2015 JCI Malta TOYP Awards

IN SEARCH FOR MALTA’S

TEN OUTSTANDING YOUNG PERSONS

AWARDS NIGHT Friday, 23 October 2015 Palazzo Capua, Sliema

#FeedYourDreams #FollowYourPassion

TOYP – Ten Outstanding Young Persons Awards The original ideator and developer of the JCI TOYP program, Durwood Howes, envisioned recognising outstanding individuals through an annual publication. In 1938, the program was officially adopted by The United States Junior Chamber, and since 1952, many other JCI National Organisations have established their own Outstanding Young Persons programs. Past recipients of national awards include well known personalities Orson Welles, Howard Hughes, Nelson Rockefeller, John F. Kennedy, Henry Kissinger, Gerald Ford, Benigno Aquino, Elvis Presley and many more.

In 1983 JCI officially adopted the JCI TOYP program on the international level.

The first JCI TOYP ceremony took place in November 1983 during the JCI World Congress in Taipei, Taiwan.

The judging process in based on the nominee’s achievements in, or contributions to, the following categories: 1. Business, economic, and/or entrepreneurial accomplishment 2. Political, legal, and/or governmental affairs 3. Academic leadership and/or accomplishment 4. Cultural achievement 5. Moral and/or environmental leadership 6. Contribution to children, world peace, and/or human rights 7. Humanitarian and/or voluntary leadership 8. Scientific and/or technological development 9. Personal improvement and/or accomplishment 10. Medical innovation Locally, JCI Malta receives nominations in each of the ten categories and puts together an independent panel of judges to award through a fair and transparent process.

The final local honorees awarded this evening are then nominated to participate in the international JCI TOYP edition with the opportunity to be selected as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World and be recognised during the 2016 JCI World Congress.

JCI Malta is empowered to organise this project thanks to our main event sponsors HSBC Bank Malta plc, KPMG, Concept Stadium, Misco and 3A and with the great support of AX Hotels, particularly Palazzo Capua.

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MESSAGE FROM THE JCI MALTA PRESIDENT | Annalisa Schembri Welcome to the 7th Edition of TOYP Malta – Giving Value to Excellence.

This is the come-back year for TOYP in Malta, since this programme has been missing for a number of years. And the come-back, on our centenary year, has been great – with 25 nominations received, we realise more than ever the great need that our community has to recognise young men and women who are success stories, that can inspire us to be the best version of ourselves every day, in whatever we do.

So why did JCI Malta feel the need to bring back the TOYP Awards on its agenda?

When the Little Prince meets the pilot, on one of the worlds he is travelling in, he speaks about his little rose – The Little Prince builds his relationship with this rose by taking care of it each day.

And this is what JCI does – JCI takes care of our communities, everyday, mainly by providing development opportunities to its young people.

We believe in young people and we believe in their growth, we believe in their personal development – because it is only by developing great individuals and great leaders today, that we can aspire to have a better world tomorrow.

But before tomorrow, our world, today, needs our committed contribution as active citizens, to bring around positive change.

A positive change can be brought through a simple smile, a warm hug, A positive change is support to those in need; is standing up to be counted when things are not right, A positive change is believing in one’s dreams and acting towards achieving those dreams.

A positive change is passion, is inspiration, is commitment.

But most importantly a positive change is believing in oneself and reaching full potential to be of contribution to our community.

And this is what JCI Malta wants to do. By awarding the Ten Outstanding Young Persons, we want to award the positive changers - those, in Malta, who are making a difference.

We want to encourage them to BE GREAT, to continue taking care of their rose, with love, exactly like the little prince.

I wish you a great evening and I hope you #feedyourdreams and #followyourpassion everyday.

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ABOUT JCI – Junior Chamber International.

JCI is an independent, non-profit, international organization of young active citizens aged between 18 and 40 who are engaged and committed to creating positive impact in their communities.

The origins of JCI date back to 1915 in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, on a local level.

This year, we are celebrating our 100 years of creating impact and our 100 years of leadership.

Its initial objective was based on the premise that young people could accomplish much more for their communities and for themselves if, inspired by noble ideals, they worked together. Throughout the years it extended locally until 1944 when the organisation started to operate internationally.

JCI is a worldwide community of more than 200,000 members in over 100 countries and 5,000 local communities, which makes it one of the largest networking organisations worldwide.

Its mission is to Provide development opportunities that empower young people to create positive change, whie its Vision and ultimate goal is to be the leading global network of young active citizens

JCI MALTA Junior Chamber International Malta (JCI Malta) was established in 1994 and is affiliated to Junior Chamber International (JCI).

