Earlier this year, NSTS partnered up with UK-based Corkscrew and pursued the opportunity to help local unemployed young adults to gain hands on business skills through a 28-day internship in Exeter.

The internship was fully funded by the EU Programmes Agency under the Lifelong Learning Programme.

Four youths participated in this programme, namely Maria Stella Portelli, Sheryl Pace Briffa, Jugen Camilleri and Harry Baker.

On their return, the participants were invited to an evaluation meeting led by Frans Borg, Educational Programmes Development coordinator at NSTS. Participants discussed their positive experience and confirmed that they had all acquired practical and vital skills through hands-on experience.

They agreed that the programme helped them boost their self-confidence and self-esteem besides giving them useful tools to start their own business.

Throughout the programme, they faced regular challenges to stimulate their creativity and initiative besides having to deliver a number of presentations that were instrumental to improve their confidence, communication and problem-solving skills.

Participants also had direct exposure to the British culture having been hosted by local families.

NSTS is currently seeking to offer similar opportunities to other local youths, based on the success of this programme.