A group of 11 youths from Y4J (Youths-4-Jesus) had the experience of living a few days like a billion people live a lifetime, in slums.

They chose to do this on the Bay Street Terrace at the weekend, surviving the lowest temperatures recorded this year. They built their own temporary “house” out of wood and cardboard, facing up to the challenges, existing on a limited diet of two portions of rice and beans a day, a basin of cold water to wash with, praying for change and raising money for an orphanage in Kenya. The youths were encouraged by a visit from Archbishop Paul Cremona, OP, who also spurred them on and even ate a bowl of rice with them in their Bay Street slum.

The youths said that throughout this experience they felt lonely, malnourished, undignified and helpless, a sensation homeless people probably experience daily.

For more information about their activities visit Y4J’s website on www.y4jmalta.org.