Between 7–12 April 2025, 29 young leaders from 19 organisations gathered in Bugibba, Malta, for the first International Activity of the Leadership Academy: Bridging Cultures.

The training offered a hands-on exploration of cultural identities, their influence on behaviours and relationships, and their impact on community life – essential foundations for designing relevant and inclusive social projects.

Setting the Stage: Building a Shared Foundation
The first day focused on setting personal learning objectives, establishing joint agreements, team building, and getting to know one another. A lively memory game underlined the importance of clear communication and observing situations from different perspectives.

In the afternoon, participants explored the theme of personal identity through creating “identity webs” and reflecting on the diverse elements shaping their own lives. Cultural complexity was introduced through the Dune Model, offering a visual and conceptual framework. The evening ended with a “speed dating” session, where participants shared personal stories using pre-prepared symbols representing aspects of their identities.

Deepening Understanding: From Reflection to Action
The second day began with reflections on cultures within communities, particularly focusing on vulnerable groups, stereotypes, and discrimination. The Pyramid of Discrimination model illustrated how discriminatory behaviours develop – and how they can be prevented through conscious thinking and action.

Participants then explored strategies for working in multicultural environments through the Do No Harm approach, introduced by expert Vardan Hambardzumyan, Executive Secretary YMCA Europe. This session emphasised risk assessment and mindful project design.

The afternoon shifted to the role of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) within communities, distinguishing between organisations and initiatives. Participants revisited the importance of mission statements, including that of the YMCA, and engaged in a quiz to discover various YMCA programmes and opportunities across Europe and beyond.

The day concluded with sessions on the Art of Change, highlighting the concept of impact and different levels of change achievable through community work, followed by trust-building exercises.

Inspiration and Experience: Learning from Practice
Day three was devoted to understanding the fundamentals of project management — from the project cycle to problem definition, target group identification, and goal setting. A highlight of the day was a field visit to YMCA Malta’s shelters, providing real-world examples of multicultural community work and the meaning of social relevance.

The evening offered a taste of local culture, with participants enjoying traditional Maltese and Mediterranean cuisine at a local restaurant.

From Vision to Planning: Developing Social Project Ideas
On the fourth day, participants worked on developing their own social project ideas. They formulated objectives, explored formats and event types, and received practical guidance on planning their activities.

The programme concluded with a reflective evaluation session, expressions of gratitude, and an informal celebration to mark the end of an inspiring learning journey.

Key Learning Highlights
Among the main themes participants identified as most impactful were:

Connecting with others and building relationships
Learning about new cultures and perspectives
Project planning from A to Z
Understanding Impact and Levels of Change
Knowing your “Why”
Creating an Identity Web
Applying the Do No Harm approach (dividers and connectors)
Reflecting on personal identity
Effective team building
Importance of understanding local contexts
Learning about Malta’s history and culture
Understanding the Pyramid of Discrimination

As one participant beautifully summarised:
“You have to understand yourself to be able to understand other people.”

Our heartfelt thanks go to the dedicated planning team behind the event – Olga, Martina, Alejandra, Ivo, and Andim – for their creativity, commitment, and excellent coordination throughout.