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Description
The project aspires to improve inclusion and meaningful participation of youth in socio-political and economic life and responds to key objectives of the Call: “empowering vulnerable groups” and “enhancing capacity and sustainability of civil society”. Implementation is conducted in 7 phases: 1. An online campaign will run on Pusula/Ππούσουλας inviting youth across the island to share their ideas on: How to overcome socio-political and economic obstacles inhibiting them from being active citizens , interventions/actions, which if adopted, could contribute towards addressing these obstacles. 2. The top 50 most supported ideas will be transferred to Idea Prism App through which their authors will be supported to turn their ideas into S.M.A.R.T.er proposals (Specific, Measurable, Assignable, Relevant, Time-bounded). 3. The general public will be invited to evaluate ideas for Impact, Feasibility, and Probability of happening without intervention. 4. The authors of the top proposals will be invited to participate in a face-to-face event based on a Structured Democratic Dialogue Process (SDDP) to structure their proposals into an Influence Map. The event will be broadcasted live on social media to allow the general public to ask questions or post comments. 5. The project will integrate the results produce an effective action-road-map, widely disseminated to generate public awareness and mobilize youth action. F2F and online meetings will be organized to discuss how to take concrete steps towards the implementation of the action-road-map and identify the relevant policy makers for its implementation. 6. Mentorship and life-skills trainings will support those interested in taking the lead to lobby towards implementation of the action-road-map. 7. All contributors and the wider public will be invited to evaluate the Project’s activities. The survey results and project deliverables will be consolidated into a Policy Recommendation Report.
Summary of project results
The CAN-CY project aimed to address several critical issues, primarily focusing on empowering vulnerable groups and enhancing the capacity and sustainability of civil society in Cyprus. The project sought to tackle the challenges of social exclusion, lack of advocacy skills, and limited opportunities for vulnerable youth from both Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities. Additionally, the project aimed to overcome the barriers to effective civic engagement and participation, particularly in a politically divided and volatile environment. The project also addressed the need for innovative methods and approaches to include vulnerable groups in community activities and decision-making processes.
The CAN-CY project implemented a series of activities to achieve its objectives. It began with a large public project launch event in collaboration with the Cyprus Peace and Dialogue Center (CPDC), which attracted a great number of high-level participants and stakeholders. The project organized six mentorship and training sessions covering topics such as inclusivity, leadership, mental health project design, pitching and proposal writing, project fundraising, and advocacy. These sessions engaged a substantial number participants. The project also conducted ideation workshops, where participants submitted their ideas in video format, which were then evaluated and structured into a roadmap through the Structured Democratic Dialogue (SDD) process. The project developed and disseminated various materials, including an ideas catalogue, executive summary reports, and promotional content. Additionally, the project engaged in extensive social media campaigns and stakeholder meetings to raise awareness and promote the project''s goals.
The CAN-CY project achieved significant results, particularly in empowering vulnerable youth and enhancing the capacity of civil society organizations (CSOs). The project trained a substantial number of vulnerable individuals in advocacy, consensus building, and life skills, exceeding its initial targets. It developed four new or improved methods for the inclusion of vulnerable groups and informed over 688 vulnerable youth about these methods. The project''s social media campaigns reached a broader audience including from vulnerable groups. The project also provided capacity-building training to numerous participants from CSOs and informal groups, fostering partnerships and networks among a number of CSOs. The project''s advocacy efforts culminated in a public launch event that showcased the roadmap and ideas catalogue, engaging key stakeholders and promoting the implementation of the action roadmap. The project successfully addressed social and economic disparities, strengthened bilateral relations, and promoted active citizenship and civic engagement among vulnerable groups in Cyprus.