Young people are creating musical instruments from recycled household materials as part of a new community arts project aimed at strengthening creativity, teamwork and active participation.
The project, titled EcoJam - Where Creativity Connects Communities, was launched by youth organisation Generation Change? and is funded through the Voluntary Organisations Projects Scheme administered by the Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector.
Participants will use recycled objects, including old items donated by members of the community, to build instruments and other creative resources. These will later be used to establish spaces where children, young people and residents can explore music and artistic expression together.
The project is divided into three stages, comprising 12 skills-building workshops, six implementation workshops and three community activities.
During a visit to one of the workshops in Valletta, Inclusion and Volunteering Minister Julia Farrugia said the initiative demonstrated the government's continued support for voluntary organisations carrying out community-based work.
She said projects such as EcoJam gave young people an active role in building more creative and inclusive communities.
"This is the model of society that we want to continue to build, where volunteering, participation and innovation go hand in hand for the good of all," Farrugia said.
The project is intended to provide participants with practical skills while encouraging collaboration and giving them the opportunity to contribute to a wider community initiative.
Through the workshops, young people will work together to transform discarded materials into functional instruments, combining artistic expression with lessons about environmental sustainability.
Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector chief executive Mauro Pace Parascandalo thanked the youth workers and volunteers involved in organising the initiative.
He said it was encouraging to see organisations use council funding to strengthen local communities and develop new skills, particularly in creative fields.
Generation Change? youth worker Christian Mizzi said EcoJam highlighted the important role youth work could play in helping children and young people learn, develop and contribute positively to their communities.
He said participants were being guided through a practical learning experience in which creativity, teamwork and sustainability were brought together.
By working on practical tasks, participants were developing problem-solving skills and greater environmental awareness, Mizzi said.
The project was also helping young people build their confidence, improve their communication and teamwork, and understand the importance of taking responsibility for an initiative that would benefit the wider community.
Once the instruments and resources are completed, they will be used during community activities involving children, young people and residents from different areas.
The ministry said the project was intended to create inclusive spaces in which people could collaborate, express themselves and use music as a way of connecting with others.