local elections in Iklin, I would like to empower the youth in my locality to contribute more to their social environment.

I am proud to be representing a party that really believes in young people. It is a party which always worked hard for their rights in every sector, be it education, the place of work and, why not, even in the recreational sector. It is a party that has the young generation embedded in its vision for the future.

In view of the upcoming local elections, I urge all young voters to resist passivity and go to the voting booths to choose the candidates who can represent them in the local governance of their localities.

Dorian Sciberras is a Nationalist candidate for the local elections.