JCI Malta aims to be recognised as the organisation that is the forum for the development of bold and stimulating leaders within our community and the place to develop critical thinking. We aspire to provide our members with the opportunity to develop leadership skills, social responsibility fellowship and entrepreneurship for the advancement of the individual and the community in general. This is achieved through a number of events including the following:

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• The JCI Business Networking Event [BNE] • The Ten Outstanding Young Person Award [TOYP] • Various training programmes including ‘JCI Achieve’ and ‘JCI Impact’ • Business events and training sessions such as ‘Hack it On – Validate your business idea’ and ‘Mastering the Art of Public Speaking’ • Training Academies • The JCI European and International Congresses and a number of other international programmes •Various cultural and social events for both members and non-members aimed at creating informal networking opportunities • The hosting and organisation of EU Funded projects • Joining forces with other NGO’s or established networks to create better events while seeking ways of collaboration We train to become better leaders by meeting at local, national, and international events to exchange ideas, invest in networking and share best practices.

Further information about JCI and the various events organised by JCI Malta can be found on www.jci.org.mt or by following our FB page JCI Malta and Twitter feed @jcimalta.

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- 2015 TOYP AWARDS NOMINEES Jeanesse ABELA Personal improvement and/or accomplishment Jeanesse has become synonymous as an active voice for people with special needs, ensuring that, in her own way, she proves to the world that there is life beyond a wheelchair. Despite Jeanesse’s medical obstacles, she lives a relatively independent life, works in a private institution and is a regular achiever, with things that even medical doctors think as almost impossible for her to achieve. This does not only serve as motivation for herself but as a great inspiration to others. Jeanesse has found a very loud voice in social media, which allows her to overcome all of her communication obstacles and speak to the world on a level playing field. This is where Jeanesse shines, as she needs no personal carer to speak on her behalf, and has all the tools she needs at her disposal.

Jeanesse has regularly triggered national debates on the needs of those with limited mobility. One can say, that there are no single achievements to her name, because she works on behalf of the community and not as an individual. To further overcome such obstacles and positively influence our society, Jeanesse launched LAND - Living Ability Not Disability, which also works to break down the stigma associated with those who have any physical or intellectual limitations.

Victor ABELA Contribution to children, world peace, and/or human rights Victor has been a cameraman with one of the leading local TV stations for more than 8 years. He is also a video editor and works as a freelance photographer in Malta and on some overseas projects. Over the past 3 years Victor engaged with local NGO called Dr. Klown and is now one of the very first professionally trained clown doctors in Malta.

Carrying the name of Dr. Shorty, as a clown doctor, Victor visits the paediatric wards at Mater Dei every week. He is very dedicated when it comes to his clowning and blocks his time to make sure he can visit the kids in hospital on a weekly basis. Victor is also very creative and has acquired a number of skills through his professional training with local and also foreign clown professionals, with Dr. Klown and he is one of the most versatile clown doctors in Malta. Victor keeps striving to learn new skills as a clown doctor, simply because he is driven by the warmth and the smiles of the sick children he visits every week. Victor is also very engaged in the behind the scenes of Dr. Klown’s logistics. He uses his skills and talents to help the day to day running of the organisation by taking care of the PR and visual material needed to run this NGO in a professional manner.

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- 2015 TOYP AWARDS NOMINEES Toni ATTARD Cultural achievement Toni is a theatre director, actor and professional cultural manager. He has recently joined Arts Council Malta to lead and set up the strategy directorate, thus pausing his creative career to focus on the strategic development of Malta’s creative ecology.

In 2006 he won Best Director and Best Production in the MADC One Act Play Festival with ‘4:48 Psychosis’ by Sarah Cane. He developed his theatre training with Aleateia Theatre Group and has performed in numerous theatre projects devised or commissioned by the group. He leads numerous theatre workshops and worked as a drama tutor for 8 years. Toni has also served as a visiting lecturer in Drama and Theatre Arts and arts management.

This year Toni will conclude his term as Artistic Director of ZiguZajg International Arts Festival for Children and Young People. In the past 4 editions the national festival presented international and national productions by around 500 creative for 65,000 patrons, creating a long lasting legacy for the access of young people to the arts. Toni is also a founding member and patron of Opening Doors, a voluntary arts organisation for adults with learning disabilities. He is currently Director of Strategy at Arts Council Malta and is responsible for the creation and development of the Council’s strategy for the cultural and creative sectors, including the national funding portfolio for the sectors. He previously served as Creative Economy Advisor within the Ministry for Finance to develop the first national strategy for the creative economy. He is one of the authors of Malta’s cultural policy and the Creative Economy strategy.

