L-exchange hija opportunita’ għal żgħażagħ mill-eta’ ta’ sittax ‘il fuq biex jaqsmu l-kultura tagħhom kif ukoll il-ħin ma’ żgħażagħ ta’ pajjiz differenti. Din l-‘exchange’ saret bejn żgħażagħ Maltin li kienu ġejjin minn tliet ċentri taż-ŻAK differenti madwar Malta, li huma Iklin, Birkirkara u San Ġiljan, u żgħażagħ Taljani minn Sesto Calende, viċin Milan. It-tema li ntgħażlet għal din l-‘exchange’ kienet FIT. Din kienet magħżula bi skop li tolqot il-ħajja tal-persuna fejn jidħol sport u eżerċizzju fiżiku kif ukoll l-ikel.

Sunday 14 September - Evaluation meeting

The very last part of X-Seed was the evaluation meeting held today. We were 44 ZAK leaders who gathered at B'kara to discuss kamp sajf 2008. Though at first no one wanted to speak, we soon got started. Many different aspects of kamp sajf and things behind the scenes were discussed. We saw what was liked and what did not go so well. On the whole it was agreed that this year things were much better than last year and it is because everyone is getting more experience and because of meetings like today's that we can avoid making the same mistakes and continue doing those things which were liked and went well. So ended kamp sajf for this year with notes being taken so as to apply to kamp sajf next year if it should be held. However the energy generated by the fabulous week spent together will be very long lasting.

This year Eurocontact took place in Austria. To be precise in a town called Sitten dorf. We stayed in a castle surrounded by forests, cut off from human life. The theme was “ Knowing Me, Knowing You” and basically we spent a week living with around 40 foreign youths in this castle and getting to know them; not only them but also yourself and your Maltese friends. There were youths from Lithuania, Belgium, Italy, Slovakia and from sunny Malta ! At first you think “Illalu what a lot of people “ but I promise you will make friends with every single one of them. Take it from us, who actually went up and all those Zakkers who went up before us, it is an opportunity not to be missed. You grow in so many ways that it is not even possible to write them all down. From simple name games and ice-breakers at the beginning, to playing truth or dare and getting to know their deepest feelings.

4-6 July 2008

There was the usual planning, e-mails, collection of applications, purchasing, transferring of ZAK equipment and other small but necessary jobs before the start of the Leadership training 2008. Like last year it was held at the Seminary, which being a big place could host all 3 modules at the same time. I was again a leader for Ready (module 1) though there were many more new leaders than last year. So much so that the new leaders were split into 2 groups, separated by age. Everyone arrived late on Friday afternoon and registered, taking their rooms before we started. During the weekend there was a lot of learning going on besides renewed friendships and new acquantances. During meal times all the 3 modules met together but otherwise the program was separate. On Sunday before lunch we had Mass all together and during the afternoon we had the certificate giving - a certificate to show that the chosen module has been completed and also a certificate which can be used when looking for future job opportunities. The last thing was putting away of things used and preparing those things that would be used for the next activity.