Youth Group Corner – July to September 2026

Hello everyone! 💚

The summer months have certainly kept the Right 2 Smile Youth Group busy! From strengthening friendships during our weekly sessions and exploring wellbeing through group supervision, to meeting new communities through outreach and developing more inclusive approaches to youth work, July to September has brought plenty of opportunities to connect, learn and grow.

We have also continued expanding our collaborations, celebrated the contribution of a valued team member, and started an exciting cultural online exchange connecting young people in Malta and Cambodia.

Here’s a look at what we’ve been up to!

💬 Our Weekly Youth Sessions

✨ Getting to Know Each Other

Throughout the past few months, Jessica, our Youth Coordinator, facilitated a number of informal games and team-building sessions. As our youth group continues to grow and welcome new faces, creating a sense of belonging remains an important part of our weekly sessions.

One session was therefore dedicated specifically to icebreakers and getting-to-know-each-other activities. Through informal games and conversations, young people were encouraged to learn more about one another, build new connections and contribute to a welcoming group environment.

🎲 Games, Teamwork & Building Connections

Sometimes the simplest activities create some of the best opportunities for connection! Through board games, group challenges and other interactive activities, our young people had the opportunity to relax, have fun and continue strengthening their relationships with one another.

🌏 Connecting Malta and Cambodia Through Art

We also began an exciting international collaboration connecting young people in Malta with young people and children in Cambodia.

Our young people have been creating drawings and artwork inspired by Cambodian culture and traditions, while participants in Cambodia are creating artwork inspired by Malta, exchanging art through an online portal. We are looking forward to seeing where this creative cultural exchange takes us! 💚

🧠 Wellbeing & Group Supervision

🎨 Expressing Ourselves Through Creativity

Our monthly group supervision sessions with psychotherapist Kyle continued throughout the summer, providing young people with a safe and supportive environment in which to reflect, express themselves and explore different aspects of their wellbeing.

During one session, creative drawing exercises were used to encourage participants to express thoughts and emotions that may sometimes be difficult to communicate through words alone. The activity created space for personal reflection while allowing participants to engage with the session in their own way.

✨ What Can We Control?

Another group supervision session explored the difference between the things we can control and those that are outside our control. Through discussion and reflection, young people considered where they place their energy and how they can focus more on the decisions, behaviours and situations they are able to influence.

These monthly sessions continue to complement our regular youth activities by providing dedicated opportunities for reflection, conversation and personal growth.

📣 Outreach, Events & Community Engagement

🧵 Threads of Time – Celebrating the End of the Project

Our outreach coordinator, Jenson led a couple of outreach events this summer. This summer also marked the conclusion of Threads of Time – An Intergenerational Project, supported by VME Coop.

The final celebration brought together young people, mentors, coordinators, volunteers and community members to celebrate the connections and experiences developed throughout the project. It was wonderful to see different generations coming together, sharing stories and strengthening community bonds. A huge thank you goes to everyone who contributed their time and energy throughout the project and helped make the final event such a positive celebration. 💚

🟢 International Youth Day

We were delighted to take part in an International Youth Day event organised by the Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector.

The event provided another valuable opportunity for our outreach team to meet young people, children, families and representatives from different organisations while sharing information about the Right 2 Smile Youth Group. Events like these allow us not only to promote our services, but also to create new connections and remain active within the wider youth and voluntary sector.

🌊 Terramar Festival 2026

In September, our youth group participated in Terramar Festival 2026, organised by Aġenzija Żgħażagħ at the Argotti Botanic Gardens in Floriana as part of the Youth Wellbeing Festival.

Our team hosted a stand where we introduced visitors to the Right 2 Smile Youth Group while engaging young people and members of the community through activities connected to sustainability. With its focus on community, sustainability, creativity and wellbeing, the festival provided a great setting for meeting new people, sharing our work and participating alongside others working with and for young people.

🔬 Coming Up: Science in the City 2026

We’re also excited to be taking part in Science in the City 2026, taking place in Valletta on 25–26 September! 🎉

Our team will be there on 25th of September, joining a programme filled with science, creativity and interactive experiences for all ages.

If you’re attending, make sure to stop by, meet the team and find out more about the Right 2 Smile Youth Group. We would love to see you there!

💚 Building More Inclusive Youth Work

🌈 Bridging the Gap

During this period, Right 2 Smile also launched Bridging the Gap: Building Youth Mentors’ Capacity for Neurodivergent Youth Engagement.

Through a series of interactive training sessions, participants developed practical knowledge and tools to strengthen inclusive youth work. Topics explored included understanding neurodiversity, supporting emotional regulation, creating sensory-friendly and inclusive environments, practical approaches for supporting neurodivergent young people, and understanding the intersection between neurodiversity, gender and sexuality.

A big thank you goes to our trainers, Gaby, Tivona, Laura, and Colette as well as everyone who participated, shared their experiences and contributed to the discussions. 💚

The project is funded through the Voluntary Organisations Project Scheme (VOPS), managed by the Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector (MCVS) and supported by the Ministry for Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector (MIV).

📣 Updates

This quarter also brought an important change to our team as we said farewell to Julia, our Activities Coordinator. We celebrated Julia’s contribution with a special farewell session and reflected on the energy, creativity and commitment she has brought to Right 2 Smile and the Youth Group.

We are incredibly grateful for everything Julia has contributed and wish her all the very best for what comes next. 🫶

A special thank you also goes to one of our young people’s parents for baking a beautiful cake for the occasion. It was a lovely gesture that made the celebration even more special! 🎂

📢 We’re Looking for an Activities Coordinator!

Following Julia’s departure, Right 2 Smile is looking for a new Activities Coordinator to join the team.

For more information regarding this call visit this link: https://right2smile.org/expression-of-interest-for-the-recruitment-of-an-activities-coordinator-contract-for-service-on-a-casual-basis/ 

📢 Stay Connected

We would love to hear from you! Whether you are already part of the Youth Group or are thinking about joining, your ideas can help shape the activities and opportunities we create together.

Interested in joining the Right 2 Smile Youth Group?

📱 Contact us through Messenger or WhatsApp: 79658873
📄 Prefer us to contact you? Complete our online contact form: https://forms.gle/fCbtmmXRf6RRiksC6 

🌟 Looking Ahead

As we move into the final months of 2026, we look forward to continuing our weekly Youth Group sessions, monthly psychotherapy group supervision, mentor development and outreach activities.

We are also excited to continue building new collaborations, strengthening inclusive youth work and creating opportunities for young people to connect, participate and have their voices heard.

📢 Stay in the loop on our social media pages: Right 2 Smile Youth Group on Facebook, @right2smileyouthgroup on Instagram, and Right 2 Smile Youth Group on TikTok.

Got questions or want to learn more about Right 2 Smile Youth Group? We’d love to hear from you! 😊
📩 General: contact@right2smile.org
📩 Youth Group info: malta@right2smile.org
📩 Outreach: outreach@right2smile.org
📩 Activities: activities@right2smile.org

The Youth Programme of Right to Smile is supported by Aġenzija Żgħażagħ through the INVEST Operational Grant 2026-2028.