https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/76568 Mon, 06 Apr 2026 13:56:59 GMT 2026-04-06T13:56:59Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/100336 Title: Mija - Mija : proposti għall-Ħabs, għall-qasam soċjali u għall-qasam tas-saħħa mentali Authors: Azzopardi, Andrew Abstract: Mija Mija huwa ktieb b’ diversi proposti fil-qasam soċjali li żviluppajt f’oqsma varji flimkien ma’ professjonisti, akkademiċi, NGOs, attivisti u nies affettwati bl-issues huma nfushom. L-iskop ta’ dawn il-proposti, xi whud minnhom radikali għal Malta, huwa li joħolqu diskussjoni biex bil-mod il-mod nalinejaw l-politika soċjali moderna u bbażata fuq governanza soċjali tajba.; Dan id-dokument juri b’ mod ċar u huwa xhieda li fadlilna ħafna x’ nagħmlu f’ dan il-qasam imma hemm ċertezza assoluta li hemm ir-riżorsi, l-għerf u l-kapaċita’ biex nagħmlu pass ‘il quddiem. [excerpt] Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/100336 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/100335 Title: Armed Forces of Malta - Faculty for Social Wellbeing partnership for social inclusion : evaluation report Authors: Azzopardi, Andrew; Cuff, Annabel; Vella, Graziella Abstract: During these last years, the Faculty for Social Wellbeing has been working with the AFM to try and find ways to share knowledge on very complex and interesting matters around migration, radicalisation and integration. This project in collaboration with the AFM has focused on a number of areas, firstly by providing conversation between the Faculty and AFM specialised services, secondly by offering a short course to soldiers and also officials within the army and finally by using these experiences to list out what we think are the challenges being faced by the AFM in these areas. The openness of the AFM, their willingness to engage in this conversation has proved to be crucial, productive and engaging. We look forward to keeping this collaboration going. [excerpt] Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/100335 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/100334 Title: Iklin Community Project Authors: Azzopardi, Andrew; Formosa, Olga Abstract: There is no way we can address the issues that lie at the heart of our communities unless (a) we know our communities well and (b) we have evidence from the grassroots on what needs to improve. This is what the Iklin Local Council commissioned us to do, to understand the community, its strengths and weaknesses and come up with a number of proposals and recommendations on how to take it forward. Being passionate about community development and knowing well enough how important local councils are for the enrichment of society we took the plunge and I must say that Olga Formosa, RSO with the support of Annabel Cuff, RSO and Charlene Fabri, Administrative Specialist and my assistant managed to come up with a great piece of work which can easily become a blueprint for other communities.; This meticulous and detailed report gives a bearing of the challenges that the Iklin Local Council faces day-in day-out to ensure its community retains its liveability notwithstanding the challenges it faces. What I found intriguing in this report is that the need for community is felt by the residents and this augurs well to take the necessary actions to bring about the much needed transformations. [excerpt] Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/100334 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/97496 Title: Examining the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on Maltese young people Authors: Azzopardi, Andrew; Caruso, Jeremy Abstract: As part of Aġenzija Żagħżagħ’s ongoing research programme and cooperation agreement with the Faculty of Social Wellbeing at the University of Malta, this study outlines the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on Maltese young people. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been felt across Europe and the world. For young people, as well as for everyone, it has resulted in a more restrictive lifestyle, limited access to education, work and services, self-isolation and social distancing. It is also evident from research and surveys worldwide that young people have been disproportionately affected by the social, educational and economic impact of the pandemic. This study, conducted by the Faculty of Wellbeing at the University of Malta, provides further corroborative evidence of the adverse effect of the pandemic on the lives of young people. The pandemic had a negative impact on their participation in education and on their mental and physical health and wellbeing. Young females appear to have been worse affected in terms of personal and social relationships while family life was often tense and stressful. On the positive side, young people appear satisfied with the government’s handling of both the pandemic and the vaccination programme and the impact on youth employment appears more nuanced, which may reflect the flexibility of working online that resulted from the pandemic. While in Malta we were generally successful in managing and mitigating the effects of the pandemic; nonetheless, we are all too aware of how it has impacted on the lives of our families, friends, and communities: how it caused loss, distress and uncertainty. While regular youth services, programmes and initiatives in Malta, as elsewhere across Europe, were greatly impacted by the pandemic, it also provided us with a unique opportunity for working with and reaching out to young people online and through social media. In Malta, we continued to work and provide support and encouragement to young people during the pandemic while further developing and expanding our capacity for digital youth work. We also continued to digitalize our services and supported youth organisations to re-design and adjust their programmes and projects. I want to thank Professor Andrew Azzopardi, Project Manager of the study, and his colleagues at the Faculty of Social Wellbeing for their work which makes a valuable and informed contribution to our understanding of how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted on the lives of young people in Malta and how we can work together in seeking to support and encourage them. [Foreword by Miriam Teuma] Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/97496 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z