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God is not unjust; he will not overlook your work and the love that you showed for his sake in serving the saints, as you still do. Hebrews 6:10

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6 Sep: Updated ŻAK Birżebbuġa details and added photos to Birżebbuġa Gallery.

3 Sep: Uploaded photos of Kamp Sajf Sleep Over 2 to Photo Gallery.

31 Aug: Uploaded photos of Kamp Sajf One-Day-Away, Sleep Over 1, and Weekend to Photo Gallery.

Latest News

Sharing with a smile
Monday, 06 September 2010 12:46
29 ta' Lulju 2010- 20 t'Awissu 2010
 
 
 
F’Ottubru tas-sena l-oħra grupp miż-Żgħażagħ Azzjoni Kattolika ipparteċipa f’seminar tal-Azzjoni Kattolika f’Ruma - dan kien il-bidu tal-proġett ta’ volontarjat Sharing with a smile. Imqanqla mil-laqgħa mal-leaders tal-Azzjoni Kattolika Palestinjana bdiet il-ħolma li fis-Sajf grupp ta’ żgħażagħ imur l-Art Imqaddsa joffri l-ħin u l-enerġija tiegħu mat-tfal u żgħażagħ tal-Palestina.
 
L-entużjażmu għal dan il-proġett kien kbir hekk kif din kienet l-ewwel esperjenza simili fi ħdan iż-ŻAK. Propju għalhekk ukoll konna nafu li kien se jkun hemm bżonn ta’ preparamenti kontinwi biex il-proġett ikun suċċess. Mill-bidu nett bdejna norganizzaw attivitajiet żgħar biex niġbru l-flus, kellna il-bejgħ tal-Ponsjetti fil-Milied u Car Boot Sale kbir f’Ġunju. Apparti minn dan żammejna kuntatt mal-leaders Palestinjani biex naraw fejn konna se nwettqu ix-xogħol volontarju kif ukoll fejn konna se noqgħodu aħna stess. Ħadna ħsieb ukoll li ntellgħu magħna xi riżorsi li setgħu jiġu użati hemmhekk, dawn kienu jinkludu logħob differenti għal mat-tfal u żifniet li tgħallimna matul is-snin f’attivitajiet taż-ŻAK.
 
Iktar ma beda joqrob l-aħħar ta’ Lulju, iktar beda jiżdied l-eċitament u ma dan żdiedu ukoll il-mistoqsijiet: Se jirnexxilna naslu sew? X'se nsibu jilqagħna? Se noqgħodu f’post tajjeb? Se naqblu bejnietna? Se nifthemu mal-oħrajn b’lingwa differenti? Se nagħmlu dak li morna għalih? Se nħallu impatt?
 
Wara ħafna żmien ta preparazzjoni u stennija waslet il-ġurnata fejn aħna tlaqna għal din l-avventura. L-ewwel reazzjoni li kellna kif wasalna kienet waħda normali, la rajna suldati u lanqas kien hemm ġlied. Qabel ma tlaqna, sħabna kif ukoll il-familjari qalulna li kienet se tkun ġennata li mmorru l-Palestina għax hemmhekk hemm il-ġlied u mhux pajjiż sikur. Però aħna li esperjenzajna tliet ġimgħat fil-post, la rajna ġlied u lanqas smajna sparar.
 
Ġo Ġerusalemm il-ħajja hi normali, anzi skantajna kif tliet reliġjonijet huma kapaċi jgħixu flimkien: il-Lhud, l-Insara u l-Musulmani. Mill-banda l-oħra meta morna Betlem nagħmlu il-volontarjat mat-tfal b’diżabbilità u mat-tfal li jgħixu fl-SOS, ħassejna bħal arja tqila. Malli tasal, tgħaddi miċ-check point u s-suldati jkunu għassa ta’ kulħadd. Peress li aħna konna nintgħarfu li turisti ma kellniex problemi. Però l-Palestinjani (i.e. Musulmani u Nsara) għandhom proċess itwal ta’ check in; iridu juru d-dokumenti meħtieġa kif ukoll jivverifikaw l-identità tagħhom permezz tal-finger prints. Għall-Iżraelin, il-Palestinjani huma bħal terroristi, għalhekk jagħmlu ħafna check points. La darba toħroġ miċ-check point issib ruħek f’belt imdawra b’ħajt oħxon u għoli tal-konkrit. Fuq dan il-ħajt hemm ħafna graffiti li jesprimu x-xewqat ta’ ħelsien u d-dwejjaq ta’ din l-okkupazzjoni Iżraelita f’Betlem. F’Betlem joqgħodu Musulmani u Nsara biss li minkejja d-differenzi fit-twemmin tagħhom jirnexxielhom jgħixu flimkien. Kull fejn tara Knisja, ikun hemm Moskea.
 
