Limerick Youth Service Malta Visit Helps Teens Turn the KEY – Members of Limerick Youth Service arrive at Valletta Airport, Malta ahead of The KEY Youth Exchange.
Limerick Youth Service Malta Visit help Teens Turn the KEY
By I Love Limerick Correspondent Jordan Mac Cormaic
Mediterranean sunshine greeted nine young people from Limerick when they arrived in Malta for the next leg of an Erasmus+ supported youth exchange programme called, The KEY.
A trilateral youth exchange between the Bjorknasgy (Sweden), ZAK Malta and Limerick Youth Service (LYS), the KEY (Keep Educating Yourself) focuses on youth entrepreneurship with a particular emphasis on creativity and culture.
The Limerick Youth Service Malta exchange was part two of The KEY and was in stark contrast weather-wise to the first part of the programme, which was in Sweden’s Arctic region.
Throughout the week the young people took part in a number of creative workshops, including one called Stillness Speaks and visited Microsoft Malta where they learned how to create a website.
At Microsoft’s Maltese HQ, they participated in a competition to find the best young entrepreneur, with one of the Limerick groups winning.
Away from the workshops, there were the mandatory visits to the beach, beautiful hikes and an international night where the Irish food was extremely popular.
The KEY gave the young people an amazing opportunity to learn new skills and experience new cultures with the Limerick crew described as the ‘social butterflies’ of the youth exchange.
When not taking part in workshops or enjoying the sites, our young people were sharing stories with their Maltese & Swedish friends with the language barrier proving no obstacle.
“They understood what it was to be culturally sensitive and have a fundamental understanding of what it takes to progress in their lives”, said David O’Connor, LYS.
‘The teenagers, who came from Ballynanty, Cappamore, Garryowen, Hospital, Janesboro and Raheen, were also great ambassadors for Limerick,’ added a very proud David.
The KEY youth exchange is an Erasmus Plus programme supported by Leargas in partnership Limerick Youth Service, ZAK Malta and Bjorknasgy, Sweden
A member of Youth Work Ireland, Limerick Youth Service remains committed to supporting and encouraging young people to be active participants in shaping their futures.
To visit the official Limerick Youth Service website click here
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