Enhancing Voluntary Youth Work to Promote Active Ageing and Solidarity Between Generations, was the theme of a seminar organised by the Gozo Regional Committee on the occasion of the European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations.

For this seminar, which was part of the Annual General Meeting of the European Regional Youth Network, of which Gozo is a member, a number of Local Council Mayors from Gozo and over 20 delegates from five European regions including Emilia-Romagna, Wielkopolska, Västra Götaland, Aquitaine and Hessen.

During the opening speech of the seminar, the Minister for Gozo, Giovanna Debono praised this initiative, she also thanked the foreign delegates, saying that through their presence and participation it had strengthened the validity of this seminar.

The Minister said that the theme of this European Year year hit on two important sections of society – young and old, both can contribute to the good of another. Minister Debono explained how the government promotes this concept with initiatives such as lifelong learning, the University of the Third Age; the possibility for pensioners to continue to ontribute in the working world ; services such as Meals on Wheels, Homehelp and Telecare, as well as other services through which the elderly are able to continue living in their communities for longer periods.

“Another important reality,” the Minister said, “is that the Gozitan voluntary sector is strong in various areas including culture, education, religion and sport. There are 320 NGOs in Gozo, most of them registered as members of the Gozo NGOs Association.” The Minister said that as a region Gozo has the ideal infrastructure to provide the necessary environment and foster the best attitude towards much of what had been discussed during the seminar. “We believe that by sharing experiences and ideas between representatives, our island can contribute and gain knowlede relating to various segments of our population.”

The seminar was also addressed by Ms. Alison Camilleri, Head of European Funds within MEUSAC, Ms. Miriam Thewma, Chief Executive of Agenzija Zghazagh, Ms. Nicole Borg who had benefited from the ETC scheme, as well as delegates from Emilia-Romagna.

The seminar concluded with a speech by Dr Samuel Azzopardi who is also the President of the Gozo Region and represents the island on the Committee of the Regions.

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