Our Agency
Aġenzija Żgħażagħ provides young people with the time and space to make friends, learn in new ways and develop their talents through our regional youth services and our extensive empowerment programme.
Through our interactive youth information service we provide information on services and opportunities for young people as well as listening to their views on issues that impact on their lives. Through Eurodesk, the European Youth Card and our participation in EU programmes, young people are offered the opportunity of exploring life, learning and work across Europe.
Our mission is to manage, implement and coordinate the National Youth Policy and to promote and safeguard the interests of young people.
Our empowerment programme provides young people with projects and activities in the visual arts, music, theatre, film, writing, and civic and political engagement at local and European level; as well as supports for voluntary youth organisations and a dedicated programme, Youth.inc, for young people experiencing difficulties in education and the transition to working life.
Young people should be respected, valued and listened to and be supported and encouraged in building fulfilling personal and social relationships and in developing their innate abilities and talents for the benefit of themselves, their communities and society.
Our Functions
Our Strategic Objectives
Strategic objective 1
Listen to and support the voices of young people and raise awareness among young people of issues that impact on their everyday lives and provide youth information.
Support a wide range of national programmes, projects and cross-sectoral initiatives for young people that promote and foster their wellbeing, creativity, cultural and artistic expression and innovation and engagement in addressing global issues for sustainable development.
Strategic objective 2
Conduct research on the lives of young people to ensure a knowledge-based policy approach.
Promote and facilitate cross-sectoral initiatives with the voluntary, state and private sectors that adopt an integrated and cohesive approach to meeting young people’s needs and fulfilling their aspirations.
Strategic objective 3
Further facilitate young people’s transition to adulthood.
Strategic objective 7
Further enhance and develop effective youth work practice.
Strategic objective 4
Provide proactive and responsive regional, local and schools-based supports and services that enable young people to learn, work in and contribute to their communities and the wider society and create an environment that fosters equality, inclusion, educational and economic opportunity, and democratic participation and accountability.
Strategic objective 8
Ensure effective coordination and cohesion in implementation of the national youth policy and maximise its potential for supporting young people.
- 14th December 2010 – Aġenzija Żgħażagħ was set up as per Legal Notice 522/2010.
- 26th February 2011 – The launch of the youth information portal
- Aġenzija Żgħażagħ became a member of the European Youth Information and Counselling Agency (ERYICA)
- 26th January 2012 – The launch of youth empowerment programme
- 28th May 2012 – The youth activity centre in Villa Psaigon Dingli opened its doors
- 19th July 2012 – The first youth cafe in Qawra opened for young people
- 18th October 2012 – Young people started to benefit from scheme – the Music Tuition for young people in Band Clubs
- 1st March 2013 – First Youth Hub opened in Giovanni Curmi Higher Secondary School
- 23rd July 2013 – The Youth information One stop shop started operating
- The European youth information charter was signed
- 8th February 2014 – A4U and Be active Schemes were launched to support youth organisations
- 11th August 2015 – The launch of the National Youth Policy 2015-2020
- 1st December 2015 – The Youth Village in ST Venera started its operation
- 28th June 2016 – Aġenzija Żgħażagħ established its detached youth work service
- 1st January 2017 – Eurodesk operates through Aġenzija Żgħażagħ
- 20th – 23rd March – Malta hosted its first EU Youth Conference and the European Director’s General Meeting during the EU Presidency
- 1st October 2018 – Aġenzija Żgħażagħ started its youth work Civic Education programmes in schools
- 6th – 8th November 2018 – Aġenzija Żgħażagħ Hosted the 3rd Commonwealth youth work conference
- 4th-6th July – Young Med Voices Debate Forum
- 10th August – Mirrors & Windows 2: Maltese Young People’s Perspectives, Experiences and Expectations of Education, Employment and Lifestyles had been published.
- 20th October – Aġenzija Żgħażagħ launched the Student Councils Democracy Awards and the Young Parliamentarians.
- 9th – 15th November – Aġenzija Zgħażagħ hosted the 51st International Model European Parliament.
- 2nd December – Establishment of Regional Youth Services
- 29th April – Launch of the first digital youth work services
- 13th July – Launch of Transition Programmes for students who are changing schools from primary to middleschool and from middleschool to Secondary school
- 15th October – Aġenzija Żgħażagħ awarded the Quality Service Charter.
11th January – The Launch of the National Youth Policy 2030
14th February – Agenzija Zghazagh 10th Anniversary
11th January – The Launch of the National Youth Policy 2030
14th February – Agenzija Zghazagh 10th Anniversary