Maltese in Grundtvig Mobility Visit in Wolverhampton (United Kingdom)

Between 6th-9th June a group of Maltese participated in the 7th and final Grundtvig Mobility visit within the “European Partnership on Adult Education and Mobility for Social Inclusion (EPAEMSI)” project, co-funded by the European Commission through the Lifelong Learning Programme in Wolverhampton (United Kingdom). This event was hosted by Engage Youth Empowerment Services (EYES), an organisation catering for socio-economically disadvantaged youth, aiming to keeping them away from the streets and getting into gangs through various youth activities.

The Maltese delegation included Ms. Annabelle Cauchi from the Deaf People Association, Ms. Sarah Agius – the interpreter from Sign Language Interpreter Service, Ms. Teshai Wayne from Young Women Christian Association and the group leaders Ms. Thelma Bonello and Ms. Rodianne Cassar from Malta UNESCO Youth Association.

The two-year European partnership project concluded in Wolverhampton aimed at using the experience of the seven partner organisations on social inclusion and active participation of adult learners from disadvantaged social groups in order to promote and improve social inclusion through education, in particular non-formal and informal education. The host organisation welcomed adult learners from disadvantaged social groups from Malta, Spain, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Italy and the United Kingdom.

During the mobility visit in Wolverhampton, the participants took part in a series of activities focussed on social inclusion through education. The event kicked off with the presentation of the hosting organisation and its main projects and was then followed by the simulation of the best practice of the hosting organisation: “the theatre of the oppressed”.

Finally, the experience came to an end with the intercultural celebration prepared by the adult learners for the members of the public and local organisations.

Ms. Annabelle Cauchi, one of the participants, shared her feedback about the experience in the UK: “through different activities, we learned a great deal about social inclusion and about the participation of adults from disadvantaged social groups. As a Deaf person, I used the services of an interpreter who joined us on this trip, which helped me to contribute to this project as an active participant. Otherwise, without the services of the sign language interpreter, I would not have been able to participate as I would not have been able to follow what the other participants were saying. It was also a rich intercultural experience, as delegates had the opportunity to celebrate their culture by introducing their respective country and their traditional food.”

For more information about the project you may also visit the projects website www.epaemsi.eu or contact Malta UNESCO Youth Association by sending an email to [email protected].