Wednesday, 7th January 2026
 to Monday, 12th January 2026

8:00 am – 2:00 pm

Aġenzija Żgħażagħ, St Venera

Students

Prayer Spaces will be setup for students

Maltese & English

SDS at Youth.Inc

The start of each new year brings renewed hope and purpose, and we could not have begun 2026 with a more encouraging experience than at Youth.Inc, where SDS were invited to run short sessions that included Prayer Spaces.

Youth.Inc is a youth education and development programme for young people experiencing difficulties in education and the transition to working life, run by Aġenzija Żgħażagħ, the Maltese National Youth Agency. The theme chosen for these three-day sessions was “Safe Zone: One Step at a Time.”

The 90-minute sessions began with a simple ball game. When the ball landed on someone, they introduced themselves and named their personal “safe zone”—usually a hobby, favourite place, or special person. It was then explained that the premises had also been transformed into a “safe zone” which participants would discover gradually, in three steps—truly, one step at a time.

Appreciating the Moment

Sitting on cushions beside a tent decorated with fairy lights and soft music, participants were encouraged to pause and appreciate the simple fact that they were breathing and alive. Breathing exercises helped them to quiet down and prepare for the reflective activities ahead, while also creating space for gratitude. They were invited to give thanks in their hearts, perhaps even to God.

Reflective Prayer Spaces

The next step was to explore the various reflective and prayerful activities prepared for them. The engagement of the young people was palpable, and their willingness to participate was truly humbling. One group showed particular emotional involvement with the “People Tree” activity, which seemed to bring back memories of loved ones who had passed away. The empathy they showed towards one another was admirable.

One teenage girl had quarrelled with a classmate the week before. After completing the “Forgiveness Stones” activity, she initially said she could not forgive her. Yet moments later, she walked up to her classmate and gave her a big hug. On another occasion, a girl knelt quietly by the basin of sand and spent time in personal prayer.

Another participant at first struggled with the “Bubble Wishes” activity, feeling that praying or trying was in vain. A simple testimony and a word of reassurance helped him to take a small step forward. One girl shared that she had only one wish: there was something in her life she needed to work on, and she was determined to achieve it. Their honesty and vulnerability opened the way to a renewed sense of grace and inner strength.

One Step Forward

The final step included a processing session in which participants reflected on the activities and named their favourites. Some commented that they were leaving the “zone” feeling much better than when they had entered it.

As part of the reflection, a short clip about hermit crabs was shown. Hermit crabs grow, but their shells do not, so they must change them regularly. The video showed crabs lining up from largest to smallest, each waiting to move into the slightly bigger shell left behind by another. The lesson was clear: opportunities to move forward will always arise, but we must not be afraid to take them—one step at a time.

Change is not easy, but when we face it gradually and with the support of those who love and guide us, we can keep moving forward—growing in confidence, in relationships, in faith, and in becoming more of who we are meant to be.

These sessions where organised and run with the gentle help of Ms Deborah Bonnici Schembri and the Youth Workers at Youth.Inc.

Deborah, one of the youth workers, commented:

I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to each one of you for the time, energy, and resources you dedicated to delivering the Prayer Spaces here at Aġenzija Żgħażagħ.

The feedback from both young people and youth workers has been overwhelmingly positive. The spaces were experienced as meaningful, engaging, and thoughtfully prepared, clearly reflecting the care and commitment you invested in them. It was evident that the young people felt welcome, listened to, and given the opportunity to pause and reflect in a safe, creative environment.

Thank you once again for your generosity and collaboration. It has truly been a valuable experience for our community, and we sincerely hope to have the opportunity to work together again and to repeat this initiative next year.

Feel free to contact the SDS team to animate a CoPE session for your educators or a spiritual session for students by filling out the following form:

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This event is part of the Prayer Spaces programme.