Daniela ATTARD Cultural achievement Daniella (Lella) left Malta in 2012 to study and to pursue her career in London, whilst also still trying to keep a connection and contribute to the Maltese art scene. Her use of crowdfunding made her projects happen and while working within the animation industry she got her first big break. Daniella involves herself in numerous communal and personal art projects as well as in a number of different visual art disciplines: making indie comics and setting up at comicon/comic events, taking part in casual and competitive Game Jams (Game jams are timed events were a team of people have to make a digital/video game according to a set of rule), all over Europe, taking part in street art related events, keeping sketchbooks and contributing to Maltese publications such as Schlock Magazine.

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- 2015 TOYP AWARDS NOMINEES Edward BONELLO Personal improvement and/or accomplishment Edward is a young, dynamic physiotherapist with a burning passion for music. A self-thought guitarist from a very young age, Edward is the founder of local band Jane Doe. Jane Doe is Edward’s baby and is his reason of inspiration and the place where he put all his energy. The firm believe that Jane Doe, as a band, can go further and beyond our shores is what makes him strive to better their music product and the sound that the band produces. Edward is not only the founding member of Jane Doe and its lead guitarist, but he is also the one doing the music arrangements, the track recording and mastering and building the lights and visuals for their live performances. His passion for music pushes him further to develop his skills as a musician and as a studio master – finding himself today, with a wide array of skills that can make him a one stop shop in the music industry.

Edward is an inspiration to many because his passion for music turns him into an unstoppable machine. Besides his creativity as an artist Edward has also the mechanics to be able to drive his band mates forward and support the band from a 360 Degree perspective. Edward is extremely meticulous when it comes to the production of his band’s tracks and spends a lot of time at their self-built recording studio to improve their sound, their music and their overall product.

Nathaniel Jamie BORG Personal improvement and/or accomplishment Nathaniel has a very enterprising soul. He entered University of Malta and in his second year’s summer vacation he went out to work with an automobile company. He was barely 20 years old at the time and soon earned the title of office manager. He gave up his studies at University, as he wanted to study by himself. Unknown to everybody he continued with his studies and last year he went to work as an auditor with a renowned company of auditors. He is now teaching the student workers of his company. Nathaniel never missed a day’s work and he has been studying on his own without stopping for years – doing all this on his own initiative.

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- 2015 TOYP AWARDS NOMINEES Dr. Nicholas BRIFFA Humanitarian and/or voluntary leadership Having been a practicing psychologist, for the past two years, Dr. Nicholas Briffa is currently in his second year of specialisation as a Sexologist, in Rome, Italy and also a lecturer at the University of Malta. He has been working with various institutions such as Corradino Correctional Facility, Agenzija Zghazagh and the Ministry for Social Solidarity as a clinical psychologist and trainee sexologist. A year ago, he was also elected as a member of the Council of the European Federation of Sexology, where he is currently co-conducting a Trans-European study on female hypoactive sexual desire, especially in Lesbian couples. He is a regular resident guest of various leading Television shows, raising awareness on mental health and all the aspects of sexuality.

Earlier this year, he was invited to give his expert opinion to the Maltese Parliament about the age of sexual consent and sexual education in Malta and is currently, together with the Ministry of Education, implementing an open comprehensive sex education program aimed to create an idea of a respectful and pleasurable sexuality to lessen abuse, teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. In addition to this, he has been designing for the past months, a sex offender rehabilitation program.

By collaborating with various local institutions, Dr. Nicholas Briffa has been striving to create professional awareness, within schools and communities, about sexuality, including sexual dysfunctions, sexual respect and LGBTIQ issues. He is also an active member of the GuateMalta Foundation where he was part of a humanitarian mission in Izabal, East Guatemala.

Sean BUHAGIAR Cultural Achievement Sean Buhagiar started his theatre career as an actor and trained at the Malta National Drama Centre. He worked both locally and abroad, touring in Ireland, Tunisia and Italy. Today, Sean also works as a theatre director having directed works for SoundScapes, the EUPA, Evenings on Campus Festival and the National Theatre amongst others. (cont’d)

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- 2015 TOYP AWARDS NOMINEES (Sean Buhagiar cont’d) His work ranges from contemporary children’s opera,to directing original texts such as Jiena Nħobb, Inti Tħobb, a production which broke audience records at the National Theatre in 2014. Sean served for three years as the Performing Arts Executive of the Malta Council of Culture and the Arts handling the portfolio of Film, Theatre, Dance and Music. He worked on the implementation of Cultural Policy and Arts Funding and was the first Maltese national to be accepted to the Atelier for Festival Managers organized by the European Festivals Association where he presented a paper titled ‘The Legacy of the Immediate’ in late 2012. Amongst other things, Sean produced Malta’s first contemporary performerbased circus show in Malta, DariRari. He is an active participant of IETM (International Network of Performing Artists) Today, Sean actively works in the film industry as a Production Manager with his latest projects being three locally produced international films. He is also the Artistic Director of Notte Bianca Valletta, the producer of the annual Staġun Teatru Malti with the National Theatre and the artistic consultant to Science in the City.

