Creativity VI - Volunteering and Activism by Alex Thenner

From the 6th to the 16th of September 2011, 120 young people from 12 countries of the European Union came together in a specially arranged place within the premises of the «Tsaf Tsouf» summer camp at Orphani Kavalas/Greece to participate in and contribute to artistic workshops (performance, dance, cinema, photography, web radio, handicraft, circus, comic book) in view of creating for and expressing themselves about volunteering and activism.

The participants, using their expression and creativity, made statements and exchanged opinions through which, they fostered their perception to and respect for multiculturalism and sought for new, creative ways for promoting the ideas of volunteering and active citizenship. In parallel, they were involved in sports’ activities, intercultural nights, exhibitions and music nights.

Technically speaking, “Creativities” are projects funded by the European Commission’s “Youth in Action / Youth” Programmes. They are categorized as multilateral intercultural youth exchanges.

Everything started in 2004 by “Kids in Action” with the helping hand (mind and soul) of several partner NGOs from different European countries. Thenceforth, several editions of the concept took place.

Different themes have been addressed: Peace & Solidarity (2004, Greece), Tolerance & Diversity (2005, Greece), Love & Unity (2006, Greece), Democracy & Participation (2008, Greece), Creativity.cat - Act for Interculturality (2009, Girona, Spain), CreArtivity - Creativity & Innovation (2009, Greece), Creativity.UK (2010, UK)

In the latest edition, Volunteering & Activism, the Malta UNESCO Youth Association had the honour and definitely the pleasure to be one of the partner groups among 12 in total, which consisted of one “leader” and five participants each. Being creative from the start, the Maltese group – later referred to simply as “The Maltesers” – managed to be the only group of “6andahalf” participants, since with Rosaleen Thenner Caruana (at that time 13 months old) we sent the youngest participant ever to take part in Creativity. The other Maltesers were Deborah Abela, Roberta Bonnici, Christianne Caruana, Andy Grech, Dhiraj Narwani and Alex Thenner.

Together we all shared the experience of the vision of a world where difference is a driving force, equality is a must, mistakes are means for change and development and creativity is being. It was and still is a lived experience.

For most people might describe creativity as “to make, to begin, to launch or to set forth.” “Creativity” by Kids in Action does so much more than this. It is a creative process that empathizes with and embraces the youth world and seeks to dynamically evolve and maintain its appropriateness to all youth, with no exception. Because no one is better than another, there is no in or out, up or down in the circle that is “Creativity”…