A total of 21 youth organisations have applied for the January-June term of the Youth Support Programme, the Education Ministry said. Of these, 16 were chosen by the Selection Committee – Urban Revolutions – Aldo Cauchi Savona, Home Economics in Action, NGO Mahzen, Generades Youth Group, Koperativa Kummerc Gust, Mosta Youth Empowerment Programme, Nature Trust (Malta), Euro-Med Malta, Alternattiva Demokratika Zghazagh – Green Youth, National Student Travel Foundation (NSTF), Malta Drama Centre, Golden Cross International Singing Festival, Moviment Graffiti; Major Major, St Julian’s Scout Group and Zghazagh Haddiema Nsara.

A total of 12 youth organisations applied for the National Youth Day scheme, out of which nine where chosen – Zghazagh Haddiema Nsara, MCAST Student Council, National Youth Council, Centru Zghazagh Balzan, Malta UNESCO Youth Association, Malta Gay Rights Movement, JEF Malta, 34U Campaign and GWU Youths.

This programme is one of the Common Objectives of the European Commission on Voluntary Activities, that is member states support civil society organisations active in voluntary engagement of young people.

One of the main objectives of National Youth Policy that was launched in March 2004, is to support non-governmental organisations that are concerned with democracy, peace, participation, unemployment, social exclusion, human rights, inter-regional dialogue and ecology.

The Youth Section of the Education, Youth and Employment Ministry said it had consistently assisted and supported youth organisations and individuals who through their activities and initiatives served as a benefit to the community. One of these programmes of assistance was the Youth Support Programme.

A selection committee consisting of a representative from the Youth Section, another member representing the ministry, a representative of the National Youth Council and a representative of the EUPU assessed the applications.

Preference was given to projects that were consonant with the National Youth Policy, to organisations that showed that they had raised funds from sources other than the government, and projects of an innovative nature and that involve young people.

Youth organisations that had not previously received financial assistance from the youth section were given priority. Moreover, projects addressing diversity and human rights, the main themes of the “All Different – All Equal” European Youth Campaign were a main priority during the selection of projects chosen for the scheme of the Youth Support Programme January-June 2007 and that of the National Youth Day 2007.

The July-December Youth Support Programme Scheme application period has just closed. The Ministry of Education is in the process of selecting the youth organisations that will benefit from this term’s scheme.

Minister Louis Galea, who presented the funds, said the government was committed towards assisting youth and youth organisations so that they could fulfil their mission with youth circles and with the community at large. Since 2000, the government had provided more than Lm80,000 (EUR186,000) in funds through this grant alone, benefiting 277 organisations.