The Cyprus Youth Organization does not belong to any of its officials or to any member of its appointed Council. It belongs to the Republic of Cyprus. And its mission is to serve the young men and women of this country
Last week, the President of the Republic announced an additional grant of €125,000 to the Cyprus Scout Association, with the aim of strengthening its activities, improve training conditions, and upgrade their camp facilities.
This is undoubtedly an important initiative, not only for the Scouting movement but also as a tangible recognition of the value of volunteerism, non-formal education, and the skills young people acquire through them. It was also announced that the President was accepting applications from civil society for the establishment of a “special ministerial council” composed exclusively of young men and women who will be nominated by youth organizations!
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
All of the above is very encouraging and noteworthy, as civil society in Cyprus has historically not received the institutional recognition it deserves. On the contrary, it has most often been met with suspicion—not only by the state itself but also by society at large. And yet, civil society organizations are a valuable asset to any modern democracy. This is particularly true in the realm of youth, where active participation, activism, collective action, and social advocacy are essential tools for empowering young people.
And although support is generally limited and relies mainly on private initiative and volunteerism, youth organizations in Cyprus have had two important pillars of support for decades: the Cyprus Youth Organization and the Cyprus Youth Council.
For those unfamiliar with the difference between the two institutions, I would like to clarify that the Cyprus Youth Council is self-governing, with representatives from the organizations, while the Cyprus Youth Organization serves as the government’s primary institutional arm for youth affairs. It is a quasi-governmental organization with a state budget and permanent staff that implements actions and policies for the younger generation and, at the same time, supports the initiatives of youth organizations and youth centers through programs and funding tools.
Since its establishment in 1994, ONEK has gone through various phases and has faced crises and challenges from time to time. Despite the inherent weaknesses of its structure—a structure that in many cases resembles a traditional government agency more than a modern, flexible, and truly youth-oriented institution—it has managed to achieve results. It has earned the respect of a significant portion of youth organizations and has worthily represented the Republic of Cyprus at the European and international levels.
Today, however, ONEK is facing a crisis that is perhaps unprecedented in its history.
As a result of this crisis, the Organization has been unable, for months now, to operate with the required efficiency, to make decisions, and to proceed smoothly with the procedures to support the dozens of organizations that rely on it to carry out —and in some cases—even for the basic continuation of their activities.
What is most concerning is that, the situation reportedly began with a personal conflict among the Agency’s top officials, which, instead of being addressed in a timely and institutional manner, was allowed to drag on. This development led to serious allegations from both sides and, ultimately, to a situation in which cooperation and the smooth functioning of the Organization have become impossible.
However, the Cyprus Youth Organization does not belong to any of its officials or to any member of its appointed Council. It belongs to the Republic of Cyprus. And its mission is to serve the young men and women of this country.
When an organization with this mission remains dysfunctional for months, the cost is not borne solely by those involved in the administrative dispute. It is paid by youth organizations, their volunteers, youth centers, and, ultimately, the young people themselves.
That is why, since the government supposedly recognizes in practice the importance of youth, volunteerism, and non-formal education—then it must ensure that the institutions created specifically to serve these goals function effectively.
The President of the Republic therefore faces both a challenge and an opportunity: to intervene institutionally, decisively, and without further delay, to restore the smooth operation of the Cyprus Youth Organization and ensure that the organizations and young people who depend on it will not continue to pay the price of an administrative crisis.
Furthermore, if the President wishes to look even further ahead, he can initiate a substantive dialogue on upgrading and modernizing ONEK so that the Organization can acquire the structure, flexibility, and modern tools needed to meet the needs of a new generation that is changing every day.
By Xenia Konstantinou
Deputy Press Secretary, DISY
