Semi-structured CAN-CY dialogue with Lakatamia youth
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The Semi-structured CAN-CY dialogue with Lakatamia youth event has taken place in the context of Civic Action Now in Cyprus.
On January 11, 2023, the Lakatamia Municipality implemented a structured democratic dialogue (SDD) for civic engagement with local youth group representatives. The dialogue has been implemented in the context of a project called Civic Action Now - Cyprus (CAN-CY) supported by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. The activity focused on envisioning and designing an ideal future Lakatamia (or Cyprus in general) using the creative and practical ideas of its own citizens. The SDD process is a scientific methodology that is used to develop collaborative roadmaps that help redesign social systems based on the consensus and collective wisdom of many representatives. The SDD is used by Future Worlds Center across the globe to re-imagine, re-design, and re-construct social systems.
This action was organized with the goal of engaging with youth to generate ideas for the future of their locality and for Cyprus as a whole. The event was joined by representatives from different youth groups that are active in Lakatamia. The participants have generated many concrete and practical ideas. More importantly, the group envisioned positive changes that can be achieved through collective social action. The organizers believe that positive change is only possible when the actual citizens are engaged in the re-design and are motivated to participate and contribute towards making the change. Examples range from a drug-free community, plazas, dog parks, roads with bike lanes, to a technologically advanced Lakatamia.
The event was hosted at the Lakatamia Municipal building and was joined by the Mayor, Dr Fotoula Hadjipapa and Mr. Alkis Alkiviades, member of the municipal council. Their presence marks an excellent example where local authorities demonstrate genuine interest in hearing from youth and practicing bottom-up democracy by listening to the participants and taking their ideas for a better future seriously into consideration.
The CAN-CY project, is managed by the two non-profit organisations Future Worlds Center and the Centre for Sustainable Peace and Democratic Development (SeeD). The project benefits from a grant under the Active Citizens Fund Cyprus program, funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, through the EEA and Norway Grants 2014-2021.
