Malta will be #bridgingcultures this week as it prepares to welcome 1,500 girl guides and scouts aged between 11 and 16 years from 21 different countries for the first ever Mediterranean Jamboree to be held at the Ghajn Tuffieha International Scout Camp Site.

As MedJam18 project director Edward Vella remarked at the press launch of the event, this “marks an important milestone in the history of local scouting and guiding, as this is the first time that the two associations have collaborated on such a remarkable project.”

This project has been several years in the making, and the organising committee has been hard at work since last year, wading through myriad logistics to make it all happen. Participants will travel from as far afield as Australia and the Caribbean and everywhere else in between, with the aim of bridging cultural differences between the youngsters and fostering their personal development. The event is supported by the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts and the World Organisation of the Scout Movement.

Organising committee member Elaine Attard explained how this is a dream come true for the local associations. “MedJam18 has been a dream of the local scouting association since they took over the Ghajn Tuffieha International Scout Camp site. Many Maltese scouts and guides have been to international camps before, but there has never been such a camp held locally,” says Elaine.

“The dream to hold an international camp locally started to become a reality as soon an invitation was extended to the Malta Girl Guides to organise the camp jointly. The Malta Girl Guides rose to the occasion and immediately took an active role in the committee while working side by side with the scouts. A committee including various seasoned volunteers from both associations was formed and the work started around a year ago,” adds Elaine.

“A test camp was organised in September last year. This was the first joint national camp for Guides and Scouts and the theme was #StrongerTogether. Malta is considered the gem of the Mediterranean. The strategic position of Malta in the centre of the Mediterranean makes it a stepping stone for other countries, hence creating the perfect location to bring together guides and scouts from all over the world.”

MedJam18 will bring together various local partners including Valletta 2018 Foundation, Agenzija Zghazagh, BirdLife Malta, Malta Experience and Esplora science centre to give participants a fun programme of activities in what promises to be one of the biggest youth events this year.

“The camp will create an environment in which participants can exchange their experience, knowledge and ideas,” says Elaine. “These exchanges will bring together different cultures and encourage participants to enhance fundamental values whilst enjoying themselves in a wonderful environment.”

Organising such an event is a mammoth task, and the committee had to overcome several obstacles along the way. “We have been working on the event since last August and faced various challenges, especially logistical in ensuring that all details are in place to host the young participants,” explains Elaine. 

“The numbers of participants, both local and international, are encouraging. One major success so far was that of attracting the attention of our International Guiding and Scouting counterparts. The interest was encouraging immediately from the first day the camp promotion began. We are giving our utmost to give MedJam18 participants the experience of a lifetime. We take pride in bringing together various commercial entities, government and voluntary organisations to collaborate on this major event,” adds Elaine.

Participants are in for some special treats. “As an organising committee we have taken care to ensure that all activities that make up the camp are educational but definitely not short of exciting. There is a touch of Maltese culture throughout all the programme, which includes both onsite and off site activities. Some activities include swimming and snorkelling, a walk around the silent city of Mdina, a visit to the traditional festa of Lija dedicated to Our Saviour, a boat ride and party around the Maltese Islands, as well as a number of on site workshops. There will also be an opening and closing ceremony,” reveals Elaine.

MedJam18 is a closed activity, however you can follow the event via its dedicated Facebook page and on the website. The event is being organised in partnership with the Emergency and Fire Rescue Unit, kellimni.com, Sedqa as part of the Foundation for Social Welfare Services, WEMalta - Green MT, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Ministry for Education and Employment, parliamentary secretary for youth, sport and voluntary organisations and the Ministry for Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects.