Ten young men aged between 17 and 24 years of aged recently took part in a Youth in Action Programme, Youth Initiative 1.2. 

The initiative, ‘New Beginning, for Homeless Youth’, took place at the Osanna Pia Home in Sliema between 1 June and 1 October. 

The promoters, one coach and 10 participants worked together to help these young participants to live in care, and asylum seekers to seek refuge and integrate into society by becoming actively involved in the shaping of their common future. 

Through the activities, the group explored new possibilities and created networks and support systems for themselves and other future residents who would benefit from the effects the programme created. 

Through working in close liaison, the promoters and the coach paved the way to these young participants to launch out safely and with confidence into the world of Youth - with its web of relationships and social experiences such as exposure to independent living, to the working world, to social life outside the Home, to skills for coping capably and independently with life at a young age and the adventurous side of surviving without the support from family or social assistance in our modern world. 

The project also aimed for the young participants to have the opportunity to share a common code of communication through the promotions of European values.  Through this close co-operation living under one roof and through this project, these young residents had the opportunity to participate in activities and programmes of the European Union that encourage active citizenship, consequently they  sought how to take an active and productive role in the European community.

With this training and involvement together on a local level, the programme not only strengthened European cooperation but also helped to sustain awareness and positive attitudes towards other European cultures in general, making these young people contribute to a common goal.