National Youth Policy - A shift from ‘problematic youth’ to challenges and opportunities

The Malta Independent online
14 March 2010

by ELAINE ATTARD
A more positive attitude towards youth and young people, viewing them as a resource and moving away from the concept of “problematic youth” is the basis of the much-awaited National Youth Policy, which was announced by Youth and Sport Parliamentary Secretary Clyde Puli yesterday morning.

“The policy addresses all young people, based on consultations with young people themselves, youth workers and youth organisations, and is intended for ministries to follow when designing policies concerning young people”, said Mr Puli.

The Parliamentary Secretary announced that a National Youth Agency will be set up in the coming months to implement the National Youth Policy. The main scope of this agency would be to ensure that the interests of young people will be respected, according to the guidelines in the National Youth Policy. Mr Puli did not comment further, as more information will be announced at a later stage. The same applies to the proposed professionalisation of youth workers.

He pointed out that this is not the first national youth policy but follows three previous policies issued in 1993, 1997 and 2003.

Youth worker and university lecturer Miriam Teuma emphasised the fact that young people are never referred to as “youth at risk” throughout the policy document. “The policy aims to focus on young people’s potential rather than on the problems and challenges they have to face. Unfortunately, the media often portrays young people in that manner”, she said.

The policy is based on five horizontal threads of participation and engagement, youth information, social inclusion, family and mobility. These five horizontal threads are intertwined with 11 vertical themes of education, employment, health and well-being, culture and the arts, community cohesion and volunteering, sport, leisure, environment, information society, youth justice, transitions and vulnerability.

The policy’s vision is of “young people who are keen to be successful and empowered to achieve their potential, while living in solidarity as active citizens. It is aimed at improving the quality of life of young people by promoting their initiatives, participation in decision-making and social life, as well as by supporting easier transition from youth to adult status and the world of work and lifelong learning.”

These areas affect young people’s well-being directly and indirectly.

Young people were involved throughout the consultation process in creating the Youth Policy. Members of the National Youth Council (KNZ), the Youth Diocesan Commission (KDZ), the National Commission for Persons with Disability (KNPD) and young members of political parties and trade unions were among those who contributed.

In addition, a report on youth policies drawn up by KNZ, the European Commission Strategy for Youth and the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights were analysed in depth by a working group established in 2008 to revise the Youth Policy.

Apart from joining in consultation meetings, young people contributed by completing questionnaires circulated in places where they meet and on the social networking website Facebook. A number of meetings with national organisations were also held.

“The aspirations of young people are represented in the results of the extensive dialogue, and they should serve as a direction for the Youth Policy supporting young people,” said Mr Puli, while thanking all those who had contributed to the development of the policy.
http://www.independent.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=103073