GENERATION (CHANGE?)

Youth Work, Non-Formal and project based learning

Creating a platform for young people to find their voice, express themselves and unite against injustice and inequality within the community and beyond.

ABOUT US

Generation (Change?) understands the importance of young people being able to confidently use their voices to enact positive social change throughout society. That is why, as an organisation, heavy emphasis is put on using non-formal and project-based learning in the community as a means to work with young people from different backgrounds to develop their personal and professional skills. Generation (Change?) is an organisation formed by various Youth Worker professionals in Malta. Young people are involved in every phase of all the projects we implement.

Malta Voluntary Organisations Registration Number: VO/2049

ACTIVITIES

Bringing Change

All Hands on Deck

All Hands on Deck project: A life skills programme for young people through the restoration of a wooden boat.

“All Hands-on Deck” adopts a project-based learning approach aimed at young people. One of the aims of our project is to support young people with fewer opportunities – to offer them a secure environment of learning, to give them the chance to prove themselves in new situations and give them opportunities to develop their self-esteem, to help them orientate in their current life situations, and to encourage them to experience the maritime environment. Through this project, the young people involved participate in a wooden sailing boat restoration project. The young people are given the opportunity to experience different technical skills in the field of boat restoration and maintenance. An example of the skills gained is painting, carpentry, cleaning of the boat,navigation, rope work, familiarising themselves with different tools and power tools. The boat is used as a tool for the young people to learn life skills such as critical thinking, working in a team, problem solving and being active in a community.

The project also explores the links between human life and the impact it has on the maritime environment.

All Hands on Deck Mission statement

To provide young people with a dynamic learning experience through boat maintenance, enhancing their practical skills, life skills, and critical thinking in a project-based environment that encourages lifelong learning.

Every year a new group of young people will participate together with more experienced young people from previous projects.

European Projects

During 2024 Generation (Change?) gave the opportunity to 55 young people to participate in Erasmus + projects. Young people participated in Youth exchanges and training seminars in Ireland, Finland and Malta. The young people had the opportunity to discuss and experience situations regrading various topics such as the impact of human beings on the natural environment, friendship and community arts.

We also organised a training seminar in Malta regarding the role of gamification in non formal learning. The youth workers had the opportunity to learn more about this topic and had hands on experience to develope educational escape rooms.

These projects were funded by the European Union.

Youth Hub

The Youth Hub is a non-formal educational space, based at the Friends of the Earth (Malta) Green resource center in Floriana - Every Thursday 17:00-20:00.

It offers a recreational environment through which the youth workers from Generation (Change?) can support the young people who attend by encouraging and assisting them to implement various projects and initiatives that enhance their potential. An important aspect of the youth hub is to encourage dialogue and active participation of the young people with their local communities and as such emphasis is put on taking part in different community events and activities, this will help to foster a sense of belonging for the young people, whilst also bridging the gap between different community members.