This year’s YMCA Europe General Assembly in Tallinn, Estonia, was presided by YMCA Europe president Ed Eggink. The Maltese group was among 31 countries to participate in the evaluation of the past strategic plan and to design a roadmap for the development of a new one.

The Maltese delegation, made up of Francesco Callus and Gabriele Bertone, project workers at the YMCA Homeless Shelter in Valletta, had the opportunity to share their local realities with other Europeans, as well as working together on diverse ways to tackle fast-spreading phenomena such as the ongoing radicalisation of youths, poverty and housing problems, youth unemployment and the increasing number of asylum seekers in our societies.

The Maltese delegates participated in YMCA Europe Spectrum (YES) seminar held in conjunction with the General Assembly. The project, a new collaboration in its second year, tries to gather young leaders from each national YMCA to foster and work on fresh ideas, which could be implemented in their own local organisation.

This year, 50 youth workers successfully participated in the seminar and their proposals were presented to the General Assembly to be included in the upcoming plan.

Differently to most other YMCAs around Europe, YMCA Valletta mainly caters for people experiencing homelessness. Also, although the main focus is towards helping young people, the doors are not closed to homeless people from other age groups including whole families.

Apart from providing shelter and a safe environment, YMCA Valletta offers food provisions and other basic needs to the most needy. For this reason, as an NGO, YMCA Valletta depends on the generosity of the Maltese to be able to continue to deliver a professional and holistic service.