The Gozo Regional Council conducted workshops in schools to ask the questions: “What does Gozo mean to you?” and “How can we improve Gozo for the better?”. These workshops are the first step in the IDEA Għawdex Project and are part of a plan to increase youth involvement ideas.
IDEA Ghawdex is a project currently being conducted by the Region’s Cultural Officer Francesco Grech. The aim of this project is to gather feedback and ideas from the upcoming generation, in order to implement them and push Gozo forward. With these workshops, a space was created for youths to voice their concerns about their locality an
The first step of the project is gathering ideas from Gozitan youths. These workshops happened in November, the month after Gozo Day. The workshops were conducted in all secondary and post-secondary education institutes in Gozo, mainly the Sir Michelangelo Refalo Sixth Form, Gozo College Ninu Cremona Secondary School, Sacred Heart Minor Seminary and Bishop’s Conservatory Secondary School. The students’ ages varied from 13-17. Around 800 students participated in this part and generated more than 1,100 ideas. Since this feedback exercise sampled the great majority of students in this population, it can be considered a good image of the thoughts of this age group.
Students were asked and encouraged to put forward one idea each, an idea about how Gozo can be improved for the better. Hence the name IDEA Għawdex. The ideas received varied greatly – from the environment, and building planning to traffic, cultural events and social integration. These ideas were gathered and analysed by the Gozo Regional Council employees. The ideas were split into 6 categories, which are: Connectivity, Infrastructure, Lifestyle, Environment, Education, Arts and Culture.
From the data gathered, unsurprisingly, the most prevalent ideas were about improving the Environment, Lifestyle and Infrastructure on the island. The visual representation of statistical data is attached below.
This workshop is part of a whole set of exercises that brings the Region closer to the Citizens it represents. An issue that the Council is noticing is the youth indifference to politics and lack of youth involvement. This small project aims to help address this issue, by giving a voice to the students. On the other hand, students feel empowered as those in charge are hearing their opinions. The students who participated garnered and discussed both minor and major issues first-hand. Not only current and important issues were discussed, but also potential future threats such as overpopulation that will affect Gozo in the long term.
These ideas have been put forward to the Gozo Regional Council and analysed by the mayors themselves. The council discussed and debated these ideas and will further discuss these ideas with the youths themselves during an upcoming series of workshops which will take place on the 4th of March.