Disdain towards younger generations is nothing new: for centuries, the elders have been expressing their complaints about the new players in society. Be it criticism for their lax attitude, for their overconfidence or for their apathy, we’ve heard it all. Quite frankly, however, my experience with young people – both Maltese and European – has shown me that this disapproval is not at all warranted.
Just this week, I had the privilege of attending the closing event for this year’s Model European Parliament which, for the first time, was held in Malta. It was a beautiful thing to witness: a group of individuals, none of them older than 19, hailing from different European regions, coming together to debate change for the benefit of our common home: Europe.
These teenagers did not just fly over to Malta for a social gathering: the project simulates the work of the European Parliament’s committees and assemblies to the dot, and involves training in public speaking and debating given by seasoned policy-makers from across the EU. Over the past months, the participants have prepared and researched their subject meticulously, and debated the most pressing issues of our time.
I am a strong advocate of informal education and training in critical thinking, which we unfortunately lack in our formal system of education. Exercises like the Model European Parliament give our society informed citizens with the energy and will to participate in our social and political debates, which is crucial for any healthy democracy.
That is precisely why I strongly support the strengthening of European Union programmes on informal education, particularly the Erasmus plus programme. Seminars, exchanges and training programmes may not sound like much, but anyone who has been on any Erasmus plus project abroad will tell you about the wealth of experience and perspective they gain as a result.
Young adults today are overwhelmed and exhausted by formal education and engaging them in even more education is next to impossible. These projects, however, manage to impart knowledge in a way that is fun and exciting and leaves the participants eager for the next project. My message to young people is always to seek out and participate in these programmes, attend different seminars, training, workshops and exchanges and experience something new: the power of informal education will change and enrich your life.
Travel is undoubtedly one of the greatest tools in informal education. The exposure to different cultures and lifestyles is a unique way to become accustomed to the beauty of diversity, which is why the DiscoverEU initiative is so important. Through this initiative, the European Union is offering 18-year-olds from all across Europe a month’s worth of free travel to experience our varied histories and cultures and, most importantly, to connect with fellow Europeans.
The DiscoverEU project therefore connects young people and shatters borders. Most importantly, it also shatters the misinformation spreading on different European regions, by allowing young people to see for themselves the reality our European neighbours’ experience.
Informal education programmes are also a perfect way of passing on and entrenching our commonly-held European values. The European project is founded on peace and prosperity across Europe, and today we still hold those values dear, and reflect them in our work in the European Parliament. We need to ensure that tomorrow’s decision-makers do the same.
Once again, the younger generation has already shown us that it believes in the European project – last May’s European Parliament elections were characterised by the highest voter turnout in 20 years, principally due to new voters across Europe. Young people chose the European Union. It is now time for the Union to repay that vote of confidence in kind and work towards improving everyone’s quality of life, in all of our different regions, and for all of our social backgrounds.
Josianne Cutajar is a Labour MEP