Youth workers, youth leaders, directors of residential care establishments, community workers, and residential social workers from France, Hungary, Ireland, Slovenia, Spain, Italy and Malta are meeting this week at St Patrick’s Salesian School in Sliema for an international study visit.

The visit will serve as an opportunity to discuss with other organisations from across Europe common issues that affect the development of residential services for young people.

It will also prepare the ground for greater cooperation in the field of residential services by making use of the support offered through the European Voluntary Service (EVS) initiative.

The programme for the three-day visit includes presentations by the participants as well as interventions and presentations by staff from the Department for Social Welfare Standards, by representatives of the Department of Social Policy and Social Work of the University of Malta, the Commissioner for Children and Programme Manager and other staff of the Maltese Youth National Agency.

Different workshops will be held where the participants will discuss and share their views and experiences. The programme will include on-site visits to various residential settings for young people in Malta, as well as other sites that have the potential to offer a greater appreciation of the Maltese cultural context.