Spending Easter away from home far from the traditional Maltese festivity in itself was something that at first put me off. Knowing almost nothing, neither about the country I was going to nor about the way they celebrate Easter made me think more than twice before I applied for Easter Course in Ukraine.

Easter Course as the name implies is organised annually during Easter time in a different country every year by the European Fellowship of Christian Youth (www.europeanfellowship.org). It brings together youth from different countries with cultural diversities and different beliefs. Yet being so different from each other, this year’s participants in Easter Course came together to focus on sessions and discussions about Human Rights, Tolerance, Inter-Religious dialogues and the effect that Social Network sites online are having on Freedom of Speech.

A typical day of the course consisted from a reflection on the Bible passages related to the Passion of Christ, lunch was preceded and followed by sessions, discussions and games. Everyday before dinner, the planning team prepared workshops focussing on the direct relationship between oneself and God. Evenings were filled with fun activities varying from Cultural, Creative, Relaxation and singing Karaoke.

Ukrainians are not only known for their “wild dances” but also for being wild in everything they consider to be fun. In fact, on a particular night they organised a “game” which I would rather call it a tough battle in the middle of the forest in pitch darkness. And as if that was not enough, a few hours later, a whole day travelling around the Capital City Kiev awaited us. In the wonderful city of Kiev we had the opportunity to visit school children and do some workshops on Team Building and Communication and afterwards a veteran citizen recounted his experience of life as it used to be during Soviet times in Communist Ukraine.

I don’t regret having applied for this course, the friendships we made and the experience itself will surely help us all 5 participants from ŻAK in our daily work with other youth in our ŻAK groups, and as the memories of Ukraine remain so fondly kept and treasured, I recommend next year’s Easter Course in Iceland to be considered by anyone who’s in for a great experience!

Kris Gilson - ŻAK Marsaxlokk

Date: 4th and 11th August

Age: 16 to 19 years during 2012 (born between 1993 and 1996).

Place for 8 participants (and leader).

Flight/travel costs will be 70% subsidised + Participation fee.

To apply send an email on zak@zakmalta.org and send your name, date of birth and ŻAK centre.

Deadline to apply: Sunday 1st April

Preference will be given to those who never had an international experience with ŻAK, those who are older, applications are also on a First come First served basis, and ideally group members are gender balanced.

Take a look at the international opportunities below. If you're interested, please apply by sending an email on zak@zakmalta.org and state which opportunity you want to apply for, send your name, date of birth and ŻAK centre.

Please keep deadlines as stated below.

Games Up! (Leuven - BELGIUM)

Dates: Mon 13th - Fri 17th February (includes departure and arrival date)

Approx €250 flights to Brussels + train will be 70% subsidised (after reimbursement, total cost will be that of around €75-€100).

Ages: 18+

Participants: 2 (ideally 1 male & 1 female)

Planning Seminar for approx 18 people from 4 different youth groups in Belgium, and 4 countries in Europe: Malta, UK, Montenegro and Estonia.

Topic: Games as a tool to work with youth!

Aims: To know the different organisations involved in this visit: main activities, target group(s), mission, radius of working area, activity level.

• To experience and exchange different ways of working with games as a tool to work with youth (methods).
• To share and discuss different point of views about games and the way of using games as a tool to work with youth.
• To discover the specific context of games and playing in the different partner countries.
• To create a firm and positive bond between the different partners and a group mentality as a result of that.
• To enjoy playing and discover new games.
• To create opportunities for new cooperations, partnerships and/or projects within or outside the YIA program.

Programme is attached.

DEADLINE to apply: Sunday 22nd January

Games_Up_BELGIUM_programme.pdf

Seminar: MAKE A TEAM (San Benedetto del Tronto - ITALY)

Dates: Sat 24th - Wed 28th March (includes departure and arrival date)

Approx €140 Flights to Rome + Bus will be 70% subsidised (after reimbursement, total cost will be that of around €50-€70).

Ages:18+

Participants: 2 (ideally 1 male & 1 female - ability to communicate in Italian is a plus)

Seminar for 15 people - Partners will include participants from Italy, Malta, Spain, Belgium and Turkey.

The seminar is about the socialization of young people. The theme will be analyzed with the help of professionals in different sectors: how young people relate to each other, with parents, teachers, with leaders, highlighting ways to improve it. Will be taken into consideration the relationship that young people have towards the music, the local traditions and opportunities to socialize during their free time. It will explore how music, art, local traditions can become moments of socializing between the sexes and if you have the same opportunities.

Through daily visits and the intervention of a counselor and a coach will be sent to leading behavioral techniques to promote socialization and involvement of young people at European exchanges. In addition, an important goal is that through the seminar you will have the opportunity to meet new realities and new educators with whom you can opt to begin setting up new exchange projects together.

Programme (in Italian) is attached.

DEADLINE to apply: Sunday 29th January

Make_a_Team_-_ITALY_programme.pdf

An initiative that managed to bear a smile on the elderly's faces during the festive season. The ŻAK Ibraġ 20+ group came up with the idea to pay a visit to St. Catherine's home in Attard run by the Dominican Sisters. We received a warm welcome by the Sisters and the dedicated staff who showed us the way around.

Candles with the ŻAK logo on the front were given to each one of the elderly who enjoyed retelling their memories from the past whilst thanking us for coming along. A woman in particular wanted to stand up from her chair to hug each and every one after telling us that she learnt sewing through passion and worked as a tailor back in the days. With a lot of enthusiasm she confessed she still makes some alterations to her friends who live in the same home and sometimes give her a pair of trousers.

"This small experience of simply visiting old people and giving them a little gift and spending 5 minutes of their day talking to them was truly fulfilling and worthwhile. It is very moving to see an old person smile and to see their eyes shine just because you bothered to drop by and say " Hello, Happy New Year". You feel honoured when an 90 year old, who only has the energy to stand up once a day, bothers you use that chance to stand up for you. And all for a little hug and a small kiss. Just 2 hours speaking to them made our Christmas a whole lot more meaningful and rewarding" – Carl Zammit La Rosa.

"Visiting these senior citizens truly gave me a new perspective on Christmas. The fact that they appreciate even the simplest of thoughts fills you up inside, and even knowing that these two hours of your time, which were probably nothing to you, meant the whole world to them. Their grateful smile was all that was needed" – Amanda Magri.

Upon visiting the elderly I was not expecting such a warm and happy welcome from the residents of Saint Catherine's home in Attard. Seeing them so enthusiastic and happy with our visit, I discovered a truly wonderful experience, something which money cannot buy. One elderly lady looks back at her days and with a smile told me: "I have enjoyed my life, my children come and visit me and I want them to live their life like I've lived mine." Then I say to myself: "Wow. I want to feel the same way at that age". – Steve Gruppetta

Personally, I felt that the visit in its simplicity was well received by the elderly and it was great to see them appreciate the small gift from the heart. I went with the intention to give and arrived back home with something bigger inside.

Jeffrick Cachia

ŻAK Ibraġ