Regarding the European program “Have your Say! Engage, Connect, Empower Youth!”, implemented by the Cyprus Organization of Youth Centers under the Erasmus+ program, Christina Stylianou, an official with the Organization, spoke on the Alpha News program. This is a program with a significant legacy, one that “gave a voice” to young people, making them key stakeholders in European society.

As Ms. Stylianou explained, the initiative began in July 2024, followed by seven dialogue events across all districts of Cyprus, with the participation of young people aged 13 to 30.

“Following these dialogues, we essentially investigated the extent to which young people in Cyprus are informed about and engaged with issues of active citizenship, European values, and volunteerism. We then conducted a pan-Cypriot survey, which was distributed to all young people to gain further insight into how things work.”

At the same time, an interim conference was held in collaboration with policymakers, which resulted in the drafting of a document of recommendations.

“It highlighted some key issues through all the activities of this program, such as the lack of recognition for volunteerism and the certification of volunteers. A culture of volunteering exists in Cyprus, but unfortunately, there is a lack of recognition. The second issue is that volunteering is viewed primarily as an extracurricular activity. All of this has shown us that there is a lack of a National Strategy.”

Indeed, the recommendations document sets as its goals the strengthening of participatory governance, the creation of a policy framework, and the recognition of volunteers’ skills.

See what was discussed on the Alpha News program: