Today’s young people have a chance, more than ever, to get involved in society. Joining youth groups, doing voluntary work and finding social ways to stay healthy can be great ways of widening social circles beyond the people young people normally meet every day at school or at work. It can also allow them to explore their interests while making a positive contribution in their communities.

The possibilities are endless. By working with youth organisations, doing voluntary work, getting started on a project and being creative, young people can really translate their youthful energy and enthusiasm into something rewarding for themselves and for others.

Volunteering

A very positive way to get involved in society is to be involved in voluntary work. This gets young people out of the house, and instead of wasting time aimlessly for hours on end, it can help them to make a difference to someone else’s life while enriching their experience and maturity.

The Foundation for Social Welfare Services (FSWS), mainly through Agenzija Appogg and Agenzija Sapport, can make this possible through the various services that they operate with the help of voluntary workers.

An example of this is the Appogg Supportline 179, which is completely manned by volunteers, most of whom are professionally-trained young people. Other Appogg services, which facilitate voluntary work, include Programme Ulied Darna and Home-Start Malta. Programme Ulied Darna integrates the support offered by young people with that of professional workers to offer practical support to families whose children are at great social risk and who require support to prevent crises and other family problems.

Home-Start Malta, yet another project delivered to the public by a group of professionally-trained volunteers, is part of an international service called Home-Start International. Although not necessarily aimed at a particular age group, this service offers support to families with young children under the age of five. Many times, such families consist of young parents who themselves are of a young age, and the same could be said of the volunteers who support them.

Agenzija Sapport, another agency within the FSWS that focuses on disability, also recognises and values the contribution of volunteers in enhancing the lives of the agency’s clients. This work, which is carried out in conjunction with employed staff members, proves that volunteers are valued as an essential element in achieving the agency’s mission. Volunteer involvement in appropriate tasks and projects for people with a disability is thus welcomed, encouraged and actively developed at all levels of the agency’s activities.

Get started

Young people symbolise energy and creativity. Writing, music, dance, theatre, sport and many other creative activities should catch a young person’s fancy and curiosity. Finding an interest could take some effort, but setting a task or getting involved in youth projects and interests can keep them busy in very good ways.

Experience can be a weakness in the young person’s work history, but voluntary work and participation is by far the best way of making up for it while showing enthusiasm and motivation. This also helps the young person find and maintain employment while contributing towards a healthy work environment.

Celebrating National Youth Day

To celebrate National Youth Day, which falls tomorrow, Agenzija Sedqa is coordinating a series of events for, and in collaboration with, young people from different walks of life. Various activities are taking place in collaboration with the MCAST Student Council and the National Youth Information Centre. These are taking place at MCAST campus and are open to all students. Similar events in the past have proved to be very popular and a success with this target audience.

Another initiative is planned on the Logos II charity-ship, in collaboration with the Logos II crew and ITS students. The activity will include a talent show that will accentuate the positive creative aspects of young people. They will have time to perform, and appreciate each other’s talents in an alcohol-free environment. During this activity, students from ITS will be on-board serving alcohol-free cocktails (mocktails).

This idea of alcohol-free entertainment will continue during another event on board Logos II. This will be held this evening at 7.30pm.

These are part of the month-long activity programme which Sedqa is currently coordinating with the Logos II crew.

Youth outreach service

Young people experiencing emotional and behavioural difficulties can also benefit from the Appogg Youth Outreach Service. This programme supports young people aged between 13 and 18 by promoting their physical, emotional, social and spiritual well-being. This adolescent outreach service includes social work intervention with young people facing sensitive behavioural problems, and while the focus is on the adolescent, contact is also maintained with their parents or carers.

For more information related to Appogg services and voluntary work, call Supportline 179, which is a 24-hour service. To learn more about Sedqa prevention activities, either contact the Primary Prevention Unit on 2124-4226 or on Helpline 151, while Sapport can be contacted on 2145-1868.

This article was provided by the Foundation for Social Welfare Services, which incorporates Agenzija Appogg (www.

appogg.gov.mt), Agenzija Sedqa (www.sedqa.gov.mt) and Agenzija Sapport (www.sapport.gov.mt)