"This is all voluntary," said Marie Therese Pavia, who spends her Fridays, live-ins and summer camps teaching children first aid with St John Ambulance and Rescue.

For Pavia and fellow youth leader Denise Chetcuti, the work goes far beyond teaching first aid. Through weekly sessions, practical training, camps and team-building activities, they help young people develop confidence, responsibility and skills that can serve them throughout their lives.

In an interview with The Malta Independent on Sunday, the two leaders spoke about the rewards and challenges of volunteering, the opportunities St John offers young people, and the importance of passing on skills that can make a difference both in everyday life and in an emergency.

Pavia is one of three cadet leaders overseeing the Paola/Tarxien area in the south, while Chetcuti serves as a leader at Madliena, where a section was established around two years ago to extend the organisation's youth activities to the north of Malta. Through their work, both hope to give young people an opportunity to learn, make friends, discover their abilities and become more confident in helping others.

St John Ambulance and Rescue's youth programme caters for different age groups, with the youngest members, known as badgers, aged between six and 10. They can then progress to become cadets at the age of 11, remain in the programme until around 16 or 17, and eventually join the adult sessions.

The badgers' programme operates through a badge system. Each badge, whether in eco, first aid or community, is covered over seven sessions, giving children the opportunity to explore a subject, develop new skills and learn through practical activities. The programme encourages regular participation while recognising each child's engagement and progress along the way.

The cadets follow the Grand Prior awards, which cover caring for others, celebrating differences, cookery and hygiene, healthy minds, junior first aid, power in communication and the St John journey, to mention just a few.

Chetcuti said the programme gives children the opportunity to develop practical everyday life skills they may not necessarily pick up at school.

Alongside first aid and an introduction to medical conditions, activities cover communication, teamwork, personal responsibility and caring for others. Sessions tend to begin with some theory, move on to the practical side and finish with team-building. For Chetcuti, seeing young people put what they have learnt into practice is one of the most rewarding parts of being a leader. The activities are designed not only to teach skills, but also to encourage cadets to work together, support one another and grow in confidence

First aid is taught according to age. The younger group follows a simplified course, while the older cadets learn the same basic first aid as adults. Although they sit different examinations, both groups practise essential skills.

The training also takes account of the fact that children of different ages respond differently to difficult subjects.

"You won't speak to the younger audience the same way as to the older audience," Chetcuti said, explaining that images, videos and wording are all adjusted when lessons turn to injuries and death.

The aim is to prepare young people to recognise an emergency, respond appropriately and understand when professional help is needed. Even knowing to call 112, explain what has happened and follow instructions from emergency services can make a difference. Cadets are also taught to recognise the limits of their training and seek assistance when faced with situations beyond their capabilities.

Live-ins take place twice a year, with a summer camp on top, giving cadets opportunities to train, participate in group activities and meet other members of the organisation.

Guest speakers from outside of the organisation are invited as well, and the latest event featured a nursing professional who led the training. Events may also include a drill and a ceremony where new cadets receive their promise certificates and others collect first aid certificates.

These experiences allow young people to see how the skills they develop as cadets connect with the wider work of St John, while giving them opportunities to learn from experienced volunteers and build friendships beyond their regular meetings. Many of the leaders grew up in the programme. Pavia joined as a cadet around 2016, at 14 or 15, and was picked as an assistant cadet leader before becoming a leader around 2020, initially online due to the pandemic at the time.

For Pavia, her own journey shows how volunteering can open doors that young people might not initially have considered. Taking on responsibilities within the programme has helped her develop skills and confidence that extend well beyond St John.

Cadets who turn 16 can begin attending adult meetings while continuing to participate in cadet activities, allowing them to become involved in the adult sessions gradually. Pavia described this as a "more natural transition". She became an adult member at 18.

The opportunity to continue beyond the cadet years means that members can build on their experience, take on new responsibilities and remain part of an organisation in which they have already developed friendships and a sense of belonging.

Chetcuti's route was different. She has volunteered with St John for around seven years and also serves in the Scouts, a background she said has helped her lead cadets.

Leaders working with minors must pass police conduct vetting.

For Pavia, who began teaching this year, St John has not only shaped how she spends her free time, but also her professional life. She said St John helped her discover her vocation and gave her confidence in the classroom, adding that she might not have become a teacher without the experience.

Chetcuti said young people can start small responsibilities and gradually develop in the organisation, and some go on to become firefighters, nurses or doctors. Pavia added that opportunities for cadets have improved since her own cadet days, and that children learn things school does not always teach, from leadership and communication to first aid.

For those considering volunteering, the experience does not require them to have their future mapped out. The programme provides an opportunity to try new things, discover interests and develop at their own pace, while contributing to something that benefits others. For some, it may be the beginning of a lifelong commitment to voluntary service; for others, it may simply provide valuable skills, friendships and experiences that stay with them for years to come. Safeguarding remains an important part of the programme. Chetcuti explained that appropriate procedures are followed, including the collection of parental consent and health information for certain activities. The leaders also work with parents to support children's participation and development.

Behind the weekly meetings is a considerable amount of preparation. Planning sessions, organising live-ins and summer camps, arranging activities and raising funds all require time and commitment from the volunteers. Participation in Erasmus projects can also create opportunities for young people to learn and exchange experiences, alongside the work involved in preparing applications.

Despite the responsibilities involved, both leaders believe the opportunity to make a positive difference to young people makes the commitment worthwhile.

"It is an NGO at the end of the day and we do it because we have a lot of passion for it," Pavia said.

From introducing children to first aid to preparing experienced volunteers for emergency response, St John's work in Malta spans generations and a wide range of community needs. Its cadet programme is an important part of that wider mission, encouraging young people to develop the knowledge, confidence and sense of service that can benefit both themselves and the communities around them.

Young people interested in joining can contact St John Ambulance and Rescue at [email protected] for more information