Aġenzija Żgħażagħ:15 Years

Fifteen years is a meaningful milestone. It is long enough to look back with satisfaction, but still young enough to look forward with energy, ambition and curiosity. Since its launch in 2011, Aġenzija Żgħażagħ has grown from a new public agency into a recognised national youth work provider, policy actor and trusted partner for young people, youth workers, youth organisations and other  public institutions.

The journey began with a clear belief: young people deserve more than services designed for them from a distance. They deserve spaces where they are listened to, opportunities where they can participate, and support that recognises the real transitions, pressures and hopes that shape their lives. Over the years, this belief has guided the Agency’s work across Malta and Gozo – from youth cafés and the youth information service, to life skills programmes, civic education, youth hubs, youth empowerment initiatives, residential experiences, digital outreach and direct youth work in communities.

Aġenzija Żgħażagħ has also played an important role in strengthening the youth sector itself. Through funding schemes, training, resources, partnerships, and continuous dialogue, the Agency has supported youth organisations, voluntary organisations working with young people, band clubs, and public entities and professionals working with young people. Its work has never been only about delivering activities. It has also been about building capacity, raising standards and making youth work more visible, more understood and more valued.

These fifteen years have also been years of policy development. The Agency has contributed to the implementation of national youth policy, promoted youth participation, and worked to ensure that young people’s perspectives are not treated as an afterthought and cooperated strongly at  European level for youth work recognition.

Of course, the story of the Agency is also the story of the people behind it: the managers,  youth workers, administrators, and young people who have given life to its mission. Buildings, programmes and strategies matter, but they only become meaningful when people bring commitment, creativity and care to them. The real legacy of these fifteen years lies in the conversations held, the doors opened, the confidence built, and the young people who felt that someone believed in them.

As we mark this anniversary, we do not only celebrate what has been achieved. We also recognise the responsibility of what comes next. The world young people are growing up in is changing quickly. Their realities are complex, their voices are diverse, and their expectations of institutions are rightly higher. The next chapter must therefore be bold, honest and rooted in the same principle that shaped the first fifteen years: young people are not a problem to be managed, but a force to be respected, supported and included.

Fifteen years on, Aġenzija Żgħażagħ remains committed to reaching out to, working with and supporting young people. The journey continues with gratitude for the past, pride in the present, and confidence in the future we can build together.