Sean was the first artistic director for Dr Klown, a voluntary clown doctor project at Mater Dei Hospital and he now delivers trainings workshops on a voluntary basis to new clown recruits. Sean is also as a lecturer with the DegreePlus Programme at the University of Malta and a freelance arts funding expert and creative strategist.

Earlier this year, he was appointed Deputy Artistic Director of the Valletta 2018, European Capital of Culture working towards this major cultural and artistic milestone for our country in 2018.

Jacob CACHIA Personal improvement and/or accomplishment Up to two and a half years ago, Jacob Cachia was a teenager, in his last year of school, studying for his O’ Level qulaification. In January 2013 he was struck by a rare brain infection that led him to spend five months in hospital and where he also had to undergo three major brain operations. In one of these operations, part of his cranium had to be removed to relieve the pressure on the brain and subsequently Jacob was fitted with a titanium plate to replace the part of the missing skull. Jacob managed to survive the whole ordeal and eventually repeated his last year of school and also successfully sat for his O’ Level qualifications. This was a considerable feat, seeing that, at one point Jacob could not even speak and was also on the point of dying. Jacob considers himself a survivor and he uses his experience to help others. He set up a Facebook support page. With 2,700+ followers, the page offers a space for survivors to meet and share their experiences to support each other. (cont’d)

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- 2015 TOYP AWARDS NOMINEES (Jacob Cachia, cont’d) Jacob is currently enrolled in one of the courses at the Institute of Business and Commerce where he successfully finished his first year. He is also working part time in a local cafeteria, aiming to learn the trade so that one day, he can have his own catering establishment. Jacob’s story proved to be an inspiration to all and sundry because it is a story of perseverance, persistence and a true example of how one should never give up.

Sarah Jane CARUANA Humanitarian and/or voluntary leadership From the age of 16, Sarah became an active member of the nationwide Youth Organisation - Zghazagh Azzjoni Kattolika (ZAK). Her immediate enthusiasm and contribution to the organisation led her to become a group leader two years later at the age of 18. At the age of 20, Sarah became part of the Decision Making Body of ZAK and represented the organisation at the World Camp in India and throughout a volunteering experience in Ghana.

Sarah was nominated and awarded for the Youth of the Year in 2009 and became President of ZAK in the same year, holding her tenure until 2012. In the past years, even after the end of her presidency, she continued to work tirelessly for ZAK, annually leading Summer Camps, Youth Exchanges, Training Courses and train future leaders in dedicated seminars.

Earlier this year, she travelled to Cambodia with the NGO Reaching Cambodia and followed this experience by also providing training and helping in fundraising events. Sarah has touched the lives of thousands of young people in her local community and beyond. She has led by example and proved that young people can pursue their academic dreams while also being active and of service to the community while leaving a legacy that can be followed by others.

She has shown commitment, enthusiasm and a seemingly unbridled drive that is translates onto commitment towards the development of young leaders within ZAK that are of service to the community.

Christine CASSAR Humanitarian and/or voluntary leadership Christine Cassar has been involved in Human Rights issues since 2006, firstly as a volunteer. In 2008 she co-founded a Human Rights research organization in Malta and in 2012 that she got directly involved in humanitarian work, first, through an international organization called Disaster Aid, where she responded first to the Bohol earthquake, providing shelter to four communities on the central Filipino island and subsequently, after a typhoon hit the same area, Christine did disaster response work for this second but far deadlier disaster. (cont’d)

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- 2015 TOYP AWARDS NOMINEES (Christine Cassar cont’d) She then took up a professional placement and also a position at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health in London, where she started working on projects related to child health, looking at areas such as HIV, water sanitation and hygiene and disability. Her main area of work is now Palestine, where she manages two programs - the first is a training course on child health with Al Quds University and the second and most important, is a child disability project running in the West Bank and Gaza that involves working with a number of organizations including the Ministry of Health and the UN. This project aims to train individuals working with disabled children to be able to better assess and plan treatment for children, across the professions, to create better pathways for the betterment of their daily lives.

Dr. Denise DE GAETANO Scientific and/or technological development Researcher, data analyst, statistician and scientist, Denise De Gaetano represented Malta at CERN, at a very young age. She has also worked in the United Kingdom and had placement opportunities internationally and between 2010 and 2011 she Chaired the Research Graduate Board at the University of Ulster. A few years ago she organised the International Geophysical Research Meeting in Londonderry, UK. Denise has worked on a voluntary basis for EGU in various roles and is currently working as a Senior big data analyst in Malta.

