A Voice for Young People in Cyprus
The Cyprus Youth Dialogue Project is an exciting initiative, funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Action for Cooperation and Trust (ACT), which encourages inter-communal dialogue amongst Cypriot youth, aged 15-24, from the Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot communities, using a variety of methods.
The project, allows young Cypriots to come together in an informal, supportive environment to identify their aspirations, hopes and fears for the future. Specifically, this project seeks to create an opportunity for a cross-section of Cypriot youth to be part of a comprehensive research study aimed at exploring and understanding the values and belief systems of young Cypriots from all communities.
The project, implemented by the University of Nicosia, the Cyprus Social and Economic Research Centre (KADEM) and the Cyprus Sociological Association, was launched in June 2007 and will run until December 2008.
Youth Aspiration Survey and Cyprus Youth Charter
A Youth Advisory Board (YAB), made up of 24 young individuals, ranging from 15 to 24 years old, has been assembled. The individuals making up the YAB were selected following a two-stage application process. One of their tasks was to assist in the development of a Youth Aspiration Survey, which explored various features of the lives, values and belief systems of Cypriot youth. Led by a team of experienced researchers, members of the YAB worked together, firstly to design a survey questionnaire – completed by 1600 Cypriot youth from both communities – and later, to interpret its results. Their insights and ideas will be incorporated into an official report, which will be published in Greek, Turkish and English.
The official report will then be used to create a Cyprus Youth Charter. This Charter will represent the ‘voice’ of Cypriot youth and will serve as a tool for their thoughts and views to be heard across the island.
Public Dialogue Forums and Documentary
A series of dialogue forums, open to the public, will be organised across the island to promote the results of the official report and the Cyprus Youth Charter. These dialogue forums will offer Cypriot youth the opportunity to make their voice heard across the island, and it is hoped, will stimulate healthy and productive discussion.
The various stages of the project are being captured on film for a 20-minute documentary that will be produced and will be screened during the public dialogue forums.
This project will give an opportunity for a cross-section of Cypriot youth to be part of a comprehensive research study aimed at exploring and understanding the values and belief systems of young Cypriots from all communities.
Jaco Cilliers, Programme Manager, UNDP-ACT
I consider the Cyprus Youth Dialogue project to be a very important one, as it is the first time in which we will have the opportunity to compare the attitudes and views of youth from the various communities of Cyprus. Hopefully, this will allow us to begin building a base of comparative knowledge for the future.
Nicos Peristianis, President of the Council, University of Nicosia