The latest unfortunate incidents involving young people call for solutions to address the need of innovative community spaces and a healthy form of entertainment. The vibrant lights of Paceville continuously attract our young nocturnal prowlers in search of adventure and beyond, whereas certain areas in Valletta have suddenly become a mecca to a new subculture of young rebels transforming these communities into a landscape of entertainment facilities that might not necessarily fully match or compliment the aspirations of young people, their wants and needs.
Truly, in the absence of age-appropriate entertainment, nightclubs, bars and fast-food outlets are the only options left for young people who dare to turn off the screen and venture beyond the virtual world on a Saturday night. Sadly, innocence is silently being robbed away and, in the process, encouraging boys and girls to act like adults at an alarming young age.
Young people definitely have a lot of energy that needs to be channelled towards positive experiences. The solution to this need may be to provide entertainment alternatives that fully match with what young people really want.
The lack of innovative entertainment facilities for youths in Malta is clear and the most frequented social hubs provide entertainment facilities that are suitable for adults. The problem seems to be less with young people and more with the type of entertainment provided and promoted as suitable for them. The problem needs a complete rethinking of the entertainment facilities available and how entertainment can address more than one need, including the ways and means how we can effectively get young people engaged in a healthy way.
Culture and creativity are important drivers for social cohesion and economic growth. These can provide the necessary tools to develop with the right measure of investment to shape up the future of our country.
During a trip to Copenhagen, I had the opportunity to visit a very innovative youth-led entertainment space for young people run by an established Danish organisation. The project builds on sports and culture as a tool for social change by rethinking a designated community space into a fully branded facility promoting a myriad of cultural activities including urban sports, street basket, parkour, dance, DJ school, music studio, tournaments, workshops, parties, theatre, exhibition space and more.
The problem seems to be less with young people and more with the type of entertainment provided
Indeed, this is not a traditional sports or youth centre which might be off-putting for some groups of young people but it is more akin to an urban club targeting youths from different social backgrounds and interests. This novel approach concerns the ways and means how culture and sports can come together as a new out-of-the-box entertainment model.
The general perception still is that culture, sports and entertainment do not go together but this project proves otherwise. When combined together, the three can push the boundaries of entertainment beyond traditional models, and closer to a new culture of entertainment for the younger and up-and-coming generations. This model has been running successfully for the past twelve years and subsequently also introduced elsewhere. Given Malta’s high obesity ratings in European statistics, such projects can also address this additional concern given that such community spaces promoting sports and culture can inspire a new culture of movement.
The mission of this club model addresses various pressing needs. The model revisits the way how we promote constructive interaction among people by creating public spaces that encourage healthy social interaction, beyond aesthetic places. The club provides direct access to sports and culture, encouraging young people to be more active in the broad sense of the word. It provides access to an alternative entertainment space where they can meet and socialise together in a healthy and safe environment, away from drugs and alcohol.
This interesting project may be one possible solution to the current issues involving young people in Malta. Such creative community spaces and age-appropriate establishments can become essential ingredients to change the cultural landscape of the community as they generate new ideas and spark creativity.
They can also become venues where young creatives can showcase their skills and promote their talents. Let’s believe in our younger generations. If provided with the right opportunities and resources, young people can become game changers. They certainly have the energy to challenge the status quo and engage with alternative entertainment opportunities if the right entry point is created to get them into the game.
Cynthia Debono is president of MOVE, an NGO promoting innovation in sports and culture.