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Description
DARE project is aiming at two Outcomes, namely (a) Increased Citizen Participation in Civic Activities and (b) Enhanced Capacity and Sustainability of Civil Society in Cyprus. The project targets Civil Society Organisations (CSO) and individuals in both the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot communities. The project targets all CSO but it will focus on the Civil Society Organisations in the fields of Youth, Gender Equality, Environment, and Health.
The project consortium comprised of 3 partners. SEAL CYPRUS is coordinating the project DARE CYPRUS. They are based in the Republic of Cyprus. They are working on social issues, and they provide opportunities for competence development to individual learners such as Educators, Youth Workers, Human Resource Professionals etc. and for capacity building to organisations. Project Partner 1, The Management Centre of the Mediterranean is representing the Turkish Cypriot community. Project Partner 2, Capital Youth Association from Liechtenstein is implementing projects at national level in one of the Donor Countries. The two partners in Cyprus will jointly work towards the project outcomes with the support of the partner in Liechtenstein.
The project Activities include training and consulting in topics such as (indicatively): Human Resource Management in Voluntary Projects when implementing (European) Citizens’ Initiatives; Online Campaigns and Petitions; Validation of non-formal Learning with Open Badges; Stakeholder Dialogue in four steps; (1) Exploring and Engaging, (2) Building and formalising, (3) Implementing and evaluating, (4) Developing further, replicating or institutionalising. A combination of communication methods will support the visibility of the project, the partners, and the Donors.
Summary of project results
The DARE CYPRUS project aimed to address key challenges in civic engagement, human rights education, and cooperation between Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot Civil Society Organizations (CSOs). One of the main issues was the lack of awareness about the role of CSOs in promoting democracy, advocacy, and social change. Many citizens, particularly young people, were unaware of how they could actively participate in civil society. To tackle this, the project launched an extensive awareness campaign that reached over 42,000 people. Another challenge was the limited opportunities for young activists and volunteers to develop their skills and engage in advocacy. The project addressed this by providing Civic and Human Rights Education to 134 young people, surpassing the initial target of 120. Additionally, CSOs often struggled with a lack of training and collaboration opportunities, limiting their effectiveness. To strengthen these organizations, the project facilitated training and coaching for 40 CSO members and created an online learning platform with structured training materials. Finally, bicommunal cooperation between Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot CSOs was limited, making it difficult to address shared societal challenges. The project brought organizations together through four bicommunal meetings and four thematic meetings, encouraging dialogue and cooperation.
The DARE CYPRUS project implemented a series of activities to strengthen civil society, enhance civic participation, and promote bicommunal cooperation. A key component was Civic and Human Rights Education, where 134 young activists and volunteers participated in training sessions that equipped them with the knowledge and skills to engage in advocacy. In addition, 40 CSO members received specialized training and coaching to enhance their capacity and effectiveness. To increase public awareness, the project ran a social media campaign that reached over 42,000 people, more than doubling the original target of 20,000. The campaign was further supported by participation in local festivals and public events, such as the Mehmetcik Grape Festival and UpToYouth Festival, where over 1,000 people were engaged.
To strengthen cooperation between CSOs, the project organized four bicommunal meetings and four thematic meetings, bringing together participants from 16 organizations. These meetings provided a platform for dialogue, knowledge exchange, and collaboration. As a result, eight Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) were signed between experienced and emerging CSOs, formalizing new partnerships. Additionally, the project developed a comprehensive online training platform, featuring four key methodologies on topics such as stakeholder dialogue, human resource management in voluntary projects, and online campaigns. This platform serves as a lasting resource for civil society organizations and activists, ensuring continued learning and skill development beyond the project’s completion.
Through Civic and Human Rights Education, the project directly benefited 134 young activists and volunteers, exceeding the initial target of 120. These participants gained valuable knowledge on human rights, advocacy, and civic engagement, equipping them to take an active role in their communities. Additionally, 40 CSO members received specialized training and coaching, enhancing their skills in organizational management, volunteer coordination, and public advocacy.
The project also made a substantial impact on public awareness, reaching over 42,000 people through a social media campaign, more than doubling the expected reach of 20,000. Furthermore, participation in local festivals and public events, such as the Mehmetcik Grape Festival and UpToYouth Festival, allowed the project to engage directly with over 1,000 people, distributing informational materials and raising awareness about civil society’s role.
The project facilitated four bicommunal meetings and four thematic meetings, bringing together participants from 16 organizations. These meetings resulted in the signing of eight Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs), fostering long-term collaboration between Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot CSOs. Additionally, the creation of an online training platform ensured that knowledge and capacity-building efforts would continue beyond the project’s duration.
Summary of bilateral results
The project also contributed to knowledge sharing and capacity building, with 40 CSO members receiving training and coaching to enhance their skills in advocacy, volunteer management, and organizational development. Additionally, the donor partner, Capital Youth Association, played a crucial role in sharing best practices and expertise from the EEA and Norway Grants framework, providing valuable insights into how civil society can be more effective in promoting democratic participation.Public outreach was another major achievement, with the social media campaign reaching over 42,000 people, significantly exceeding the original target of 20,000. Participation in local festivals, such as the Mehmetcik Grape Festival and UpToYouth Festival, allowed the project to engage directly with over 1,000 people, raising awareness about the role of civil society in fostering peace and reconciliation.A lasting impact of the project is the development of an online training platform, which provides CSOs and activists with resources on stakeholder dialogue, human resource management in voluntary projects, and online campaigns. This platform ensures that the knowledge gained through the project remains accessible and continues to support capacity-building efforts beyond its completion.