[WATCH] Two new schemes launched at Higher Secondary

Two new schemes launched at Higher Secondary • Video by Ray Attard

Two new schemes were launched today at the Giovanni Curmi Higher Secondary in Naxxar, by the government organisation Agenzija Zghazagh. The two schemes, A4U and Be Active, were launched for the second year running, are aimed at improving young people’s skills and capacities.

The launch took place at the Higher Secondary’s Youth Hub, which is the third of its kind established by the youth agency (there are Youth Clubs at Junior College and MCAST, as well). The Youth Hub, which has been in use since the start of this scholastic year, was also officially launched at the event.

“Youth Hubs serve to bring students together away from the classroom environment and to give them a break from the stress that education can pose. Each Youth Hub offers the services of a Youth Worker who helps to educate students in a more informal manner,” said Miriam Teuma, CEO of Agenzija Zaghzagh.

“The A4U scheme provides student organisations with funds necessary to carry out their operations. These student groups can then improve their skills either through training of by investing in tools that would be useful to the group,” said scheme project coordinator Irene Attard.

“Be Active on the other hand, gives youth organisations funds to implement various projects and initiatives,” Attard added.

Teuma said that throughout the previous year around 100 events were aided through these two schemes, with around 16,000 young people being affected directly or indirectly by projects under these schemes. She added that some of the topics selected under the Be Active Scheme in 2014 were the No Hate Speech Movement Campaign, Active Citizenship, 16+ Vote, Illiteracy, Obesity and Entrepreneurship.

Parliamentary Secretary for Research Innovation, Youth and Sport, Chris Agius , who was also present at the launch said: “We need to invest in young people because they are the future of our society.  The government is committed to create more schemes and initiatives which help young people improve their skills.”

With reference to the Youth Hub, Agius praised the facility and said:

“It is important to provide students with the opportunity to learn in a more informal manner. Students spend a lot of their time at school, so we need to ensure a supportive environment where they can grow even when they are not in class.”