 
 
L-esperjenza tal-volontarjat ma’ t-tfal ġewwa Betlem kienet waħda mill-isbah u li verament tatna sodisfazzjon kbir. Ħdimna f’żewġ istituti tat-tfal differenti - wieħed immexxi mis-sorijiet għall-tfal li għandhom disabilità u ieħor immexxi mill-SOS għall-tfal Musulmani. Konna nilgħabu mat-tfal, kif ukoll ngħinu lis-sorijiet f’dak li jkun hemm bżonn li jsir fid-dar. Ix-xogħol li jagħmlu s-sorijiet ma’ dawn it-tfal huwa żgur xi ħaġa ta’ min jammira.
 
 
 
It-tbissima fuq wiċċ dawn l-anġli ċkejkin hija żgur xi haġa li ser tibqa’ f’qalbna għal dejjem. Minkejja li dawn m’għandhom xejn u għandhom ħafna problemi xorta waħda huma ferħanin u l-imħabba li urew lejna kienet tassew idimendikabli. Morna bil-ħsieb li aħna nagħtu xi ħaġa, imma fil-verità nħossu li iktar irċevejna milli tajna.
 
It-tieni parti ta’ din l-esperjenza kienet tinvolvi l-Franciscian March. Matul dan il-marċ jipparteċipaw madwar 100 żagħżugħ u żagħżugħa li jiġu minn partijiet differenti ta’ l-Israel. Kuljum dawn imorru f’villaġġi differenti, filwaqt li jqumu kmieni filgħodu u jimxu għal madwar 5 siegħat bil-basktijiet sad-destinazzjoni li jmiss. Matul il-mixja, iż-żgħażagħ ikantaw, jitolbu u jgħinu lil xulxin. Bħala voluntiera xogħolna kien li ngħinu fit-tindif, il-preparazzjoni ta’ l-ikel u kif ukoll konna norganizzaw xi logħob u żfin għall-parteċipanti. Kelna wkoll l-opportunità li xi drabi nipparteċipaw maż-żgħażagħ fil-mixja.
 
 
 
Filgħaxija, kien jiġi l-mument meta konna niżfnu, nilgħabu and niċċajtaw flimkien mal-Franġiskani u mas-sorijiet kollha. Dan kien wieħed mill-isbaħ mumenti tal-marċ għax tinduna kemm huma magħqudin, alavolja grupp kbir u ġejjin minn partijiet differenti tal-Palestina. Nixtiequ vera nfaħruhom għall-mod ta’ kif laqawna fil-grupp tagħhom, għaliex saħansitra anke spiċċajna morna d-dar ta’ xi wħud minnhom. Wara ġimgħa nqumu, u norqdu ma’ l-istess nies għamilna ħbieb kbar, u nisperaw li nerġgħu niltaqgħu magħhom u forsi anke nerġgħu nesperjenzaw dan il-marċ għal darb’ohra flimkien.
 
Żgur illi dawn kienu tlett ġimgħat li m’aħna ser ninsew qatt. Minn hawn aħna nħeġġu lil żgħażagh oħra sabiex imorru fuq esperjenzi bħal dawn għaliex żgur li tkun xi ħaġa li tħalli impatt kbir f’ħajtek. 
 