She has been able to combine her love of science with her love of creativity, in efforts to develop a further outreach for science. She has already been able to do so in the UK and is currently striving to do the same in Malta. Denise is one of the very few Maltese data scientists of such high caliber and has been able to utilise her skills in a number of different sectors and resource projects. Denise is an avid photographer and loves to develop artistic artifacts during her free time.

Although Denise is continuously taking up new academic courses to satisfy her thirst for knowledge, her creative skills are all self-taught.

Dr. Joanna DELIA Business, economic, and/or entrepreneurial accomplishment Dr. Joanna Delia has been engaged in various voluntary organisations since her student life particularly with MMSA ( Malta Medical Students Association) and various KSU (il-Kunsill tal-iStudenti Universitarji) Subcommittees (cont’d).

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- 2015 TOYP AWARDS NOMINEES (Joanna Delia, cont’d). She has been involved in Voluntary work at various clinics in Kenya, Brazil and Nepal, whilst locally assisting as a general practitioner at the Irregular Immigrant Detention centers in Malta, seeing daily emergencies and treating medical and minor surgical problems, with MediCare Ltd. Graduated as Doctor of Medicine and Surgery in 2004 and Dr. Joanna Delia has, since then, been developing her medical career whilst expanding her reach as the editor of Just Beauty Magazine and as a contributor to a number of other local publications as well as various TV appearances, discussing health topics.

Dr. Joanna Delia is a Medical Doctor and Aesthetic Medicine Practitioner and is a director at Smart Skin Clinic. She is currently developing her new business venture People & Skin. She manages to cope with her complex business, her personal life, being there for friends with extraordinary challenges and following her passion for: social injustices locally and internationally, animal cruelty, increasing reliance on pollutants, plastics and cars. She is also very much involved in the cultural world.

Dr. Neil FALZON Contribution to children, world peace, and/or human rights Dr. Neil Falzon obtained his law degree in 2001, and went on to successfully establish and manage a legal translation unit to prepare Malta for it’s EU accession. He headed Amnesty International’s Malta branch and completed his Mediterranean Masters in Human Rights and Democratisation, writing his dissertation at the Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, on the positive duty of states to prevent human rights violations. Dr. Neil Falzon has lectured various topics at the University of Malta such as Human rights, European Union Migration Law and Policy and Mediterranean Migration while researching and drafting several technical reports.

He was deployed to act as Liaison Officer for UNHCR in 2005. During the 4 years he spent at UNHCR, eventually as Head of Office, Dr. Neil Falzon focused on building UNHCR’s Malta presence, engaging in heavy advocacy efforts with the Maltese authorities, supporting NGOs and promoting a rights-based discourse and approach to migration and asylum. Till this very day, he continues to fight for the rights of migrants. In 2011 he founded the Aditus Foundation where he acts as a Director and is responsible for its overall management, projects and activities as well as representing the organization in its external relations, including extensive media presence nationally and internationally. He is Project Manager for Aditus’ FRANET Team and is one of the local coordinators of the European Legal Network on Asylum (ELENA). He is a Member of the Academic network for legal studies on immigration and asylum in Europe (Odysseus Network). In 2014 he was awarded an LGBTI Community Award for his work in advancing LGBTI rights in Malta.

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- 2015 TOYP AWARDS NOMINEES Kevin FARRUGIA Scientific and/or technological development Kevin Farrugia graduated from University of Malta in 2010 and co-founded Incredible Web a year later.

Since then, he has set up a couple of other startups, with the biggest successes coming from Bum a Lift in 2013, presented at Web Summit in Dublin. Since then, it’s been an inconsistent ride; however over the past few months Bum a Lift has gained considerable tractions and seems destined to change the way Maltese travel.

Kevin works against all odds in the transportation sector, with little financial support and a massive challenge to overhaul the mentality of Maltese drivers.

Denise FARRUGIA D’AMATO Contribution to children, world peace, and/or human rights In November 2013, Denise together with her husband and a close friend, set up the voluntary organisation ‘Reaching Cambodia’. Following a trip to Cambodia, Denise wanted to dedicate a lot more of her time to try to make a difference. She managed to establish a very good working relationship with the voluntary organisation who works with street children - LRDE and an orphanage - SFODA despite the many challenges. Denise continuously tries to support these entities by raising awareness and also through raising money which can fund projects that can help improve the lives of the children. Such projects may be of an infrastructural nature or grants for consumables. Denise continuously promotes and tries to engage Maltese people in the child-sponsoring programme.

Denise believes that education is the main factor which can help these children out of poverty. It is through the child-sponsoring programme that the child does not beg, work or steal money or food but focuses on getting an education. The childsponsoring programme also aids the children to attend english lessons. She ensures that each god parent receives monthly updates and photos of the sponsored child. In 2014, Denise wanted to give more people the opportunity to volunteer in Cambodia. Therefore, she started advertising the possibility of a 2-week voluntary programme. These groups involve a lot of administrative work, such as meeting the volunteers, preparing their travel details, proving their training, and supporting them throughout the whole experience.

