The European Programme "Have your Say! Engage, Connect, Empower Youth"!, implemented by the Cyprus Youth Centres Organisation, focuses on strengthening active citizenship and democratic participation of young people at local, national and European level. Its main idea is to give young people, especially those aged 13-30 years old who face fewer opportunities due to geographical constraints, a real platform to express their views, formulate proposals and co-design policies that affect their lives. Through structured dialogues in all provinces, from urban youth clubs to remote communities, participants will have the opportunity to share experiences, highlight needs and make suggestions to promote volunteering, social cohesion and democratic engagement.

Activities are not limited to meetings. The project is developing an educational guide on volunteering in Cyprus and Europe, offering practical tools and good practices that will help young people discover ways of active participation. At the same time, a recommendation document will be developed that will gather the views and needs of youth, providing useful guidance to policy makers and youth organisations. The final conference will be the culmination, bringing together 100 young people from all over Cyprus to present the results of the dialogues and formulate common proposals.

In this way, Have your Say! is not limited to a simple awareness-raising campaign. It creates an ongoing network of dialogue and cooperation that connects youth with the EU, promotes values of democracy, participation and solidarity, and empowers young people to recognise their role as active citizens capable of contributing to a more inclusive and democratic society.

The objectives of the European Programme "Have your Say! Engage, Connect, Empower Youth!" reflect its basic philosophy: empowering youth and fostering a culture of active citizenship and volunteering. The primary objective is to raise awareness among young people aged 13-30, especially those with fewer opportunities due to geographical or social constraints, about the values of the European Union and the role of volunteering as a driving force for democratic participation. Through structured dialogues in cities and remote communities, the programme aims to enable young people to gain a deeper understanding of their rights and responsibilities as active citizens and to recognise the importance of their personal contribution to policy-making.

At the same time, it seeks to promote the active participation and democratic engagement of young people, building their confidence to become agents of social change and contribute to the creation of a more inclusive society. Particular emphasis is placed on strengthening the skills of young people living in urban and rural areas, so that they acquire the tools and knowledge to become actively involved at local and European level.

The programme also aims to contribute to the European Youth Objectives, strengthening young people's connection to the EU and promoting inclusive societies. Through the development of a training guide on volunteering and the development of a recommendation document, young people's needs and suggestions are being recorded, providing valuable material for policy makers and youth organisations. In this way, Have your Say! amplifies the voice of young people, provides practical solutions for their participation and creates a long-term impact in Cyprus and across Europe, contributing to a more democratic and active civil society.

Duration

The programme will run for 23 months (July 2024 - June 2026).

The activities of the project Have your Say! Engage, Connect, Empower Youth! are designed to give young people in Cyprus - especially those aged 13-30 living in remote or disadvantaged areas - the opportunity to express their voice, connect with policy makers and enhance their active participation in democratic life. The basic idea is to create a multi-level network for dialogue and cooperation, linking local communities to the European space, while promoting EU values and a culture of volunteering.

The central element of the programme is the seven structured dialogues that will take place in all provinces: Paphos, Limassol, Nicosia, Nicosia, Larnaca and Ammochostos. These meetings will bring together young people from urban and rural areas, creating a space for exchanging experiences, identifying needs and formulating policy proposals on volunteering and youth participation. At the same time, an online survey will be developed to record youth views on the changes they would like to see in policy and practice.

The action is supported by a social media awareness campaign and the creation of a customized website, ensuring that the message reaches not only local and national, but also European level. In addition, the project will produce an educational guide on volunteering and a recommendation document, valuable tools for policy makers, youth organisations and young people themselves.

The mid-term conference to be held in November 2025 will be an excellent opportunity to present the results of the dialogues as well as the results of a major online survey to identify the needs and demands of young people, highlighting the problems they face that prevent them from participating in society, economic, social, cultural and political participation and how they believe young people can be more active in society.

The final conference, which will bring together 100 young people, will be the culmination: a celebration of participation, where the results of the dialogues will be presented and the final proposals will be formulated, leaving useful material for young people. All activities are based on the principles of inclusiveness, accessibility and youth expression, amplifying the voice of young people in shaping solutions for a healthier digital life.

The material will be posted soon