- Maria Żammit
- Marija Cachia
- Lara Vella
- Genevieve Darmanin 
 
Me and Europe: ŻAK Malta & Asterisco Sicily
Sunday, 05 September 2010 14:59
In a ten-day experience we learnt, by non-formal education programmes co-financed by the Youth In Action programmes 1.3 Youth Exchanges, some interesting facts about Europe and the way its being politically moving forward with the help of the EU.

The first five days were held in Malta. First of we began our adventure with ice-breaking games and a get to know each other activity. We continued with some workshops and 2 presentations one about ŻAK and the other
about Malta and its beauties. These five days continued particularly well even because the Sicilians gave a good input in the project even though they had communication problems. We had visited a lot of Malta and the visitors
were particularly happy that we showed them a good part of our island.

It was time to visit Sicily, so we caught a direct flight to Trapani 2 hours away from Palermo and we began our 2nd part of the exchange where we were treated very well by the hosts for the whole 5 days we spent there. Regarding the workshops, they were held in the organisation’s offices. The workshops, as in Malta, were really informative and we had more information about Europe.

As every exchange finishes, we had our hearts broken because of the big miss of the Sicilians. But now we have to look forward and help ŻAK get other opportunities to show what organization it really is Laughing
 
Neil Abela - ŻAK Swatar
 
 
 
  
 
EuroCamp 2010 AMASS Experience
Friday, 13 August 2010 16:42
It was an incredible week which I will NEVER forget and will remain in my memories throughout my life! The first to arrive on Sunday 18th July were the Italians and Belgians. Then the Maltese participants, following them the Lithuanians, the Romanians, the Slovaks, the Danish and last but not least the Spanish participants who arrived on Tuesday. Everybody was excited for the EuroCamp to start as we were going to make new friends, get to know better some people which we already knew, learn about the different organizations and also increase our knowledge about the different cultures of the different countries. During this camp we were about 70 participants – 30 of these were Maltese while the others were from the countries mentioned above.
 
Some of the topics which we tackled during this week were about how to include persons with disabilities, homeless people, poor people and others who are discriminated into our society i.e. social inclusion and also about human rights. We had many workshops during the week to make us aware how these people feel and how we can include them in the society. The activity I liked most was on Wednesday when we went to Għajn Tuffieħa for a swim and afterwards, we were divided into groups of ten and we could only take with us one mobile phone, no money and one bag between ten people with some essentials in it like a torch, insect repellant, towels etc. Each group was left at a place with a map and some rice and baked beans to eat. We had to walk to our final destination which was on a beach. My group had to sleep at Buġiba Bay. We had two stops where to stop until we arrived at our destination where we played a game. We were only given water bottles and newspapers on which we could sleep. Luckily I had my towel so I could cover myself up during the cold, long night near the sea. It was a nice experience by which we got to know how the homeless people feel and we learnt what we can do to help them. On Saturday 24th July we also had a treasure hunt at the Capital City of Malta-Valletta about human rights. There were many workshops all around Valletta which each dealt with a particular human right. This treasure hunt made each participant more aware about human rights and how important it is for each country to follow these rights. The week passed by really quickly and the day of the departure (Monday 26th July) arrived. Many cried as a week was long enough to make friends and get to know the foreign participants. Some of the Maltese participants went to the airport to see the others leave and to say the last goodbye and giving them the last hug before returning back to their country not knowing if we will ever meet again. We are all hoping to see each other again next year at the World Youth Day in Madrid-Spain.
 
I will never forget this amazing week and a big thanks goes to all the leaders who prepared this Euro Camp, to ŻAK Malta for hosting and also to FIMCAP as without its help, none of this would have taken place!!!
 
