International Youth Day: different realities, common aspirations

On International Youth Day, Momentum recognises that while young people may live in very different circumstances, their aspirations are remarkably similar: a decent life, meaningful work, affordable housing, quality education, a healthy environment and a genuine voice in the decisions that shape their future.

The UN’s theme for 2026, “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations”, is particularly relevant to Malta. As a small island state, young people here face many of the same challenges highlighted by the United Nations: rising living costs, pressure on housing, environmental degradation, limited space, and growing uncertainty about their future.Maltese young people deserve the very best that Malta can offer. They are not simply Malta’s future, but they are the generation that will determine what it means to be Maltese in the decades to come.

Momentum’s motivation is closely aligned with the aspirations of Malta’s youth: a country where young people can build a future, not simply survive the present; where economic progress does not come at the expense of the environment; and where young people have a meaningful say in the country they will inherit.

Graziella Spiteri, executive member of Momentum, said, “This is why so many of Momentum’s policies are focused on safeguarding our present and our future. We want to protect the places that belong to all of us, from our beautiful villages and historic heritage to our Natura 2000 sites and remaining green spaces. We want to ensure that places like Manoel Island, Comino, Swatar, Pembroke, Nigret, and many others are protected for future generations, so that Malta remains an island worth living in.”Graziella Spiteri added, “We want to make it easier for Maltese citizens living abroad to exercise their democratic right to vote. We want Malta to invest properly in its future by increasing research and development spending from around 0.6% of GDP to at least the EU average of 2.2%. We want to tackle property speculation, so that young people have a genuine chance of buying a home of their own.”

International Youth Day should therefore be more than a celebration of young people. It should be a commitment to listen to youths, involve them, and build a Malta where they can choose to stay, thrive, and shape their own future.In recognition of the pivotal role that the younger generation occupies in our society, we extend a formal invitation to youths across Malta to join ‘Young Momentum’. Your unique perspectives and innovative contributions are essential in our collective mission to shape a prosperous and sustainable future for Malta.

We encourage you to express your interest and share your aspirations by completing the official registration form available at https://forms.gle/iZMVfCnZqqyQazCa6

Jum Internazzjonali taż-Żgħażagħ: realtajiet differenti, aspirazjonijiet komuni

Fil-Jum Internazzjonali taż-Żgħażagħ, Momentum jirrikonoxxi li filwaqt li ż-żgħażagħ jistgħu jgħixu f’ċirkostanzi differenti ħafna, l-aspirazjonijiet tagħhom jixtiebħu ħafna: ħajja deċenti, xogħol sinifikanti, akkomodazjoni affordabbli, edukazjoni ta’ kwalità, ambjent b’saħħtu u vuċi ġenwina fid-deċiżjonijiet li jsawru l-futur tagħhom.

It-tema tan-NU għall-2026, “Kuntesti Differenti, Aspirazjonijiet Komuni”, hija partikolarment rilevanti għal Malta. Bħala stat gżira żgħira, iż-żgħażagħ hawn jiffaċċjaw ħafna mill-istess sfidi enfasizzati min-Nazzjonijiet Uniti: żjieda fl-ispejjeż tal-għajxien, pressjoni fuq l-akkomodazjoni, degradazjoni ambjentali, spazju limitat, u inċertezza dejjem tikber dwar il-futur tagħhom.Iż-żgħażagħ Maltin jistħoqqilhom l-aħjar li Malta tista’ toffri. M’humiex sempliċement il-futur ta’ Malta, iżda huma l-ġenerazjoni li se tiddetermina xi tfisser li tkun Malti fid-deċennji li ġejjin.

Il-motivazzjoni ta’ Momentum hija allinjata mill-qrib mal-aspirazjonijiet taż-żgħażagħ ta’ Malta: pajjiż fejn iż-żgħażagħ jistgħu jibnu futur, mhux sempliċement jgħixu l-preżent; fejn il-progress ekonomiku ma jiġix għad-detriment tal-ambjent; u fejn iż-żgħażagħ ikollhom vuċi sinifikanti fil-pajjiż li se jirtu.q

Graziella Spiteri, membru tal-eżekuttiv ta’ Momentum, qalet, “Huwa għalhekk li ħafna mill-poliitiki ta’ Momentum huma ffukati fuq is-salvagwardja tal-preżent u l-futur tagħna. Irridu nipproteġu l-postijiet li jappartjenu lilna lkoll, mill-irħula sbieħ tagħna u l-wirt storiku sas-siti Natura 2000 tagħna u l-ispazji ħodor li fadal. Irridu niżguraw li postijiet bħal Manoel Island, Kemmuna, Swatar, Pembroke, Nigret u ħafna oħrajn ikunu mħarsa għall-ġenerazjonijiet futuri, sabiex Malta tibqa’ gżira li ta’ min jgħix fiha.”

Graziella Spiteri żiedet tgħid, “Irridu nagħmluha aktar faċli għaċ-ċittadini Maltin li jgħixu barra minn Malta biex jeżerċitaw id-dritt demokratiku tagħhom li jivvutaw. Irridu li Malta tinvesti kif suppost fil-futur tagħha billi żżid l-infiq fuq ir-riċerka u l-iżvilupp minn madwar 0.6% tal-PDG għal mill-inqas il-medja tal-UE ta’ 2.2%. Irridu nindirizzaw l-ispekulazzjoni tal-proprjetà, sabiex iż-żgħażagħ ikollhom ċans ġenwin li jixtru dar tagħhom stess.”Għalhekk, il-Jum Internazzjonali taż-Żgħażagħ għandu jkun aktar minn ċelebrazjoni taż-żgħażagħ. Għandu jkun impenn li nisimgħu liż-żgħażagħ, ninvolvuhom, u nibnu Malta fejn jistgħu jagħżlu li jibqgħu, jirnexxu, u jsawru l-futur tagħhom stess.B’rikonoxximent tar-rwol ċentrali taż-żgħażagħ fis-soċjetà tagħna, qed nistiednu formalment liż-żgħażagħ biex jingħaqdu ma’ ‘Żgħażagħ Momentum’. Il-perspettivi uniċi u l-kontributi innovattivi tagħkom huma essenzjali fil-missjoni tagħna biex insawru futur prosperu u sostenibbli għal Malta.

Inħeġġukom tesprimu l-interess tagħkom u taqsmu l-aspirazzjonijiet tagħkom billi timlew il-formola uffiċjali ta’ reġistrazzjoni li tinsab fuq https://forms.gle/iZMVfCnZqqyQazCa6

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