Maria Gauci, co-ordinator for the German-Maltese Circle in Gozo, who led the group, gives a detailed account of this multinational seminar

Among its many other activities, the German Maltese Circle organises courses in the German language in Malta and Gozo. Since only a few participants from Gozo usually apply to attend courses in the German language in Gozo, an incentive was given to students under the age of 24 years to attend an advanced “A” level language course which started in Gozo in February 2006. The students who enrolled to the “A” level Course were offered the opportunity to attend a European multinational seminar between 19 July and 2 August. The aim of this seminar was to enhance their spoken German and to also promote the exchange of views of young people from eight different European countries. Thus, each participant could learn about other cultures and values.

Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany and Malta were represented in the project entitled Hoch 8. Since there was a great need to promote the GMC courses in Gozo, the students selected were all Gozitans. These included Natalie Rose Bezzina from Xaghra, Jana Galea from Kercem, Victoria Xuereb from Xewkija, Mario Mallia from Zebbug, Josette Bajada from Munxar, Josianne Grima from San Lawrenz and myself.

The hosts organisers were Dr Alois Becker Director General and Mr Bernhard Zimmermann, project co-ordinator for Akademie Klausenhof. Akademie Klausenhof is a Catholic institution situated on the outskirts of Dingden, a very small village in the North Rhein Westphalia. There is a long tradition of programme exchanges between Gozo and Akademie Klausenhof which began about 24 years ago on the initiative of Bishop Emeritus Nicholas Cauchi. Since then, many youth exchanges between the Gozo Curia and Germany took have taken place, while other exchanges are still going on between the Ministry for Gozo and Germany. One can hardly find a person in Gozo who is not familiar with Akademie Klausenhof. This organisation can host up to 600 persons on a residential basis and the premises are constantly being refurbished to maintain a very good and modern high standard. The courses organised on a regular basis deal mainly with vocational and language training among. The complex has its own chapel, library, workshops for manual work like carpentry and mechanical engineering, computer rooms, art centre, and recreational rooms.

It was the seventh time for Maria Gauci to participate in projects held at Akademie Klausenhof, yet it was the first time for the other six Gozitan students taking part in Hoch 8. Preparation to attend the two-week seminar started very early for the Gozitan group. Three preparatory meetings were held to discuss the draft programme presented by the German hosts of the Hoch 8 project as well as to decide what to prepare for the presentation of nations. The Malta group had to think creatively to make our promotion of Malta, Gozo and the German-Maltese Circle as attractive as possible. An original powerpoint presentation, together with live singing to live music provided by our students who played the violin, guitar and keyboard, were the highlights of our presentation.

A video conference was held on the second day of the Seminar. The Gozitan students, all dressed in a turquoise t-shirt with the Maltese flag in the background, communicated with the rest of the other participants gathered at the conference hall at Akademie Klausenhof. Red and white bouquets of flowers, handmade Gozo lace, Gozitan scenes, maps of Malta and sports items were used as fillers during the video conference. After introducing each other, a discussion on sports ensued and concluded by agreeing to a proposal made by the Maltese group to organise a multinational beach volleyball tournament in addition to other sports activities already set in the Hoch 8 programme.

Thanks to the video conference, the Gozo group was already quite familiar with the other 50 participants when they actually arrived at the akademie the next day. After a welcome dinner for the Gozo group, all participants went to the swimming complex which was about 10 minutes’ walk away from the Akademie Klausenhof. Through the sports activities and games led mainly by facilitator and social worker, Marco Duesterwald, the participants got to know each other quite well. In the evenings the participants then gathered at the Akademie Klausenhof disco centre.

Apart from two very big dining halls, there is also a very modern cafeteria, and the food served was always very healthy. At the Akademie Klausenhof, apart from two very big dining halls, there is also a very modern cafeteria.

The akademie is very spacious with a lot of greenery and even a river passing through its premises.

Apart from the participants of Hoch 8, we also socialised with many other foreign students who were attending some other courses. It is interesting to note that some 15 social workers give their service at the Akademie Klausenhof.