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- 2015 TOYP AWARDS NOMINEES Antoine GALEA Moral and/or environmental leadership Antoine Galea and the BeeSaversMalta team engage in continuous research and utilisation of diverse, practical methods to mitigate environmental damage. The nomination goes to all the team of BeeSaversMalta; whose voluntary service has helped to save over 60,000 bees in Spring 2015 alone.

Honey bees are in global decline. BeeSaversMalta are making an effort to conserve bee species in the Maltese Islands and urge any other visitors from around the world to do the same. Around springtime it is very common for bees to swarm in large numbers, since most areas are urbanised - some swarms may end up in another property. Although such swarms do not attack if unprovoked, many people spray chemicals and pesticides or even burn the whole swarm out of fear. It is approximated that, in the Maltese Islands alone, anywhere from 400,000 to 800,000 bees die annually by such practice.

Mario GERADA Moral and/or environmental leadership Mario Gerada, a social worker by profession, has been active in the field of development and migration for over 10 years. He is one of the founding members of both Drachma LGBTI and Drachma Parents’ Group. Both these groups help LGBTI individuals and their parents to seek support and reconcile spirituality with sexuality. Mario has been a mentor and confidant for many individuals who had a hard time reconciling these two and was a key figure in bringing about a healthy dialogue with Church Authorities and the LGBTI community as well as the media. Mario is also a published poet and a contributing author to web-based magazines. He is invited regularly to lectures to discuss gay and Christian themes in academic and other settings. He completed a Masters in Christian Spirituality at the University of Malta and firmly believes in “Peace through non-violent Justice”. In his youth, between the age of 16-18, Mario was already out as a gay person among his peers, not out of his own volition but through circumstances, which had put Mario as the outcast and scapegoat.

After undergoing a spiritual crisis, Mario began to read dozens over dozens of books on what it mean to be gay and Christian from reputed scholars and theologians. Through the knowledge gained, he began to share this knowledge on a very personal level with persons who crossed his path as well as through his direct but very sensible approach on a group/ academic level. Mario has been an unsung hero for many years and other people managed to flourish and develop because of him. Mario always believed that a bottom-up approach among communities to bring about change is the way forward for a prosperous and sustainable future.

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- 2015 TOYP AWARDS NOMINEES Shaun GRECH Business, economic, and/or entrepreneurial accomplishment Shaun graduated from the University of Malta in 2010 and cofounded Incredible Web the following year. Since then, he set up a couple of start-ups, with the biggest successes coming from Bum a Lift in 2013, that was presented at Web Summit in Dublin. Since then, it’s been an inconsistent ride; however over the past few months Bum a Lift has gained considerable tractions and seems destined to change the way Maltese travel.

Working against all odds in the transport sector in Malta, with little financial support and a massive challenge to overhaul the mentality of the Maltese drivers Shaun keeps chasing his dream to make his product a successful one.

Dr. Abdalla KABLAN Business, economic, and/or entrepreneurial accomplishment Dr Abdalla Kablan is the founder and CEO of Scheduit (www. scheduit.com), a business networking app that combines big data analytics with business networking. An expert in computational intelligence and machine learning, Dr Kablan’s research and development interests include high frequency finance, big data analytics, data visualisation and asset tracing.

He designed and developed various award-winning applications such as the Intraday Seasonality Observation Model (ISOM), the Fuzzy Logic Market Momentum Analysis System (FULMAS) and the Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) for High Frequency Trading.

Dr.Kablan is also a lecturer at the University of Malta and assists financial institutions, private firms, and public sector entities on matters related to high frequency trading technology, data analytics, artificial intelligence, and asset tracing.

Dr Kablan combined his in-depth knowledge about machine learning and artificial intelligence to create the world’s first professional business compatibility-checking engine. He then managed to transform the concept into a business model that saw fruition by the creation and establishment of Scheduit, the business match-making app that is currently used by professionals worldwide and has already been featured in USA Today, Yahoo, and Bloomberg. Dr.Kablan has been invited to participate in many worldwide tech summits and conferences including EnterConf, Web Summit and Digital DNA, where Scheduit is being used and promoted as an app that is revolutionising business networking.

