Salesian Pastoral Youth Service (SPYS)

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Animated by a team of experienced religious and lay youth leaders, SPYS [1] seeks to develop and implement a programme of holistic formation for young people. The whole thing started in 1995 by developing programmes with a particular target group in the local area of Sliema (Malta), but the constantly increasing demand for the programmes highlighted the need for a national dimension to this service. With a growing service to youths in Malta, especially through its SPYS & Friends reaching out and follow-up activities, in recent years SPYS has also reached out internationally with involvement on a wider European scale and is now also seeking new volunteering ventures in developing countries through its newly established international office, SPYS.int[2]. SPYS has been since 2004 also a member of the Don Bosco Youth-Net [3] - a network of European Salesian organizations aiming mainly at empowering young people in each member country to take charge.

[edit] The Vision

With the two-fold aim of person building and community building, the Salesian Pastoral Youth Service accompanies young people towards the discovery of authentic life values. Through an optimistic view of life in the light of the Gospel, it seeks to develop and implement a programme of holistic Christian formation which enables the young to grow in friendship with the Lord and peace with the self and encourages them to reach out in a ministry to others.

[edit] SPYS Seminars

Residential Weekend Seminars[4]

The themes of these seminars range from leadership, to teamwork, to self awareness to spiritual growth and education through sport. Some of these seminars are also recognized as academic credits at the University of Malta[5]. Animated by well-prepared, professional volunteer youth leaders, these residential weekends are characterised by active participation from those present at each seminar. Through workshops, games and discussions, coupled with an element of spirituality the young people can experience informal learning in a healthy family setting. This is usually an experience that is overpowering and gets the participants hooked!

Adult training seminars[6]

Formation seminars are very often conducted by a foreign guest and are aimed at educators, youth leaders, social workers and people who are interested in being involved with young people. The themes of the seminars have ranged from Leadership, Self Awareness, Grieving, Stress Management, Dream Analysis, The Genogram, Story & the Art of Change, Intimacy & Autonomy and last but not least Dreams & Spirituality.

The University of Malta also recognizes these seminars as academic credits.