Evarist Bartolo, Minister for Education and Employment, this morning launched the new National Youth Policy, Towards 2020 – A shared vision for the future of young people, at an event hosted in Sliema.

Also present at the launch were Parliamentary Secretary for Research, Innovation, Youth and Sport, Chris Agius, Shadow Minister David Agius, Miriam Teuma, Chief Executive of Agenzija Zghazagh and more than 80 representatives from other Government ministries and entities, as well as from the National Youth Council, the Gozo Youth Council, NGOs and other stakeholders.

Speaking at the launch, Minister Bartolo said that for any policy to be effective and successful it has to be owned by all those concerned and, accordingly, the policy was being launched following extensive consultation with all relevant stakeholders, including young people.

The Minister continued by saying: “my Ministry and the Government are fully committed to realising the benefits of the new policy for all young people over the six year timeframe 2015-2020.”

Parliamentary Secretary, Chris Agius said that in implementing the new policy the focus would be on “actions” resulting in “tangible outcomes” so that all young people, their families and communities would benefit.

The Policy Document – National Youth Policy Towards 2020 – A shared vision for the future of young people – Details are shown below:

The National Youth Policy Towards 2020, is underpinned by three separate but interlocking pillars.

• The first pillar is the reality of the lives of young people in Malta today and how coherent policies, effectively implemented and actively supported, can help young people meet their needs and aspirations.

• The second pillar is the development of youth policy over the past 20 years at both European and national level.

• The third pillar is the Government’s policy for greater democratic participation, equitable economic and social progress for all, and inclusive change.

The policy’s vision is of young people who are respected, valued, listened to and supported and encouraged in building fulfilling personal and social relationships, and in developing their innate abilities and talents for their own benefit and that of their communities and society.

The values of the policy are respect, recognition, sustained support and solidarity, and they are underpinned by principles of responsiveness, access, participation, inclusion, integration, diversity, empowerment and equality.

The policy, which will focus on all 13 to 30-year-olds, will be implemented over the period 2015-2020, and has two related aims:

• to support and encourage young individuals in fulfilling their potential and aspirations while addressing their needs and concerns, and

• to support young people as active and responsible citizens who fully participate in and contribute to the social, economic and cultural life of the nation and Europe.

The policy will be implemented through two specific but interdependent strategies that complement the two policy aims. Each of the two strategies has a number of designated Action Plans under which specific actions will be taken and implemented over the six year timeframe 2015-2020.

• Strategy 1 – Youth work and services for young people.

o Action Plan – New spaces at local community level for young people and youth organisations

o Action Plan – Awareness raising, listening to and supporting the voice of young people

o Action Plan – Initiatives for the active engagement, empowerment and participation of young people and youth organisations

• Strategy 2 – Cross-sectoral support for young people.

o Action Plan – Education and training

o Action Plan – Health and well-being

o Action Plan – Employment and entrepreneurship

o Action Plan – Arts and Culture

o Action Plan – Social Inclusion

o Action Plan – Voluntary and Community activities

o Action Plan – Sport and Recreational activities

Resources and support will be further developed and expanded over the period 2015-2020 with the twin objective of building the human and physical capacities of the youth sector, including the voluntary youth sector, and providing it with the skills and competencies to support the development of young people.

These additional resources and support will also ensure that Malta’s presidency of the EU, Valletta 18 and other international events will be both memorable and productive for young people.

The policy also includes a research programme that will help ensure that it continues to be both evidence-based and outcome-focused.

The implementation of the policy will be monitored on an annual basis and, at the end of the period 2015-2020, an independent evaluation will be conducted on the overall impact of the policy and the benefits accruing for young people, the voluntary youth sector and wider society.

Photograph: DOI/ Clodagh Farrugia O’Neill

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