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1. Information providers / counselling structures

2. Youth-targeted information campaigns about democratic rights and democratic values

3. Promoting the intercultural dialogue among young people

4. Promoting transparent and youth-tailored public communication

Information providers / counselling structures

The main public authority responsible for providing information and raising awareness among young people about democratic rights, civic participation and related issues in Malta is Aġenzija Żgħażagħ.

A central structure in this regard is the Youth Information One Stop Shop (YIOSS), a national youth information centre operating within Aġenzija Żgħażagħ. YIOSS provides young people with access to information, guidance and advice in a safe, inclusive and youth-friendly environment. It is staffed by professional youth workers specialising in youth information and counselling, ensuring that services are reliable, confidential and tailored to young people’s needs.

YIOSS supports young people in accessing information on a wide range of topics, including education, employment, rights, participation opportunities and European programmes. It also promotes awareness of democratic rights and civic engagement by helping young people understand available opportunities and how to engage with them at local, national and European levels. The service is accessible both physically and online through its web portal and digital tools.

Additional services include Youth Worker Online, a free online support service that allows young people to seek information and guidance, and the coordination of Eurodesk Malta, which provides information on European opportunities, mobility and participation initiatives.

YIOSS is a full member of the European Youth Information and Counselling Agency (ERYICA) and adheres to the principles of the European Youth Information Charter. In 2022, it was awarded the European Youth Information Quality Label, which it continues to retain, recognising the quality and reliability of its services.

More recently, Aġenzija Żgħażagħ, in collaboration with the National Youth Council, introduced the Youth Information Ambassadors initiative, which strengthens peer-to-peer dissemination of youth information. Through this initiative, young people themselves contribute to sharing information on rights, opportunities and participation, enhancing outreach and engagement within youth communities.

There is no overarching national legislative framework specifically regulating youth information and counselling structures; however, services are guided by European standards and supported through public funding under Aġenzija Żgħażagħ.

Youth-targeted information campaigns about democratic rights and democratic values

Malta has implemented several youth-targeted campaigns aimed at raising awareness of democratic rights, active citizenship and participation, particularly among first-time voters.

The Vote16 Campaign, led by the Government following the extension of voting rights to 16- and 17-year-olds, aimed to inform young people about their new electoral rights and the importance of democratic participation. The campaign targeted mainly 15–17-year-olds through social media, traditional media and collaboration with youth organisations and political youth wings, with Aġenzija Żgħażagħ playing an active supporting role.

In 2019, Aġenzija Żgħażagħ participated in the #GiveAVote Campaign, a pan-European initiative coordinated by the European Youth Card Association. The campaign aimed to encourage young people aged 16–25 to vote in the European Parliament elections. In Malta, the initiative reached over 35,000 young people and contributed to raising awareness of the importance of participation in European democratic processes.

More recently, in 2024, Aġenzija Żgħażagħ participated in the More in 24 initiative, also supported at European level, which aimed to encourage young people to engage more actively with the European project and participate in the European Parliament elections. This was complemented by the Walk the Talk campaign, implemented in collaboration with Eurodesk, which highlighted the importance of voting and informed young people about how EU-level decisions affect issues such as education, employment and the environment.

In addition to electoral participation campaigns, Aġenzija Żgħażagħ has implemented awareness-raising initiatives on democratic values and human rights. A Human Rights Campaign carried out in 2020, involving youth ambassadors and youth information workers, provided a platform for young people to discuss human rights issues through social media and youth cafés. The campaign featured weekly themes and encouraged dialogue, participation and reflection among young people.

Promoting the intercultural dialogue among young people

Promoting intercultural dialogue is a key element of youth policy in Malta, particularly in the context of increasing cultural diversity.

Aġenzija Żgħażagħ has organised a number of initiatives aimed at fostering dialogue between young people from different cultural backgrounds. Since 2019, activities linked to the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development have provided structured opportunities for intercultural exchange.

One such initiative was the Youth Intercultural Dialogue Fair, organised as part of the Polifest project. This initiative brought together Maltese young people, young migrants and policy-makers to engage in structured dialogue and exchange perspectives. The discussions resulted in recommendations presented to public authorities, contributing to policy reflection.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, these initiatives were adapted to online formats, maintaining opportunities for intercultural exchange through virtual discussions and events involving youth organisations and migrant communities.

In 2021, Aġenzija Żgħażagħ launched the Roots and Routes initiative, including a podcast series featuring stories of young migrants in Malta. This initiative aimed to give visibility to diverse youth experiences and promote understanding, inclusion and social cohesion.

Intercultural dialogue is also promoted through youth work at local level. For example, youth workers operating within youth hubs such as those at MCAST engage young people in an initiative call Bridging Cultures to encourage cultural exchange. This include food-based intercultural activities, where young people share cultural traditions through cooking and discussion, creating accessible spaces for dialogue, mutual understanding and social interaction among diverse groups of youth.

Promoting transparent and youth-tailored public communication

The main policy framework guiding youth-tailored communication in Malta is the National Youth Policy – Towards 2030, implemented by Aġenzija Żgħażagħ. One of its key strategic goals is to listen to and support the voices of young people while ensuring that they are informed about issues affecting their lives through accessible, transparent and youth-friendly communication.

The policy promotes transparent and youth-oriented communication through a number of actions. These include supporting youth participation in decision-making processes, particularly through mechanisms such as the EU Youth Dialogue; promoting the involvement of young people, including those with fewer opportunities, in shaping national policies and programmes; and developing awareness-raising campaigns on key societal issues.

Aġenzija Żgħażagħ plays a central role in ensuring that public communication is accessible, reliable and relevant to young people. This includes maintaining active digital and social media platforms, delivering information through the Youth Information One Stop Shop (YIOSS), and supporting youth organisations in developing their own communication tools and content.

In this context, the Youth Information Ambassadors initiative, implemented by Aġenzija Żgħażagħ in collaboration with the  National Youth Council Malta, represents an important development in promoting transparency and youth-friendly communication. Through this initiative, young people themselves are actively involved in disseminating information about rights, opportunities and participation mechanisms. By adopting a peer-to-peer approach, the initiative enhances trust, accessibility and clarity of information, while ensuring that communication is delivered in formats and language that resonate with young people. It also strengthens transparency by bridging the gap between public institutions and young people, enabling more direct and relatable communication channels.

Furthermore, the policy framework emphasises adherence to the principles of the European Youth Information Charter, ensuring that information provided to young people is accurate, accessible and user-centred. Efforts are also made to ensure inclusivity, including accessibility for young people with disabilities.

Through these combined measures, Malta aims to ensure that public communication is transparent, participatory and tailored to the needs of young people, supporting their active engagement in democratic life.