Municipal / Community Youth Councils

Based on the European Charter on the Participation of Young People in Local and Regional Life, the Youth Board of Cyprus, in collaboration with the Union of Cyprus Municipalities and Communities, promotes the operation of Municipal and Community Youth Councils.

Municipal and Community Youth Councils provide advisory support to local authorities since their purpose is to record and promote the suggestions of young people on what concerns and affects them, to the local authorities. They contribute towards a constant and substantial connection and dialogue between local authorities and the youth, in order to enable municipalities and communities to identify young people’s interests and problems and deal with them in the best way.

Municipal and Community Youth Councils have developed rapidly in Europe in recent years. In Cyprus the institution of Municipal and Community Youth Councils was introduced in 2001 – beginning of 2002, with the support of local authorities and the YBC. The first Municipal Youth Councils were formed in Aradippou and Paphos Municipalities.

OBJECTIVES

The creation of a participatory institution which will give young people, and especially youth organisations, the opportunity to become active within their local authorities. Groups of young people and youth organisations – Student, Voluntary, Social, Political, Cultural, Environmental and non-formal groups of young people – have the opportunity to have an active involvement in issues of their interest and in decision-making processes within their municipalities or communities. Young people can discuss and propose the adoption of various issues and thus benefit from the implementation of actions and infrastructure projects of their municipality or community.

The Municipal and Community Youth Councils contribute towards a constant and substantial connection and dialogue between local authorities and the youth. This enables municipalities and communities to identify young people’s interests and problems and deal with them.
THE ROLE AND ACTION OF MUNICIPAL AND COMMUNITY YOUTH COUNCILS

The main role of the Municipal and Community Youth Councils is to provide advisory support to local authorities. The Municipal and Community Youth Councils prepare an annual action plan and budget, focusing on youth issues, and propose policies relevant to youth issues in relation to local authorities. They can also give suggestions and proposals regarding the implementation of infrastructure projects, as well as other projects and actions that will benefit young people in each municipality or community.

The supportive role of the Municipal and Community Youth Councils towards organised youth groups: The Municipal and Community Youth Councils aim at providing multiple support to youth organisations to take local action. This support could be financial, technical or informative on the projects and actions of the Youth Board of Cyprus, the local authorities or other bodies.

The complementary role of the Municipal and Community Youth Councils: The Municipal and Community Youth Councils should, under no circumstances, replace youth organisations or compete against them. The Municipal and Community Youth Councils should take action when the youth organisations are not able to do so. The principle of subsidiarity should be applied within the framework of operation of the Municipal and Community Youth Councils.
FINANCIAL RESOURCES OF THE MUNICIPAL YOUTH COUNCILS

Financial support is provided to Youth Councils by the local authorities. The Municipal and Community Youth Councils can sometimes be financially supported by the private sector through funding for specific projects or actions. The Youth Board of Cyprus may also provide financial support for specific projects or actions through the ‘Youth Initiatives’ Project.
THE ROLE OF THE YBC

The role of the YBC is not to replace local authorities. Its role is solely to provide assistance and support to youth organisations of local authorities in terms of actions taken for the benefit of young people. It provides financial, technical and advisory support to the local authorities and the Municipal and Community Youth Councils with regard to the actions, projects and infrastructure projects that could be undertaken.
CURRENT STATUS – FORMATION OF MUNICIPAL AND COMMUNITY YOUTH COUNCILS

28 Municipal and 10 Community Youth Councils have been formed and operate in Cyprus so far. The municipalities that are interested in forming their own Municipal or Commnity Youth Council should contact the YBC at 22402611/602 or by email at [email protected] .

List of Municipal and Community Youth Councils (May 2024)

Municipal Youth Councils

1. Ayia Napa
2. Agios Athanasios
3. Agios Dometios
4. Aglantzia
5. Athienou
6. Akanthou
7. Famagusta
8. Aradippou
9. Yeri
10. Geroskipou
11. Dali
12. Engomi
13. Karavas
14. Kato Polemidia
15. Kyrenia
16. Kythrea
17. Lakatamia
18. Lapithos
19. Larnaca
20. Latsia
21. Limassol
22. Lefkara and District
23. Lefkoniko
24. Nicosia
25. Mesa Yitonia
26. Morphou
27. Paralimni
28. Paphos
29. Strovolos
30. Sotiras
31. Ypsonas

Community Youth Councils

1. Agia Marina Xyliatou
2. Achna
3. Vatili
4. Kalo Chorio
5. Kato Dikomo
6. Katokopia
7. Kontea
8. Lythrodonda
9. Milia
10. Pano Polemidia
11. Pentaya
12. Pera Orinis
13. Pyrgos Lemesou

Submit proposals, reports & findings on youth issues

You can submit documents, reports, policy proposals or tools of your organization that concern youth policy issues (such as social inclusion, youth work, participation, education & training, etc.).

Contact us

Athalassas Avenue 104
2024 Strovolos
Sofocles Tower (3^rd floor)
P.O Box 20282 , 2150 Nicosia-Cyprus

00357-22402600/2
00357-22402700
[email protected]

Municipal / Community Youth Councils

OBJECTIVES

THE ROLE AND ACTION OF MUNICIPAL AND COMMUNITY YOUTH COUNCILS

FINANCIAL RESOURCES OF THE MUNICIPAL YOUTH COUNCILS

THE ROLE OF THE YBC

CURRENT STATUS – FORMATION OF MUNICIPAL AND COMMUNITY YOUTH COUNCILS

List of Municipal and Community Youth Councils (May 2024)

Submit proposals, reports & findings on youth issues

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