A group of youths from Sliema Wanderers Football Nursery who participated in a ‘Youth In Action’, partly-funded EU project, paid a courtesy visit to Her Excellency, The President of Malta to share their experience and to encourage other youth organisations to take the opportunities available through EU-funded programmes such as ERASMUS+.

H.E. Marie Louise Coleiro Preca and Mr Edgar Preca listened to the youths explain how they all benefited from the project especially during their week-long visit to Dublin, Republic of Ireland. The ‘Youth In Action’ project entitled “Y.E.S. – Youth Embracing Sports” mainly focused on encouraging youths to participate in sports and live a healthy lifestyle and enrich their personality by experiencing the culture of other countries.

The project was done in partnership with the Home Farm Football Academy from Dublin who hosted the group from Sliema for a week-long of sport, culture, history, education and social activities. In Dublin the group was led by Nursery Chairman Mark Pace, Head Coach Martin Sacco, Coach Lawrence Formosa, and coordinators Stephanie Rocco and Karen Heneghan.

H.E. Marie Louise Coleiro Preca remarked that she can notice that this project has helped in the youths’ personal development as they all spoke confidently about their experiences. She encouraged them to always work as a team and assist her Presidency’s quest to also see the Maltese Nation working as a team for a brighter future. She also remarked that she was encouraged by the youths’ attitude towards multicultural social integration.

During the visit Mark Borg, Sliema Wanderers Football Club and Nursery representative, presented Her Excellency with a Sliema Wanderers football vest with the name Coleiro Preca printed on the back and a football signed by all club players to be auctioned during the l-iStrina fund raising activities. The professional assistance from MEUSAC and EUPA was also acknowledged during the meeting.