EU AID PROGRAMME FOR THE TURKISH CYPRIOT COMMUNITY

The EU Scholarship programme for Cypriot Youth at UWC celebrates the graduation of the 2022-2024 scholars             

Nicosia, 27 June 2024

To mark the graduation of 12 scholars of the EU Scholarship Programme at the United World Colleges (UWC), the UWC, in collaboration with the European Commission, organised a ceremony to honour and recognise the 2022-2024 graduates attended by current scholars and graduates of the programme, parents, community members and stakeholders of the programme. This graduation marked a significant milestone, celebrating the hard work and growth of the scholars, but also the EU’s efforts in building bridges between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities.

Stefan Simosas, Head of Cooperation of the Cyprus Settlement Support Unit congratulated the graduates and expressed the ‘hope that the experience of studying together with young people from the other Cypriot community and from many other countries has shown that students have a lot in common and that together they can build bridges and overcome differences that still affect our societies.’ 

Reflecting on the programme, Michael Johnson, Chair of UWC Cyprus, encouraged the scholars to ‘always carry within the flame of UWC’s mission: to unite people for peace and a sustainable future. The EU Scholarship Programme for Cypriot Youth at UWC brings together people from all over Cyprus to work for a better future. Your ongoing support is vital to increase our reach and impact on this island.’

In their speeches, graduating students Pavlina Solomou and Şerife Su Mehmetalioğulları delivered powerful messages. 

Şerife Su shared their commitment: “So today, we are not just graduating with knowledge, we’re graduating with a mission - to be advocates for peace, justice, and unity, to keep speaking our truth, be vocal, refuse complicity and embrace what it means to be a UWCer.”

Graduating from UWC Mostar, Pavlina expressed her gratitude: "Thank you, Mostar, for your bridges that have taught three generations of Cypriot students and many more to come what coexistence through conflict looks like, what constructive confrontation means, and what a transition to peace feels like."

As a successful project that has a tangible and everlasting impact on the lives of young Cypriots, the EU Scholarship programme for Cypriot youth was launched in 2019, and so far, has granted 64 scholarships to Cypriot students to attend the International Baccalaureate at UWC schools in Europe (UWC Adriatic, UWC Maastricht, UWC Mostar, and UWC Robert Bosch College). 

UWC’s transformative educational model promotes peace and mutual understanding between communities, influencing not only the students themselves, but also their families and wider communities. The EU Scholarship programme also offers opportunities on the island through bi-communal youth engagement activities and mentorship programmes. These opportunities are open to the wider community, giving more young Cypriots the chance to practice intercommunal dialogue while working on their leadership and change-making skills.

The EU Scholarship Programme for Cypriot Youth at UWC is funded by the Aid Programme for the Turkish Cypriot community as a confidence building and reconciliation measure.