"Poverty may be hidden in Malta, but it exists and is very real to the people experiencing it". (Joseph Sammut, 'The European Social Watch Report 2010: Poverty and Social Exclusion in Malta', page 68) . In recent years poverty has increased, and thus we have to be the catalysts of action aimed at reducing the number of persons at risk of poverty by 6,500 persons. Earlier this year, the Parliamentary Secretariat for Research, Innovation, Youth and Sport issued the draft National Youth Policy framework for consultation, which states that, "There needs to be a focus on 'action' resulting in 'tangible outcomes' so that young people, their families and communities will see and reap the benefits of the policy. The positive role that the voluntary youth sector and other relevant stakeholders can play in actively supporting and implementing the policy must be defined and activated". (page 5). Working so close with youths, we want to participate in this consultation process and contribute to the youth policy for the period 2015-2020. Since the members of Friends of the Archbishop's Seminary work mostly with youths who are socially excluded and deprived, we focused our attention on poverty and social exclusion. The project, 'Investing in Youths for a Brighter Future', will bring youths, NGOs, youth experts and policy makers together to discuss how youths coming from disadvantaged areas and/or difficult family backgrounds could be helped to have a prosperous future. The objectives of this project are: - to address the needs of youths and the challenges they face; - to empower youths who are socially excluded; - to influence decision makers and policy makers; - to involve youths in structured dialogue and help them contribute towards their national policy; and - to contribute towards the goals of the Europe 2020 Strategy and reduce poverty in Malta. At least 60 young participants between the ages of 13 and 30 will participate in this project, which will include seven structured dialogues and a final conference taking place between October and December 2015. These structured dialogues will target the following themes and challenges: - Formal Education: including absenteeism, early school leaving and illiteracy; - Informal education: involvement of youths in extra curriculum activities, involvement in local NGOs, the need to strengthen voluntary organizations that work directly with youth (especially those in deprived areas); - Substance abuse: the problem of drugs and the decriminalization of drugs; - Excess consumption of alcohol; - Gambling; - Challenges faced by youths with mobility difficulties; and - The final conference will group these themes and focus on ‘Poverty and Social Exclusion a Reality in Malta’. The ultimate result of this project is a policy document with a number of policy recommendations to be included in the National Youth Policy 2015-2020 and other future policy documents working to reduce poverty amongst the young, and address the issues and challenges mentioned in the Draft National Youth Policy.