Youth engagement and empowerment Anna Maria Grech B.A., M.A. (Youth & Comm. Studies)

Overview Defining youth engagement Defining youth engagement Defining youth empowerment Defining youth empowerment Success stories - overseas Success stories - overseas Success stories - Malta Success stories - Malta Way forward Way forward

Youth engagement …. is the sentiment young people feel towards a particular person, activity, place or outcome. It has been a focus of youth development, public policy and social change movements for at least forty years is the sentiment young people feel towards a particular person, activity, place or outcome. It has been a focus of youth development, public policy and social change movements for at least forty yearsyoung peopleyouth developmentpublic policysocial changeyoung peopleyouth developmentpublic policysocial change

Process of youth engagement MEET YOUTH IN THEIR ENVIRONMENT LISTEN TO YOUTH EMPATHISE WITH YOUTH ONCE ACCEPTED BY YOUNG PEOPLE ENGAGEMENT OCCURS

…youth empowerment is an attitudinal, structural, and cultural process whereby young people gain the ability, authority, and agency to make decisions and implement change in their own lives and the lives of other people, including youth and adults is an attitudinal, structural, and cultural process whereby young people gain the ability, authority, and agency to make decisions and implement change in their own lives and the lives of other people, including youth and adults

State youth services abroad United Kingdom – Northern Ireland United Kingdom – Northern Ireland Belgium - Flemish Youth Council Belgium - Flemish Youth Council Sweden – Gotland Youth Council Sweden – Gotland Youth Council Ireland Ireland

State youth services at local level Empowerment Centres experience Empowerment Centres experience 2000 – Birkirkara (Pilot Project) 2004 – Mosta, Qormi, Tarxien, Fgura, Zurrieq, Gozo 2005 – Zejtun

Mosta Youth Empowerment Centre Coordinator PR Team Group Leaders Team Meetings EU Funded Projects

Mosta Youth Empowerment Centre NGOs EMPOWERMENT CENTRE YOUNG PEOPLE

Exchanges Malta - April 2009 Toledo – Sept 08

Partnership Building Activity – Sept 09

Unexpected benefits

Mosta Dome Festival

TWO-STEP for success for Maltese Local Councils STEP ONE COMMITMENT TOWARDS YOUNG PEOPLE

STEP TWO COMMITMENT TOWARDS A QUALITY SERVICE The Deming Quality Cycle (adopted from Walton, 1992:85)

Process for success for Maltese Local Councils COMMITMENT TOWARDS A QUALITY SERVICE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE INDEPENDENT BASE ENGAGEMENT OF A PROFESSIONAL YOUTH WORKER NEEDS ANALYSIS (IDENTIFY TARGETS) BUSINESS PLAN BUDGET OFFER SERVICES TO YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH CAREFUL ENGAGEMENT OF VOLUNTEERS CONTINIOUS EVALUATION AND REPORTING

Way Forward….. Greater involvement and commitment of local councils Greater involvement and commitment of local councils Tangible central government structures Tangible central government structures Build on examples of good practice – consolidate and expand services Build on examples of good practice – consolidate and expand services Networking Networking EU and locally funded programmes towards the empowerment and growth of young people EU and locally funded programmes towards the empowerment and growth of young people Constant evaluation – no stagnation Constant evaluation – no stagnation

Recap Explained the meanings of youth engagement and empowerment Explained the meanings of youth engagement and empowerment Given examples of good practice Given examples of good practice Given hints of what could be done in your local councils Given hints of what could be done in your local councils

One key question what will YOU do?

THANK YOU!