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- 2015 TOYP AWARDS NOMINEES Jon Mallia Cultural achievement Jon’s early musical career is in Hip-Hop as lead member of local band IQ. He has had various albums produced and released; as well as a number of songs being used both locally and internationally. Jon also holds a number of music awards throughout his career. Between 2000 and 2006 he was the lead member of local Hip Hop band Sixth Symphony, producing a number of albums locally and internationally. For the next seven years, he was the lead member of the Hip Hop band No Bling Show that produced high quality Hip Hop music in the Maltese language. The band’s projects have been funded and endorsed by the Malta Arts Fund and the Ministry for Education and Employment, amongst other entities. Jon also writes scripts for well-renowned and local television productions.

Jon has broadened his career in the cultural dimension by co-founding Generation Green that sources private and public entities’ corporate social responsibility endeavors through innovative and outstanding cultural and artistic projects that pivot on the concept of theatre in education campaigns, such as Go Green Man; Ċaqlaq!; L-Istorja skond is-Salv and Street Smart. During the past few years, Jon co-wrote and coproduced the feature film Limestone Cowboy with Take2 Entertainment. This feature film is forthcoming in international film festivals as well a local cinema theatres late 2015-2016. He has also coordinated a cultural project funded through Valletta 2018 - Hip Hop is YOURS that dwells upon the integration of vulnerable groups in society such as irregular migrants and young offenders through their participation in Hip Hop workshops.

Jon’s achievements are his capability of mastering his creativity and putts it to service the community for a holistic sustainable development. He is not only a professional, but also does this on a voluntary basis, through his contribution to co-founding Breaking Limits - a voluntary organisation that caters for cultural and artistic engagement of persons with disabilities.

Alex MANGION Contribution to children, world peace, and/or human rights At a very young age, Alex felt somewhat different. Being a transgender at a time where not even the term was acknowledged meant for Alex to feel confused and lonely. He first confided in his close friends and later with his parents who did not take it lightly. Psychologists saw nothing wrong with his behavior so they thought it was developmental hormones. (cont’d)

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- 2015 TOYP AWARDS NOMINEES (Alex Mangion, cont’d) During his scholastic years he was ruthlessly bullied by both students and teachers, which led him to the decision to drop out of sixth form so as to join his father’s business on the condition that he kept on studying online. Today he is managing director of the company alongside his father. Life as a transman was never plain sailing: from medical situations, to presenting his ID card at the bank or nightclub; always made Alex feel inferior and humiliated.

Last October, Alex was invited to participate at the Nationalist Party general convention to speak about his journey. He spoke about how he got bullied and what he goes through on a daily basis. Little did he know what an impact his speech had on individuals. He started being invited to television programs and radio talk shows to share his views and to talk about his life experiences. People started asking for his advice and guidance about similar scenarios or life situations. He was also approached by the GIGESC (Gender Identity, Gender Expression and Sex Characteristics Act) committee during the consultation period in order to help them in the structuring of the Gender Identity Bill.

Alex also holds the position of secretary within the group called FOIPN - Forum Opportunitajiet Indaqs Partit Nazzjonalista. Earlier this year, Mangion was elected as one of the six local councillors in Attard, which also makes him the First ever Transgender elected politician in Malta. This result marks a big personal achievement having come such a long way.

Charlene MERCIECA Business, economic, and/or entrepreneurial accomplishment The local stigma that locally made products are not as good as foreign brands is still felt even in this day and age especially in the world of cosmetics. Soap Café owner Charlene, managed to break through this stigma and created a following both through the local and foreign market. Her products promote ethical values; being fair traded, cruelty free, locally handmade and using as much local and sustainable natural ingredients as possible to reduce carbon footprint whilst avoiding toxic chemicals - thus beneficial for both planet and all living beings.

Her creative products have been featured not only on local TV but also on international level such as German and Norwegian in flight Magazines, Israeli and Japanese guide books and even on a very famous Japanese TV travel program promoting Malta and its locally made products. (cont’d).

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- 2015 TOYP AWARDS NOMINEES (Charlene Mercieca, cont’d) Many people experienced firsthand how soaps are made and learned about local ingredients such as honey and local herbs to name a few. For those visiting Malta, Soap CafÊ has become synonymous with our little island, and a place of interest. Her journey started in 2008 with the birth of the brand that lead to the opening of her first establishment on 2009. In 2011 she started expanding the range of products and introducing educational workshops to create awareness about the importance of using natural products. Charlene expanded further and opened the new premises in 2012. Last year she was also nominated for Gieh L-Artigjan award.

Ryan MERCIECA Humanitarian and/or voluntary leadership From a young age he was always active in the local community. His first achievement was the Oratory Bon Bosco Summer School of which he was a founding member in 2004. Ryan has represented Malta and achieved recognition on regional, national, european and international levels and has shared his experiences with his local community and empowered others. He was a finalist for the Youth of the Year Award in 2011 as well as a finalist for the Young European Award 2013 organised by the Schwarzkopf-Stiftung Junges Europa Foundation. He was project manager of various Youth in Action Projects both as applying and as partners and having over 120 young people participating in such projects until May 2015 and give them a European Experience.

