First International Workshop Successfully Held in Malta
Empowering Youth for a Sustainable Energy Future
Erasmus+ Youth Participation Project (KA154-YOU)
Project No.: 2025-1-MT01-KA154-YOU-000297538
The first international workshop of the Erasmus+ Youth Participation project “Empowering Youth for a Sustainable Energy Future” was successfully implemented in Malta (Gozo) between 1–5 December 2025, under the title “Future Energy, Today’s Youth.” The activity marked a strong and inspiring start to the project and confirmed the high motivation, engagement, and commitment of all partners and participants.
Hosted in a welcoming and collaborative environment, the workshop brought together young people from partner countries to explore sustainable energy, climate change, green jobs, and youth participation in decision-making processes. All planned activities were implemented smoothly, and the workshop objectives were fully achieved.
A Strong Start: Objectives and Approach
The Malta workshop laid the foundation for the entire project. Its main purpose was to raise awareness among young people about energy-related challenges and opportunities, while strengthening their social, civic, digital, and communication competences.
Through non-formal education methods, the workshop aimed to:
- Encourage young people to speak up on environmental and energy-related issues
- Strengthen understanding of European values, human rights, and active citizenship
- Develop digital and media literacy, especially for advocacy and awareness-raising
- Empower participants to understand and engage with decision-making processes at local, national, and EU levels
- Help young people support their ideas with evidence and confidently present them to peers and decision-makers
The thematic focus on sustainable energy, climate crisis, jobs of the future, and sustainable development resonated strongly with participants and created meaningful discussions throughout the week.
Workshop Highlights and Learning Experience
Arrival and Welcome
Participants arrived on 30 November 2025 and were accommodated at Il-Kunvent Hotel in Għarb, Gozo. The informal welcome and shared meals helped create a positive group dynamic and set the tone for an open and collaborative learning environment.
Day 1 – Understanding Energy and Youth’s Role
The workshop officially started on 1 December 2025 with a welcome session and an overview of objectives. Keynote speeches and interactive discussions explored global energy trends, innovations, and the importance of youth involvement in shaping energy futures.
Participants engaged in group activities focusing on:
- Local and global energy challenges
- Designing a renewable energy transition plan for Gozo
- Understanding renewable energy sources such as solar and wind
- Exploring barriers and opportunities for youth participation in energy decision-making
These sessions encouraged teamwork, critical thinking, and creativity, allowing participants to connect theory with real-life contexts.
Day 2 – Innovation and Youth-Led Solutions
The second day focused on innovative energy solutions and youth-led initiatives. Lectures, panel discussions, and role-play simulations highlighted successful examples of youth engagement in clean energy campaigns.
Participants took part in:
- Renewable Energy Innovation Labs
- Poster sessions and energy role-play simulations
- Workshops designing sustainable energy solutions
- Presentations of youth-led renewable energy projects from around the world
The combination of expert input and hands-on activities ensured a highly engaging and productive learning experience.
Day 3 – Energy Policies and Advocacy
Day three deepened participants’ understanding of energy policies and youth advocacy. Workshops and discussions explored how young people can influence policy-making and how youth movements can drive change in the energy sector.
Key activities included:
- Training on effective communication strategies for energy advocacy
- Drafting youth-led energy advocacy campaigns
- Video shooting sessions for awareness-raising and digital campaigns
These activities strengthened participants’ confidence, public speaking skills, and ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and persuasively.
Day 4 – Technologies of the Future
On the fourth day, participants explored emerging energy technologies and their practical applications. Through interactive demonstrations and group work, young people examined how future energy solutions could be implemented both locally and globally.
Reflection sessions allowed participants to connect technological innovation with social responsibility and sustainability goals.
Day 5 – Reflection, Action Plans, and Certification
The final workshop day focused on reflection, consolidation of learning, and future action. Participants reviewed key lessons learned and presented their individual and group action plans for future energy-related initiatives.
The workshop concluded with:
- Final presentations to peers and external experts
- Feedback and evaluation sessions
- A certification ceremony celebrating participants’ achievements
The closing sessions highlighted the strong personal and collective growth achieved during the workshop.
Multicultural Dimension and Group Cohesion
Each evening featured multicultural activities, including traditional music, dances, and cultural presentations from Hungary, Türkiye, Germany, and Malta. These moments strengthened intercultural dialogue, mutual respect, and European solidarity among participants.
Overall Assessment and Impact
The “Future Energy, Today’s Youth” workshop in Malta was a great success. All activities were delivered as planned, participant engagement was very high, and the learning outcomes exceeded expectations. Young people left the workshop more informed, confident, and motivated to take action in their communities.
This first workshop successfully:
- Built a strong foundation for the next project activities in Germany, Hungary, and Türkiye
- Empowered young people to see themselves as active changemakers in the energy transition
- Strengthened cooperation among partner organisations and participants
The Malta workshop clearly demonstrated the value of youth participation in addressing Europe’s energy and climate challenges and set a positive and ambitious tone for the rest of the project.
In addition, five participants and team members from Phoenix Knowledge Wings gGmbH took part in the workshop, bringing significant expertise and valuable contributions to the discussions, group work, facilitation of sessions, and overall quality of the learning process throughout the event.
