Cyprus Youth Council (CYC) met with DISY yesterday (08/09) as part its #ΓίνεΗΑλλαγή campaign.

Through the campaign, CYC aims to raise awareness among youth, on the benefits of political participation, in order to increase the number of young registered voters and youth voter turnout.

During the meeting, CYC presented its request to be included during parliamentary discussions on matters that concern youth.

Representatives of the Youth Council also highlighted the economic and social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on young people, based on findings of a recent study conducted by the European Youth Forum and the International Labour Organization. According to the study, 1 in 6 young people have lost their jobs after the pandemic and around 1 in 2 have symptoms of anxiety and/or depression.

During the meeting CYC and DISY also discussed about:

·         Ways through which CYC can work with political parties to mobilise youth to participate in civic life and make political decision-making processes and institutions more accessible to young people

·         How to upgrade the current voter registration system to make it more accessible to young people

·         Ways in which to facilitate the entry of young people in the labour market and the need to safeguard their social welfare

·         The digitalisation of public services

·         Ways through which CYC and DISY can cooperate, especially on the topics of mental health and youth participation.

Mr. Averof Neofytou – President, Mr. Nikos Tornaritis – Parliamentary leader, Mr. Efthymios Diplaros – MP and Mr. Andreas Eleftheriou – President of NEDISY, represented DISY at the meeting.

CYC was represented by: Antonis Kourras – President, Christiana Xenofontos – Vice President A’, Despoina Panayiotou – General Secretary, Marina Shiammouti, Programme Development Secretary and Andria Thoidou – Press Secretary.

During the #ΓίνεΗΑλλαγή, CYC will seek to meet with all political parties whose youth wings are members of CYC and will organise events to raise awareness among youth on the benefits of political participation.