A youth researcher has called for a policy on associations that organise village feasts, aimed at keeping them alive in the light of evidence that young people may be losing interest in the traditional festa.

In 15 to 20 years’ time, the Maltese will be talking about “the feasts that were” unless action is taken to encourage young people’s involvement in village festas, according to Andrew Azzopardi.

A study that investigated why people take part in festas has found that 75 per cent of them inherited their enthusiasm from their parents. The family background of more than 70 per cent of those questioned was manual labour.

The fact that young people were moving out of villages and manual labour was dwindling might affect the future of feasts, Dr Azzopardi said.

He called on the government and stakeholders to draw up policy on what the associations need to remain well attended by the young.

Dr Azzopardi was speaking at the launch of results to a questionnaire coordinated by St Mary and King George V Band Club of Mqabba held among more than 500 people aged between 15 and 30.

The study forms part of an EU-funded project that is exploring what attracts young people to the organisation of village feasts.

Three seminars to discuss the results will be held in the coming days and a national conference is being organised for October 18.

Chris Schembri Baldacchino, one of the project leaders, said the study would hopefully provide guidelines on how to encourage young people to get involved in these associations.

When young people take part in the organisation of village feasts they are equipped with team building and project management skills, among others, he added.

Speaking at the same event, PN youth spokesman Robert Cutajar said the project was proof that young people wanted to be protagonists, not spectators, and the authorities had to support them.

He added that when he used to form part of a local council he noted a lower crime rate in villages and towns that had active band clubs and associations.

Village feasts

• 78% of participants are male
• Nearly half of them are employed full-time
• 47% have been active within the association for five to 10 years
• A quarter dedicate 50 hours every month to the association

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