A survey carried out by a group of youth work graduates in the eight active Youth Empowerment Centres (YEC) in Malta shows that most of the people responsible for these centres are qualified youth workers who work on a part-time basis at the centre.
This confirms that youth work is an emergent profession with a fundamental role in the local community.
Before the emergence of YEC, the only people to work directly with youths were volunteers and priests, who while fulfilling a very useful role, but do not always have the necessary training and knowledge to do so.
But despite the growing importance of youth workers, the survey shows that many people ranging from professionals to semi-skilled workers do not know what youth work is all about. This shows a lack of understanding of a profession whose main aim is that of making young people responsible for the lives.
Understanding youth work
Youth work is concerned with supporting young people in their transition from childhood to responsible adulthood, encouraging their personal and social development and individual fulfilment, and helping them to engage more actively in society. Youth work is a form of informal education complimenting and supporting formal education in schools, by encouraging and providing other opportunities for young people to achieve and fulfil their potential.
It is critically informed by a set of beliefs, which include commitment to equal opportunity and to youth empowerment, considering young people as partners in learning and decision making.
Professional youth workers are responsible for providing opportunities for young people to develop the competencies needed to become successful adults and successful contributing members of their community.
Youth Empowerment Centres in Malta
The first Youth Empowerment Centre (YEC) opened was in Birkirkara in 2000 followed by Tarxien, Mosta, Zurrieq, Qormi, Fgura and Rabat (Gozo) and Zejtun.
Empowerment centres fall under the Youth Section in the Education, Youth and Employment Ministry. The aim of these centres is to “engage and empower young people to participate actively in the decision-making process”.
Youth empowerment centres provide youth with the information required to empower them in becoming more employable through furthering their academic and technical skills, awareness of job opportunities and encouraging entrepreneurial initiative. They provide youth with the opportunity of coming in contact with NGOs in their field of interest and creating the necessary links with other NGOs. The main objectives of the centres are to support youth organisations, give information and empower young people in becoming more active citizens in their community.
Survey results
The study carried out in January shows that qualified youth workers are mostly responsible for running these centres. Most are engaged on a part-time basis by the local council. The number of hours they work varies between four to 10 hours a week, depending on the locality.
Some localities have a building which they use as a centre, while others merely operate from the local council and focus more on detached youth work. The services offered vary according to the needs of the locality. Services include providing information with focus on youth support programmes and youth initiatives, counselling, improving employability, improving education and life skills.
Some empowerment centres act like youth centres where weekly meetings are organised for young people. Some also do outreach work by going to the local school where sessions tackling diversity issues are held.
These centres are being frequented by a large number of young people from age 12 years upwards. Interest is also shown by a growing number of adults visiting the centres to obtain information for their children.
But despite the success of YEC, there is also room for improvement. A number of centres are not based in distinct premises. Having premises is important as young people can use it as a meeting place where they can have Internet access. More human resources are needed for projects to be implemented.
YECs are the ideal mediums through which young people can be empowered. Empowerment Centres in Europe are based on diversity and tackle a wide variety of issues, which are of interest to young people. Their diversity is also determined by differing realities in rural and urban areas, the situations in which young people live, and the opportunities and challenges they face. Nonetheless, the fundamental aim is always that of empowering youths.
YECs are still in their infancy in Malta but their role is set to grow as Maltese young people face the challenges of globalisation. Without empowering young people in their own communities it is difficult to expect them to take on global challenges.
Joanne Buhagiar
Tatjana Chircop
Suzanne Falzon
B.A. Youth & Community Studies