Malta
participants
Our goal was to get Erasmus students to help clean up a large area surrounding a football pitch at a local immigrant centre. The football pitch is mainly used by children, and thus we wanted to make sure that they have a safer space to access the pitch.
Furthermore, through this experience we wanted the students to meet with the inhabitants of the centre and integrate them. It was important for us as ESN Malta to show Erasmus students the sort of issues that they might not have known Malta faces.
After the clean up, we organised some games and had a friendly football match with those living at the centre.
Facebook event description:
"Give back during your Erasmus experience!
Football is a refuge for those who have left everything. Join us tomorrow for a clean-up and rehabilitation of a football pitch followed by a game of football!"
AND
"This Saturday.
An inspiring event equalizing sports to all. 💖
Remember when you were 10 years old ? What did you play on the playground ? 🤔
We're giving migrant kids the same opportunity and further embellishing their football pitches with a clean up and tree planting followed by a sports event. 😍
*Picture this* 🤩
Its 2030 and the saplings we plant in 2019 are now 10 metres tall, providing shade to the surrounding areas of the pitch for Maltese, Ethiopian, German, Syrian kids to enjoy.
The yearly initiative by ESN Malta MFA and KSU has grown into a full blown sports festival."
The Erasmus students enjoyed playing with those living at the centre. Tree planting was challenging but ultimately rewarding, as many of the students had never planted a tree before. Furthermore, the rubbish collection went extremely well, the students managed to fill over 30 large rubbish bags which were then later collected by a local recycling NGO