This year the Emergency Response and Rescue Corps of Gozo were granted funds by the EUPA to run the project entitled ‘I Move!’ This is a youth exchange involving a total number of 54 youths from 9 different countries: Malta, Lithuania, Ukraine, Armenia, Romania, Georgia, Spain, Greece and Turkey.

ERRC developed the idea to create a project with other foreign organisations who are also involved in working with youths with the idea to create a youth exchange involving both European and non-European states on the importance of healthy living.

“The general objective of our project is to help and improve the participants’ skills and recognising the importance making healthy choices so as to have a healthy lifestyle. The theme and objectives of the project are to develop the young peoples understanding, knowledge and experience on living active and healthy lifestyles, promote active citizenship, social solidarity and inclusion and respect and mutual understandings of different cultures,” the ERRC said.

“This exchange is an example of a project devised by the young people for the young people who are not just examples of active youths but are also in a position to continue to pass on these important messages and to encourage more youths to participate.”

“It will bring together youth coming from both EU and non-EU countries and thus it augurs well to promote further tolerance and understanding among youth coming from different countries. The main activities include a mixture of outdoor activities, physical activities, workshops and culinary nights all intended to promote the main themes of the project,” the Corp said.

By carrying out this project, the ERRC said that they are hoping to create the start of an exciting journey whereby the youths will meet different young people and learn from each other. “It is no doubt that the today’s young generations are tomorrow’s adults. Therefore, this experience will help the participants in developing their characters and building self- confidence.”

The project encourages active participation and an increased sense of citizenship by making participants more aware of the role that they play in the society.

The participants had the opportunity to meet the President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca in Valletta. During the visit, the youths presented the sum of €150 donation from the Emergency Response and Rescue Corps to the Community Chest Fund. Justyne Caruana the Parliamentary Secretary for Rights of Persons with Disability and Active Ageing, paid a visit to the participants in Gozo.

The European Commission under the Erasmus plus programme, managed by the European Union Programmes Agency (EUPA), is funding the initiative.

The ERRC said that this project was made possible thanks to the technical assistance provided by the Malta-EU Steering and Action Committee (MEUSAC) which has assisted during the planning and design of the project.

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