Lara Galea
ŻAK Żurrieq
 
Iż-ŻAK Mosta u l-Grupp Finlandiż VETO f’Attività f’Dar il-Kaptan ma’ Persuni bi Bżonnijiet Speċjali
Thursday, 15 July 2010 14:45

‘Iż-Żgħażagħ huma lkoll strumentali biex flimkien joħolqu differenza pożittiva fis-soċjetà li qed ngħixu fiha. L-inklużjoni ta’ kull persuna u l-impenn ta’ kullħadd biex ħadd ma jibqa lura huwa xhieda ta’ Azzjoni li permezz tagħha llkoll kemm aħna jkollna aktar faċilitajiet biex nirnexxu fil-ħajja ta’ kuljum’. Dan kien il-messaġġ li ż-żgħażagħ taż-ŻAK Mosta u tal-grupp Finlandiz Veto ħarġu waqt attività organizzata bħala parti mill-iskambju li qed isir din is-sena f’pajjiżna. Dan l-iskambju li hu ffinanzjat mill-Youth in Action Programme tal-Finlandja għandu t-tema ta’ Inklużjoni Artistika. L-iskop ta’ dan il-proġett hu li joffri liż-żgħażagħ parteċipanti u lill persuni b’diżabilità l-opportunità biex filwaqt li jipparteċipaw flimkien f’attivitajiet differenti jkollhom iċ-ċans li jitgħallmu mingħand xulxin f’ambjent informali.

 

Waqt attività organizzata f’Dar il-Kaptan fl-Imtarfa ż-żgħażagħ parteċipanti kellhom iċ-ċans li jieħdu sehem f’attivitajiet flimkien ma persuni b’diżabilità filwaqt li kellhom iċ-ċans li jsiru jafu aktar lill-xulxin filwaqt li jiddiskutu dwar temi ta’ interess differenti. Matul din l-attività ż-żgħażagħ parteċipanti tal-Proġett Inklużjoni Artistika u l-persuni b’diżabilità li jagħmlu użu mis-servizzi ta’ Dar il-Kaptan ħadu sehem f’attività artistika li permezz tagħha ħolqu tpinġijiet li ġew magħmula minn diversi frott u ħxejjex. Permezz ta’ din l-arti il-parteċipanti kollha wasslu messaġġ li bl-impenn u bir-rieda ta’ kullħadd nistgħu nagħmlu passi l-quddiem fejn aktar persuni jkunu aċċettati u integrati fis-soċjetà tagħna.

 

F’din l-attività ħa seħem ukoll is-Segretarju Parlamentari Clyde Puli fejn wassal messaġġ dwar l-importanza ta’ l-involviment taż-żgħażagħ f’inizzjattivi simili lhiema inizjattivi għandhom il-potenzjal li jagħtu opportunitajiet uniċi li permezz tagħhom dawk kollha nvoluti jibbenefikaw minn żvillup ħolistiku li jwassal biex ikun hawn sinerġija favur l-inklużjoni soċjali. Is-Segretarju Parlamentari faħħar l-impenn taż-ŻAK  Mosta u tal-group Veto għad-determinazzjoni u l-impenn tagħhom biex joħolqu dejjem aktar opportunitajiet ta’ formazzjoni maż-żgħażagħ li jiffrekwentawhom.

 

Matul l-attività Nicola Borg – leader miż-ŻAK Mosta u Heidi Saarinen Youth worker mill-grupp Veto saħqu li l-proċess għall-preparazzjoni ta’ dan l-iskambju involva diversi sfidi li għenu biex iż-żgħażagħ jaħdmu mill-qrib ta’ xulxin biex illum wasslu biex qed igawdu mill-frott ta’ ħidmiethom.

 

Il-Fondazzjoni Respite Care Services, hi bbażata f’Dar il-Kaptan l-iMtarfa u ġiet imwaqqfa f’ Novembru 1991. L-għan tal-fondazzjoni hu li tiprovdi servizzi professjonali kemm residenzjali kif ukoll matul il-ġurnata lill persuni b’diżabilità u l-familji tagħhom.

 

Il-Fondazzjoni hija organizzazjoni mhux governattiva u hija non profit. L-ispejjeż biex din id-dar tkun tista' topera huma koperti b’għotja mogħtija mill-gvern kull sena, ħlasijiet fuq servizzi mogħtija, kif ukoll minn donazzjonijiet u attivitajiet ta’ ġbir ta’ fondi li jsiru minn żmien għall ieħor.

 

 

Aktar informazzjoni dwar iż-ŻAK Mosta tista ssibha fuq il-website www.zakmosta.org.

 

Martin Chetcuti

ŻAK Mosta Youthworker – Mob 79856471