Achievements for Ryan were the revitalisation of the Gozo Student Organisation through which Gozitan students were given the opportunity to have their examinations in Gozo, changes in the bus route, better representation of the Gozitan students in University structures and provision for luggage space on Campus.

Ryan is also the founder of the Gozo Youth Council and iLead, the Creative Leader Academy through EEA Grants. He also empowered and gave support to a group of young Gozitans to form the LGBTI+ Gozo.

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- 2015 TOYP AWARDS NOMINEES Dr. Roberta METSOLA Political, legal, and/or governmental affairs As a student, MEP Metsola was actively involved in a variety of politically related student activities and organisations. During her time at the University of Malta, she formed part of SDM (Studenti Demokristjani Maltin), KNZ (The National Youth Council) and MZPN (Moviment Zgħazagħ Partit Nazzjonalista), before being elected as Secretary General of the European Democrat Students (EDS -the student branch of the European Peoples’ Party), as well as to posts within the European Youth Forum (YJF). In 2002, she was also elected vice-president of the Youth Convention on the Future of Europe, paving the way for her incorporation into the negotiation of the EU’s Constitutional Treaty and later, the Lisbon Treaty. After graduating from the University of Malta, MEP Metsola was employed by the Maltese government to serve as Malta’s Legal and Judicial Cooperation Attaché within the Permanent Representation of Malta to the European Union. She served this role for 8 years, before moving to work for the European Union’s diplomatic core, the External Action Service, as a legal advisor to the EU’s High Representative, Catherine Ashton.

In 2013, MEP Metsola was elected to the European Parliament after the seat was made vacant. She was elected as the youngest female member of the European Parliament and was subsequently re-elected a year later with the highest number of first preference votes from her party and a record amount of first preference votes for a female politician in Maltese history.

In 2014 MEP Metsola was elected as the Deputy Coordinator of the EPP Group within the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs and vice-President of the Petitions Committee. As a Member of the European Parliament, MEP Metsola sits on the Committees on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs; on Petitions and on the Internal Market and Consumer Affairs.

She is also a member of the European Parliament delegations to the United States and to Australia. MEP Metsola has led and been involved in a plethora of issues that are of importance to Malta. Dossiers such as immigration, asylum, working conditions, flexitime, LGBT rights, fundamental rights, the fight against crime, security, consumer affairs, mobile phone roaming charges in the EU, online gaming, victims’ rights, pensions, job creation, sourcing EU funds, data protection and privacy are all examples of the dossiers that MEP Metsola has worked on. For her work on these issues, MEP Metsola was named the Parliament Magazine’s MEP of the Year in 2015 in the field of Justice and civil liberties.

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- THE 2015 TOYP JUDGES -

H.E. MS. GINA ABERCROMBIE-WINSTANLEY US AMBASSADOR TO MALTA

MR. ETIENNE BORG CARDONA FORESTALS CEO

MR. ANTHONY P. TABONE SMART CITY CEO

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- THE 2015 JCI MALTA TEAM -

BACK ROW (left to right): Lennox Deguara (Treasurer), Clayton Mercieca (Deputy President & VP International), Jonathan J Borg (Past President).

FRONT ROW (left to right): Rachel Cassar (Local President de la Vallette), Annalisa Schembri (National President), Daniela Grech (Secretary General), Alexia Borg Stafrace (Local President de Wignacourt).

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- 2015 JCI MALTA HIGHLIGHTS -

SMALL TALK: Investing in Intercultural Dialogue. An Erasmus+ Funded Project which took place between 27th September and 3rd October 2015 in Malta in collaboration with JCI Estonia, Morocco, UK and Jordan

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Hack-it-on Weekend Seminar: How to Validate a Business Idea. 25/26 September 2015 at Microsoft Innovation, Skyparks Luqa.

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Left: #Moskito - Summer Party, 18 July 2015 at Radisson Golden Sands in aid of ‘Nothing But Nets’ to fight against the spread of Malaria in Africa.

Bottom: The JCI Malta delegation at the 2015 JCI European Conference in Istanbul, Turkey.

Top: JCI Malta was awarded the ‘Gold Level’ award at the JCI European Conference in Istanbul for collecting funds to provide 1,000 Bed Nets against Malaria in Africa.

Top: JCI Malta President Annalisa Schembri with JCI Monaco President David Sirour at the JCI European Presidents Meeting in Novi Sad, Serbia in February 2015.

Left: Clayton Mercieca at the JCI Japan Academy in Tokyo in July 2015.

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- CORPORATE PARTNERS OF JCI MALTA -

3A GLOBAL

info@jci.org.mt www.jci.org.mt