Alberta’s Commitment to ESG and Youth Empowerment

As a founding member of the Malta ESG Alliance (MESGA), Alberta Fire & Security plays a leading role in promoting responsible business practices and sustainability across Malta. MESGA is a coalition of businesses and organisations dedicated to advancing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles while shaping a more inclusive and resilient future for the country.

Who Are the CCFfG?

The Consultative Council for Future Generations (CCFfG) is a national initiative that brings together young individuals to contribute to Malta’s long-term development. As an advisory body, it represents youth perspectives on sustainability, innovation, and social wellbeing, encouraging dialogue between generations and policymakers.

The Role of ISTC as Alberta’s Sister Company

While ISTC is not a founding member of MESGA, it forms part of the Alberta Group and shares in its mission to promote safety, education, and community development. As Malta’s premier training provider in fire safety and emergency response, ISTC was honoured to welcome the CCFfG students to its training grounds.

Hands-On Learning in Action

Through this collaboration, ISTC hosted an engaging and practical safety training session designed to give the students real-world exposure to emergency preparedness. The session bridged theory and practice, leaving a lasting impression on the students and strengthening their commitment to community wellbeing.

In Their Own Words

Following the session at ISTC, Giuseppe Saliba and Matteo Emanuele Camilleri, students from the CCFfG shared their reflections on the experience. Their testimonials speak to the value of practical training, the importance of safety awareness, and the lasting impact of educational collaboration:

” The safety training at ISTC Malta taught me firefighting, aircraft evacuation, and sea survival techniques through hands-on activities.

We started at 8:30am by filling out some forms regarding safety and protocols, before moving to our first session. After a presentation about firefighting, presented to us by an actual firefighter, we got to wear real firefighting gear and practice using different extinguishers to put out fires. The PPE made me appreciate how difficult firefighting actually is. Feeling the heat and weight of the gear gave me a whole new respect for firefighters.

The aircraft evacuation drill was surprisingly intense. Wearing smoke hoods, we entered an aircraft cabin, which was later filled with thick synthetic smoke where we could barely see our hands in front of us. Crawling on our knees while holding hands with the person in front of us and the person behind us showed me how challenging a real emergency evacuation would be. It was way harder than it looked, and I realised how important it is to stay focused and not panic, and working as a team.

After a quick water break, we changed into survival suits for the survival techniques at sea. We learnt how to properly jump into water—keeping your body straight while protecting your nose and mouth. In the pool, we used the HELP position to conserve body heat and also learned that swimming backwards is actually the best technique when wearing a life jacket. It felt strange at first, but it made swimming a lot easier.

The partner rescue exercises were both fun and challenging. Taking turns playing both rescuer and victim, we practiced towing techniques. Forming group huddles to preserve body heat showed how teamwork can be crucial in survival situations.

One of the most memorable parts was when we all climbed onto a dinghy that looked like a floating tent in the pool. Climbing onto the dinghy was surprisingly tough, especially with the survival suit on. We camped there for two minutes to rest. Then we all jumped back into the water and formed another huddle. It was a fun little break in the middle of all the action.

The helicopter winch rescue was definitely the most exciting part. Being lifted from the water in a rescue harness gave me a real appreciation for how these operations work in actual emergencies. It was something I never thought I’d get to try.

At the end of the training, we had delicious food in the canteen, which was a great way to refuel after all the training. After we ate, we received certificates and had time to reflect on everything we’d learned. What impressed me most was how the hands-on approach made all the safety procedures feel real and memorable. I now feel much more confident about how to react in emergency situations. This training wasn’t just informative – it was genuinely enjoyable and something I’ll never forget.

Matteo Emanuele Camilleri – Student from the Consultative Council for Future Generations (MESGA)

Matteo’s reflections were echoed by Giuseppe, who also shared his perspective on the experience:

“Our day began in a very welcoming and professional environment. As soon as we entered the air-conditioned restaurant, we were greeted warmly by the instructors. To start the session, we were asked to fill out a few important forms. These were to ensure safety and administrative purposes, ensuring that all participants were aware of the protocols and procedures for the day.

Once the formalities were completed, we began a lesson, which was an introduction to basic fire safety. The instructors gave us informative briefing on how to properly use fire extinguishers and the importance of PPE, Personal Protective Equipment. They also discussed general fire safety tips, emphasizing the significance of remaining calm and making the right decisions during emergencies.

After the briefing, we were each handed a set of PPES that matched our individual sizes. It was reassuring to see that the equipment was thoroughly cleaned and well-maintained. Once we had our gear on, we moved on to our first practical exercise: learning how to use different types of fire extinguishers. We were taught the correct procedure step-by-step: first raise the alarm, choose the right type of fire extinguisher based on the fire, use the extinguisher till it is empty and finally, place the used extinguisher on the ground in a horizontal position before evacuating.

Next, we were trained on how to correctly wear and use a gas mask. This was essential for the following simulation, where we entered a mock aircraft cabin filled with that when we entered and everyone was sited artificial smoke started to come out. This exercise was done to replicate a real-life emergency scenario inside an airplane. Using our training, we successfully wore the training gas mask navigated the smoky cabin and evacuated safely, relying on our senses and the guidance we had received.

After this, we changed into a different set of PPES for water-based training. We proceeded to a large pool, where we learned how to survive in cold water. Each one of us was given a life jacket, and we practiced techniques for conserving body heat and staying afloat. We also learned how to position ourselves to be easily seen by rescuers, such as those in helicopters or rescue boats. Then, we simulated boarding a marine hovercraft safely, followed by practicing being rescued by a helicopter.

The training concluded by taking a shower and changing back into our regular clothes. We then gathered for lunch, which was delicious.

Overall, the experience was not only educational but also very engaging. It provided hands-on training that could prove crucial in real-life emergencies. The instructors were professional, the facilities were excellent, and I left the training feeling much more confident in my ability to handle emergency situations safely and effectively.“

Giuseppe Saliba – Student from the Consultative Council for Future Generations (MESGA)