The highlight of the seminar was the participant nations’ presentations. Latvian students were the first to give their presentation. They provided information about their country,and performed folklore dancing, read out Latvian poems and served local food including their traditional green peas. The others similarly offered information about their country, shared some their talents and local food or delicacies.

It was a pleasure to note that some higher officials from Akademie Klausenhof were present for Malta’s presentation. After pointing out the links Gozo has with the host organisation, we invited all the guests and the Hoch 8 participants for a follow-up get-together, which was to be held later that evening in the Gozo Room, known as the Gozo Treff. This was a very special games room dedicated to Gozo and was located near the bar in the pub/disco complex at Akademie Klausenhof.

The Malta presentation started with our group playing the guitar and keyboard, and singing Inti Djamant. The colour scheme for the Maltese group’s outfits included a nice balance of red, white, orange and black. The powerpoint presentation included history, tradition and culture spiced with some humour.

Malta offered a marked contrast to the other countries represented since all the other countries are located in the neighbourhood of Germany. Only Malta was such a distant country with many very distinctive features. A case in point is the landscape; where here in Malta the land is so hilly that cycling is almost impossible, so many bicycles are the norm in the other countries that took part.

Following the humorous part of the powerpoint presentation, the groups sang Kemmuna Airways with a flip chart showing the humorous part of the powerpoint presentation. The wording in Maltese was written on the flip chart. After explaining the pronunciation, two foreign volunteers read the script in Maltese with some difficulty. Yet after a few further attempts at reading the script together, the foreign participants sang along, and really enjoyed it. The final song, Freunde (Friends) was dedicated to all participants with everyone joining in again.

All the leaders of the groups were then presented with a framed photo of Dwejra decorated with Gozo lace. Among the high officials present from Akademie Klausenhof, there was Dr Toni Muerbock, Mr Bernhard Zimmermann and Ms Marianne Koning, who were presented with lace gifts and bouquets of flowers offered by the Maltese group. Maltese biscuits sponsored by Victoria Xuereb and cheese, offered by Benna Products were served to conclude the event. The Malta presentation was a great hit and everything went professionally well. After a very long applause there was even a request to repeat the enchanting songs.

The Hoch 8 programme included visits to big cities, namely a visit to Brussels, Amsterdam, Cologne, Munster, Wesel and Duisburg. We also visited the EU parliament, where we were shown around the building and treated to an hour-long informative session. Later, the group went to see other EU institutions such as the EU Commission, the Council of the EU, the Committee of Regions, EcoSoc, etc. The group also visited the legendary statue of the Mannikin Pis, a tourist attraction.

An interesting project in Hoch 8 programme entitled The future of Europe was compiled by using art work. A member from each country was chosen to form a working group and the final results were very original indeed. One of these such works showed a tree being watered by 25 nations and an eye is keeping watch. Another picture showed the positive aspects and also the negative aspects that might happen unless one is careful; a pair of scales was depicted with two eyes to watch out that balance is kept. One quite unusual collage included a map painted on the chest of one of the participants – and he had to stand against the board as an integrated part of the collage, reflecting the importance of the human aspect.

During the farewell party, the Malta group offered each group leader a t-shirt with all the Maltese participants’ signature. At the back of each t-shirt there was written Malta salutes… followed by Lithuania, Malta salutes Latvia, Malta salutes… (the name of each individual country that took part). Such a presentation was highly appreciated.

Finally, the host organisers of Hoch 8 gave a certificate to all the schools and participants and organisations that participated and to each individual participant.

This trip was made possible through several generous sponsorships.

The EU partly sponsored the accommodation fees and 70 per cent of the students’ travel expenses. HSBC, APS, Farsons, Eurosport, JB Stores, Body Needs, Beauticians Christiana Buttigieg and Pamela Buttigieg also offered support. Mr Victor Sammut, General Director for the German-Maltese Circle also gave the Gozo students his support and guidance.

The Gozo group of students participating in Hoch 8, was given full support and on-going guidance by Mr Victor Sammut General Director for the German-Maltese Circle.

A follow-up get together is to be held on 1 September. The parents of the Gozo participants and their friends are invited to come and hear what the students have learnt from such an enriching experience.