Agros was all gearing up for receiving participants for the CY.B.RU.S. youth exchange as a planning meeting took place in the Cypriot village last weekend.
From 18 to 20 October, the group leaders from the respective participating organisations in the upcoming Erasmus+ funded project were invited to the mountain village for an advanced planning meeting. The goal was to make all the necessary preparations, clarify arrangements and delegate tasks ahead of the youth exchange between Cyprus, Belgium, Russia and Scotland which will take place in Agros next month.
At an altitude of 1,000 metres, the group leaders had the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the charming village of 800 permanent inhabitants. The hostel where the Scottish participants will stay with their Belgium and Russian counterparts was inspected and tested, and the group leaders also received a tour of the top-notch local hotel and sports facilities, which also can be used during projects. As well as this, they had the chance to try traditional food and local award-winning delicacies, see traditional houses and visit the famous rose factory of Agros. The conclusion was that the participants have a lot to look forward to in November and that the small village has a range of activities to offer!
It was not just a leisure trip, however. The group leaders also had a meeting with the Cypriot organisers to talk through the draft programme, delegate tasks and discuss different aspects of the CY.B.RU.S. project. Each country will be responsible for leading at least one workshop over the course of the one-week youth exchange and will also arrange an intercultural night where they present their country’s culture to the other participants.
Looking at the draft programme for CY.B.RU.S., the youth exchange will be packed full of activities. The schedule includes day trips to the capital Nicosia and the vibrant coastal city of Limassol. Given that the participating countries play each other in the 2020 Euro Qualifiers during the week of the exchange, there will also be the chance to watch some live football. The organisers Youth Dynamics Group have among other things secured tickets to the Cyprus – Scotland match at Cyprus’ national stadium, which should be a particular highlight for the Scottish participants. As well as this, there will be a range of workshops which will aim at promoting themes such as tolerance, diversity and respect.
The weekend also provided the group leaders from the participating organisations with a taste of what the youth exchange will be in action as there was another youth exchange taking place in Agros at the same time as the advanced planning meeting of CY.B.RU.S. Participants from countries such as Italy, Lithuania and Ukraine were present in Agros for a similar project and it was evident how efficient these initiatives are in bringing people together, developing skills and promoting intercultural understanding from day one. EPIC are looking forward to coming back on 15 November and together with Youth Dynamics Group, ASBL Connections and In Change help young people gain all this invaluable experience!