Applicant Organization

Active Cypriot Programs and European

Learning Into Acceptance, ACPELIA

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Acpelia

Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/acpelia_cyprus/

Active Cypriot Programs and European Learning Into Acceptance, ACPELIA, was founded in 2019 in Limassol, Cyprus. The part of the European Programs of Cultural Association NOSTOS Pissouriou transferred in a new created organization, the ACPELIA, which will continue with the same OID and PIC number (Organization is on rural area of Cyprus with members from all over Cyprus and other Rural areas, our organization is in close cooperation with community councils of these rural areas). All the members of the Cultural Association are also members of the NGO ACPELIA. Main aim of the Organization is the rescue, preservation and transmission of cultural heritage, sustainability of the environment, discrimination, social and environmental entrepreneurship, social inclusion, elimination of discrimination and racism and the grant to our members of the chance to involve in themes about Environment, Culture, Sports, Racism, Equality, Democracy and Discrimination. Cultural and Sports activities promote social inclusion, human rights and help in the limitation of discrimination among the generations. To promote the above-mentioned important values, the association is organising cultural, informative, educational and interactive activities for youth with the new European Programs department of the association. Those activities include dancing, theatre, educational activities with games and action, and other performances where young people are able to learn about human issues through Non-Formal Education.

Our organisation is volunteering organisation so we don't have any paid staff, but we worked all volunteering, when we have approved projects in themes that we work on them then independent contracts are done with the suitable youth workers, trainers and project managers so to be able to make all the activities from these contracts. We have more than 50 youth workers, learners and members of the group who are willing to work with our organisation and who are ready to be employed according to the needs of each plan. In the organisation, we are working on a lot of themes according to the needs of the area, and generally, youth workers who are working for our organisation. Such themes are:

Culture and Intercultural Activities:

The Main Aim of the Organisation is to rescue, preserve and transmission of cultural heritage, the sustainability of the environment and the national traditions of Cyprus, as expressed through dancing, singing, music and customs of the Island. Cultural activities promote social inclusion, human rights and help in the limitation of discrimination among the generations. To promote the above-mentioned important values, the association is organising cultural, informative, educational and interactive activities for youth with the new European Programs department of the association.

Music, Theatre, Drama and Arts:

We have a registered as a yoga and meditation teacher from the Yoga Alliance Institute and have attended various seminars on theatrical techniques such as physical theatre, voice lessons, etc. We create groups in our organisation with youngsters so as to give them education about self-improvement with theatre and drama non-formal activities. Our trainers are always searching for ways to empower people and find therapy through the arts, and therefore, we are also trying to create groups in drama therapy lessons.

Tourism and tourism programs in our area:

Tourism could play a crucial role in the development of European regions and reduce the negative effects of the economic crisis. Services and output created for touristic purposes contribute to the local development by creating new jobs that can compensate for the industrial or local downfall, safeguard and enhance the natural and cultural heritage in branches like the artistic one, the branch of local gastronomy or the defence of biodiversity. In recent years, there has been a general evolution of European cultural tourism, from the most traditional forms, based on museum and monuments tours, to more dynamic and participatory forms of contemporary culture usage.

Our organisation is working in a lot of KA2 programs which have to do with tourist paths for people with problems in vision, and generally we are working in these programs for the inclusion of people with disabilities and helping people with fewer opportunities.

Research and Science themes:

The research in our Science Department has to do with scientific themes such as Environment, Energy, and Renewable Energy Sources. In the projects that we are doing this year with the cooperation of other organisations (like Akti organisation, University of Cyprus (Physics Department) and Anaptixiaki etairia Troodous) with our members are involved with more than 70 youngsters. In these projects, our first goal is to help the young people learn how to learn. With their involvement in these projects, they have the opportunity to announce their results to other young people, but also in their community, their area, and in public in general. By getting in contact with the educational system of another country, the teachers will increase their professional and personal experience, which will be a great benefit to our organisation. They will guide the youngsters in their activities during the project, so they will improve both their ability to communicate in English and their ability to manipulate computers. The firm communication between them and their students will be beneficial, too. We went through all these actions to improve the critical thinking of our youngsters and to encourage them to participate in European projects, showing their work and also giving their ideas.