Aġenzija Żgħażagħ set up a series of online events to celebrate the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development.
The aim of the initiative was to set up a space for conversations between local youth organisations and different foreign communities living in Malta, in a concerted effort to bridge the gap, and facilitate social cohesion through dialogue.
The United Nations declares that 75% of the world’s major conflicts have a cultural dimension and insists that ‘bridging the gap between cultures is urgent and necessary for peace, stability and development’. Acknowledging cultural diversity and creating the opportunity to speak about it leads to dialogue. Intercultural dialogue is a process which involves an open and respectful exchange between individuals and groups with different cultural backgrounds. It helps to foster a reciprocal understanding of the attitudes, value systems, behaviours and points of view of those involved in the conversation.
The Aġenzija Żgħażagħ Intercultural Week held online through its Facebook page between the 8th and the 15th June 2020 is not its first initiative celebrating World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development. It follows on previous events, including last year’s Intercultural event held at the Youth Village in Santa Venera as part of the Polifest project.
