Stand Up, Speak Out: Building Bridges Through Activism and Volunteering.
2025-01-20
United Youth of Cyprus is an initiative by the youth for youth, with the aim to connect young people across the island of Cyprus, promoting peace, sustainability and empowerment of youth.
By Alexia Fekka(Year 6) to be posted on Cyprus Mail
United Youth of Cyprus (UYC), in partnership with Polychoros Voroklinis, CurioCity, and Between Us Cyprus, organized this dynamic activity for young people, between 16 and 30 years old, to learn about the impact that activism and volunteering has in the world.
Led by highly respected trainers Doxia Mina and Pantelitsa Eleftheriou, the workshop focused on technical skills, on strategic thinking, and on sustainable strategies for civic engagement, and provided the participants with the instruments to transform their interest into effective and actionable effort. By interactive sessions the event revealed the path on how actions taken individually and collectively can be explored to overcome pressing issues, such as the current situation in Cyprus, and build bridges between different communities.
Two of the founders of UYC, Christopher Andreou and Maria Erotokritou
“Organizing the Workshop for Change makers through the United Youth of Cyprus initiative has been an incredible journey” Said Maria Erotokritou ,one of the organizers and founders of United Youth of Cyprus. “I loved seeing young people attend their first workshop and hearing them ask when the next one will be. It really showed that the event was a success. It was inspiring to see how they believe in their ability to make a change and understand the positive ripple effect their actions can have in our communities. We hope that together we can help them have a bigger impact and bring their ideas to life”
The workshop offered participants a range of engaging activities that encouraged interaction, learning, and teamwork where participants had the opportunity to discuss famous activists and their role in setting about global and local change. Additionally, participants discovered the history of activism and how activism has developed, thereby setting in motion discussions on what advocacy means, and who motivate action. Participants, in addition, expressed their favorite activists and their motivations for choosing them,an activity which helped foster an exchange of thoughts and attitudes!
An icebreaker game facilitated the attendees to interact with one another through answering questions, this activity has helped the attendees to develop connection and community feeling. A highlights of the workshop was the “challenge” activity, where attendees split into groups and completed a series of creative and interactive tasks. These challenges included making a song about the workshop, creating a fun dance to accompany it, and capturing a photo with a local individual in Cyprus. Not only did these activities promote teamwork and creativity, they also infused the day with a fun, engaging, and memorable quality.
These diverse activity options provided participants with the exciting opportunity to forge friendships with individuals from a range of backgrounds, exchange stories, and establish new relationships. The workshop also proved to be a dynamic space for cultivating understanding, promoting collaboration, and empowering young reformers to take meaningful steps toward a better future.
Overall, the workshop was a truly inspiring experience. Participants had thoughtful conversations, artistic exploration and engagement, and bridges to one another, all of which empowered participants to generate positive action. The workshop has promoted interaction, mutual understanding, and a united will to construct a brighter tomorrow in Cyprus.
Check their instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unitedyouthofcyprus?igsh=cnZ0dDBjN3M0MjQ0
