Around 40 Cypriots travelled to Birmingham from across the UK last weekend, to take part in NEPOMAK UK’s Annual General Meeting, which was held at the Midlands’ Greek Cypriot Community Centre. Attendees were also joined by Costa Constanti from the Cyprus Academic Dialogue, who kindly flew over to deliver a workshop on the Cyprus Problem, covering issues such as bi-communalism, peace-building and lobbying. Participants also engaged in a speed-networking activity and displayed their sartorial talents (and sense of humour) in a newspaper fashion show and mock catwalk. Other workshops addressed some of the challenges faced by young Cypriots in the diaspora today, including: promoting tourism to Cyprus; achieving more effective high-level lobbying in the context of the Cyprus problem; developing stronger regional ties between different Cypriot communities across the UK; and re-launching the NEPOMAK show on LGR.
During the AGM, Antonia Savvides stepped down as the President of NEPOMAK UK to focus her efforts as the newly-elected Global President of NEPOMAK. Xenia Koumi was elected to take over as the new President of NEPOMAK UK. She said of her appointment, “it is an honour to have been chosen to represent NEPOMAK in the United Kingdom and I hope to continue the fantastic work done over the past 12 years to bring young Cypriots in the diaspora together. I would like to focus my tenure on reaching out to those in smaller Cypriot communities across Britain”.
NEPOMAK UK would like to thank the volunteers at The Midlands Greek Cypriot Association, including Elias Koumi, Fotoulla Lytras, Harry Jordanou and the catering team, for their kind assistance and generous hospitality on the day.
NEPOMAK is a global organisation dedicated to young overseas Cypriots between the ages of 18 and 30. It has branches in the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Greece, Zimbabwe and continental Europe. The aim of NEPOMAK UK is to bring together young Cypriots from across Britain to celebrate Cypriot culture and heritage and to promote networking amongst its members, through a range of different events, including boat parties, club nights, charity drives, arranging visits from high-profile Cypriots and networking evenings for young Cypriot professionals and entrepreneurs. NEPOMAK UK also works to promote Cypriot culture among UK communities, as well as advocating a peaceful solution to the Cyprus Issue. For more information, or to get involved with NEPOMAK UK, please visit our website www.nepomak.org, find us on Twitter @NEPOMAKuk, or email uk@nepomak.org
