The Valletta 2018 Foundation, together with Forum Komunità Bormliża, marked the project ‘Minn Fomm il-Bormliżi’ – a community-based intergenerational initiative, at Pjazza Paolino Vassallo, Bormla, on Monday 31^st August. The project celebrates Bormla’s rich history and community through interviews with Bormla’s elderly conducted by Bormla’s youths. After undergoing a series of workshops, the teenagers learnt a variety of skills such as video recording, video editing and interviewing, which helped them immortalise the testimonies of Bormla seniors who lived in the locality during post-war times.

Through the bridging of generations, Valletta 2018  creates an important legacy as a European Capital of Culture (EcoC): that of giving young people the tools to live a life of inclusion and fulfillment by being direct players in culturally enriching activities. Focusing in particular on Valletta and the harbour area, the ECoC includes all the Maltese Islands, with an aim to spread its impact throughout the whole Maltese territory.

The ceremony included short addresses from the President of Malta Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca , the Parliamentary Secretary for Local Government Stefan Buontempo, Valletta 2018 Chairman Jason Micallef and Bormla Mayor Alison Zerafa.

The President of Malta, Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca commended the youths for their work, and thanked the Valletta 2018 Foundation and Forum Komunità Bormliża for their efforts. She added, “A strong community feeling and intergenerational solidarity have come out of this project in which youths make local senior citizens the central focus.”

Mr. Micallef said “The documentation carried out in this project is priceless. The memories and the stories of the residents of Bormla have been recorded and will not be forgotten. Other than that, these youths, who have acquired new skills thanks to this project, have helped us discover the soul of this locality.”

For their contribution, the teenagers were given a certificate of participation while the senior citizens that were recorded were presented with DVDs containing their interviews.

‘Minn Fomm il-Bormliżi’ is a pilot project for Leeuwarden 2018’s ‘Behind the Front Door project.’

Below is a trailer of the interviews:

 

To view the full interviews, please visit the Minn Fomm il-Bormliżi YouTube channel.