The experience of growing up between different cultures and what this means for the future of increasingly diverse societies such as Malta will be at the centre of the next NWAMI International Malta (NIM) Culture Café, taking place on Thursday 27 August at 7.00pm at Ta’ Detta Restaurant, Valletta Waterfront.

Entitled ‘Between Cultures: Growing Up with Two Identities in Europe’, the event will explore multicultural identities, belonging and the experiences of people whose lives are shaped by more than one cultural background.

What makes this Culture Café particularly distinctive is that it has been developed and will be facilitated by four international interns currently working with NWAMI International Malta. The four are Master’s students in Educational Sciences at Ruhr University Bochum in Germany and bring their own diverse cultural experiences and perspectives to the discussion.

During their internship with NIM, the students are contributing to the organisation’s work in intercultural learning and community engagement. The themes they will address through the Culture Café resonate with them both personally and academically, creating an opportunity for participants to hear the perspectives of a younger generation for whom living across cultures is increasingly part of everyday European life. 

The discussion will look at how growing up between different languages, traditions, expectations and ways of life can influence identity and an individual’s sense of belonging. Participants will also be encouraged to consider a broader question: as societies become increasingly multicultural, what will it mean to be Maltese or European in the future?

Maria Gabriele Doublesin, President of NWAMI International Malta, said the subject was particularly relevant to Malta. “Malta has always been a meeting point between cultures, but the diversity of our society today means that more and more people are building lives and identities that cannot necessarily be defined by one culture alone. Our four interns bring their own experiences and perspectives to this conversation, which makes this Culture Café particularly special. We want people to feel comfortable talking openly about belonging, identity and the challenges as well as the opportunities that come from living between cultures. These are conversations that can help us understand one another better and ultimately build a more inclusive society.”

NIM’s Culture Café series was created to bring people from different backgrounds together in an informal and welcoming setting where they can share experiences, learn about different cultures and build connections. Through conversations centred on food, music, art, traditions and personal stories, the initiative seeks to encourage intercultural dialogue, cultural awareness and greater social cohesion within Malta’s increasingly diverse communities. 

The upcoming event will follow the same informal approach, with an open round-table format rather than a traditional lecture or presentation. Participants will be encouraged to share their own experiences and perspectives on cultural influences, identity and belonging. 

The Culture Café is open to anyone who has grown up between cultures, moved countries, comes from a multicultural family, or is simply interested in hearing different perspectives and taking part in the conversation.

‘Between Cultures: Growing Up with Two Identities in Europe’ takes place at Ta’ Detta Restaurant, Valletta Waterfront, on Thursday 27 August at 7.00pm. Places are limited and the contribution is €10 per person. Places can be booked through the NWAMI International Malta booking page.