Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1535170
5 gozotoday | FRIDAY • 9 MAY 2025 NEWS THE Gozo University Group (GUG) convened its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at Sala Ġorġa Grech – Victoria Scouts Group HQ in Victoria, Gozo. Marked by an impressive level of attend- ance, the AGM underscored the contin- ued growth and influence of GUG's ini- tiatives over the past year. The meeting, chaired by Christine Sultana, opened with an address from GUG President Nathalia Borg. She re- counted the year's successes, beginning with a key innovation: the inclusion of summer events in the GUG calendar – something never done before – in- cluding the Bingo Booze BBQ event, a football tournament, and a clean-up at Ramla Bay that underscored GUG's commitment to environmental respon- sibility. The president highlighted the exceptional teamwork and commitment that went into organizing Bingo, Booze, BBQ, which gave her confidence about the rest of the year. Freshers' Week followed with re- cord-breaking membership numbers. The year featured popular recurring events like Wicked Wednesdays and Ritzu Saturdays, and also saw the in- troduction of new events such as Te- quila Tombla at Ritz Bar and Sip N' Chill at Coronation Bar. The president described the annual ball as a major highlight, crediting collective effort and thorough planning. Gozo Week was another major mile- stone, including cultural activities, traditional games, a folk music perfor- mance, and a video offering practical advice to sixth formers. As part of Gozo Week, GUG also hosted a high-level dis- cussion titled Bridging the Gap, which brought national attention to the issue of connectivity between Gozo and Mal- ta. The event, which was also broadcast on RTK Radio, featured a panel of dis- tinguished speakers including Minister for Gozo Clint Camilleri, Shadow Min- ister Alex Borg, Professor Arnold Casso- la, and Perit Antoine Zammit. The dis- cussion created a constructive platform for cross-party dialogue and expert in- put. Notably, it also saw the announce- ment of the opening of the tender for a fourth ferry vessel. Through this initia- tive, GUG reinforced its commitment to advocating for improved transport infrastructure for Gozitan students. The event not only highlighted the relevance of the issue but also served as a catalyst for continued national dialogue, as GUG emphasised that while progress has been made, further improvements remain necessary. In closing, the President expressed gratitude to her executive team, pride in what they achieved, and personal growth through the experience, affirming that taking on the presidency was the right decision. Following the President's address, Ga- briel Saliba, GUG's Financial Officer, delivered the financial report, outlining the organisation's stable financial po- sition and reflecting positively on the year's outcomes. In line with its ongoing efforts to sup- port students, GUG, in collaboration with the University of Malta Gozo Cam- pus and the Xewkija Local Council, an- nounced the provision of a dedicated study space at the Gozo Campus during the examination period. This initiative reflects a shared commitment to creat- ing a conducive academic environment for students preparing for their assess- ments. Another noteworthy development this year was the introduction of the X299 bus route, offering students a more ef- ficient and direct transportation option. Following the conclusion of her term, Borg officially passed on the presiden- cy to Matthew Grech, formerly serving as International Officer. Grech is set to build on Borg's achievements with a strong and promising term ahead. No elections were required for the for- mation of the Advisory and Vigilance Board, as Nathalia Borg, Eric Grech and Krista Spiteri were appointed to the po- sitions. GUG annual general meeting highlights growth, new initiatives, and leadership transition Repubblika offers youth camp in Gozo to foster democratic participation and social change REPUBBLIKA is offering a fantastic op- portunity to young people aged 18 to 35 who want to become an effective force for change in society. Do you sometimes burn with the desire to make the world – or at least your com- munity – a better place? If the answer is yes, then you're invited to a youth camp in Gozo between the 2nd and 5th of Sep- tember that will teach participants how to take action to defend and strengthen democracy for the good of local or global communities. The camp is part of a five-country EU project called RESTART aimed at foster- ing democratic participation, active cit- izenship and solidarity action to counter the impacts of organised crime. Each country will hold a similar camp in which participants will also learn about the social reuse of assets seized from criminal activities. The camp will offer both a theoretical and practical learning experience. Not only will participants gain invaluable knowledge from experts and activists about working for freedom, rights, social justice and the rule of law, but they'll also re-create a mini-democracy in practice as well make a concrete contribution to a property in Gozo used for social purposes. Plus, participants are likely to make new friends among people who share their own passion and commitment to seek change. The camp is open to anyone between the ages of 18 and 35 who believe democ- racy is not a spectator sport but a crucial aspect of life that they need to fight and work for. In line with its ongoing efforts to support students, GUG, in collaboration with the University of Malta Gozo Campus and the Xewkija Local Council, announced the provision of a dedicated study space at the Gozo Campus during the examination period.