Tuesday, March 24 - JRS volunteer Nicolette Busuttil has been nominated for the 2009 European Charlemagne Youth Prize. Since the end of 2006, Ms Busuttil, a 20-year-old law student, has visited asylum seekers in the Safi and Hal Far detention centres in Malta. Her work inside the centres has consisted mainly in providing moral support through informal contact with asylum seekers and assistance with religious services on Sundays.

She has tried to be a sympathetic ear to the asylum seekers in detention, hoping to express some solidarity in a context that often signals otherwise. "I see my contribution as a necessary extension of my personal beliefs in the dignity of every human being", the JRS volunteer said.

As the Maltese nominee, Ms Busuttil will be participating in the award-giving ceremony in Aachen, Germany, on May 19. Prizes for the three best projects on EU development, integration and European identity issues will be awarded by the President of the European Parliament and a representative of the Foundation of the International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen.

Ms Busuttil is now currently working as part-time staff in the JRS Malta office, assisting MS Katrine Camilleri with legal affairs.