Training, friendship, volunteering, and mission: three days of training for young leaders from Catholic Action in Romania, Malta, Spain and Slovakia
Between 11 and 15 September 2025, Catholic Action Youth Malta (ZAK) hosted the latest edition of the Youth Leaders’ Training Seminar 2.1, bringing together over 60 young leaders from Malta, Spain, Romania and Slovakia.
The event was organized by ŻAK Malta through the Erasmus+ program, confirming once again the value of non-formal education and integrated spiritual moments in preparing young people to become active and responsible citizens.
The seminar provided participants with an international learning environment based on non-formal and informal education methods, designed to develop their leadership, communication and teamwork skills, as well as to offer them moments of personal and spiritual reflection.
Over the course of three days, the young people participated in intensive training sessions on personal motivation, the role of youth leaders, ethics in working with groups and the development of international projects. The mornings began with Holy Mass, and the evenings ended with adoration and prayer, creating a balance between intellectual formation, community experience and spiritual nourishment. The atmosphere of prayer helped participants deepen their reflections on their mission and discover deeper motivations for their involvement in youth work.
The seminar activities combined creative methods of non-formal education with introspection and dialogue exercises. Participants worked in groups, shared their own experiences, and together discovered new perspectives on how they can support the development of others and create more open and inclusive communities. A particularly appreciated moment was the intercultural evening – International Evening, during which each country presented its own traditions, dances and cuisine in an atmosphere of friendship and joy.
The last day was dedicated to disseminating the results and looking to the future. Participants created visual materials, articles and messages for social media to share what they had learned with their communities. They also completed the Youthpass document, which certifies the skills acquired during the training, and participated in the closing Holy Liturgy, a moment of thanksgiving and sending forth to their daily mission.
This seminar offered participants a complete experience – of learning, friendship and spiritual growth – that will inspire their future work in their organisations and local communities. The organisers emphasised the importance of this international meeting as a concrete step in forming a network of young European leaders dedicated to collaboration, solidarity and the promotion of a more just and united society.