Six Salesian Brigade youths together with six Senglea Salesian Youth Centre members have collaborated in a Youth in Action, National Youth Initiative 1.2, EUPA project called “Learn by Doing: Outdoors for Youth”. The scope of the project was that experienced members of the Brigade will lead, train and motivate six members of the Senglea Oratory in planning, preparing camp craft and organising an adventurous journey. This is in line with the YIA objectives and priorities of increasing the participation of young people in the civic life of the community, in the system of representative democracy and providing greater support for various forms of learning to participate.
Meetings started in June when round table discussions and a live-in were held at the Salesian Oratory in Sliema. Other meetings with the Senglea Oratory Superiors, adventurous journey planning and also marketing and social media sessions were also held. The group had the opportunity to get quotes before buying camping equipment and after some fair deals equipment was purchased for the project.
The actual adventurous journey was actually held during the Salesian Brigade annual summer camp from 12 to 15 August at the Ghajn Tuffieha campsite. The first day of the journey took off during the night of the first day were the Wardija Ridge was trekked and camps pitched in the limits of Il-Ballut. On the second day the Bajda Ridge was trekked and tents set up at Il-Mizieb. On the third day the cliffs along Il-Majjistral Park were trekked from Ghajn Znuber to Golden Bay were the Ghajn Tuffieha campsite was utilised. On the last day the journey consisted of a hike from Ghajn Tuffieha Bay along the coast to il-Karraba, Gnejna Bay to Ras il-Pellegrin. Due to the extreme weather condition the participants opted to do the hiking from sunset onwards to avoid the blistering sun, with the help of a compass bearing.
Preparatory meetings were also held at camp and post journey meetings were held to analyse both the journey and the project. Other skills acquired during camp included cooking and cleaning, pioneering, clay-slope climbing, rope work, orienteering and map work using the compass, bouldering, cleanups and leadership.
Fr. Gerald Mangion SDB was the legal representative, Leonard Falzon was the contact person for the implantation of the project whist Joe Camilleri was the coach of the project. Jesmond Cassar was a contributor for the success of the project by disseminating information on adventurous journey expert skills. Josette Camilleri was also a contributor on this project considering her past experience on similar projects.
The Salesian Brigade thanks our National Agency, EUPA for the trust shown in our organisation and grants allocated towards the project. Special thanks go to all our participants who learned a lot from this opportunity and also made new friends from different social backgrounds. Visibility of the project consisted of a logo, t-shirts, posters, social media and newspapers.
Joe Camilleri is a Salesian Brigade Coach