The "Speak Up" project, initiated as an eTwinning collaboration and funded through Paralimni Lyceum's accredited Erasmus+ program, aims to empower young people to actively engage in societal issues and advocate for positive change. Students work in mixed international teams, focusing on pressing social issues such as educational reform, gender equality, environmental responsibility, life skills, social media activism, and veganism.

The project adopts a multi-faceted approach:

Critical Analysis: Utilizing Edward de Bono’s Six Thinking Hats method, students explore their chosen topics from multiple perspectives, conducting thorough research to gather facts, statistics, and reliable information.

Proposal Development: They build strong cases for their positions, considering both benefits and challenges.

Creative Expression & Digital Skills: Students create compelling visual material using Canva (for posters, infographics, and logos) and organize their research and progress on Google Sites. They learn practical digital skills for designing effective presentations and managing collaborative work in shared folders with Google Docs.

Advocacy & Debate: A core element is the preparation and delivery of persuasive pitches and advocacy speeches. Students engage in structured debates, defending their ideas and challenging others using critical thinking and strong arguments. Each group divides tasks into roles such as Spokesperson, Media Creator, Proposal Writer, Presentation Managers, and Website Admin, ensuring effective teamwork and diverse contributions.

Community Engagement: A unique aspect of this mobility was the direct engagement with local communities and representatives, providing students with a platform to present their ideas and influence real change.

Through this comprehensive process, students develop crucial research, teamwork, debate, and public speaking skills, equipping them to become confident, engaged, and collaborative European citizens.

The program for the "Speak Up" mobility was thoughtfully designed to blend rigorous academic work and skill development with enriching cultural experiences.

Beyond the core project work, students engaged in a variety of in-school activities designed to enhance their critical thinking and collaborative skills. These included:

• Interactive sessions utilizing Edward de Bono's Six Thinking Hats for multifaceted problem-solving.

• School Presentations and Game Time to reinforce learning and foster teamwork.

• Dedicated time for finalizing their work, preparing presentations, and engaging in discussions and feedback sessions.

• A crucial "Devil's Advocate" session on the final day, where groups challenged their own proposals to identify weaknesses and strengthen their arguments, further refining their persuasive skills.

A major highlight of the mobility was the two-day experience at the heart of Cypriot democracy.

On Tuesday, March 18th, students visited the House of Representatives in Nicosia. Here, they participated in an impactful workshop led by journalist and media educator Mr. Kyriakos Pierides. He delved into topics such as misinformation, journalistic investigation, and critical media literacy. Mr. Pierides was joined by guest speakers Mr. Nikolas Karydis, Director of the Institute of Mass Media (IMME), and Dr. Michalis Chatzitheodosiou, a scientist from the European Space Agency (ESA). Through an exploration of the moon landing and a creative future-oriented activity, students gained skills in identifying truth and envisioned Europe in 2040 by applying their own suggestions for the future.

On Thursday, March 20th, the students returned to Nicosia for a visit to the House of the EU, where they learned about European democratic procedures. Following this, they participated in a second workshop at the Parliament, focusing on speech delivery techniques. Using Greta Thunberg's address to the UN as a model, students received targeted support in refining and presenting their own advocacy speeches. They also had the opportunity to visit the University of Cyprus for guided tour and a presentation about democratic procedures within the institution, including a special treat from the Erasmus+ office.

On the final day, Friday, March 21st, students dedicated their morning to finalizing their project work. The culmination of their efforts took place in the school's Recreation Room during a significant meeting with representatives from the Paralimni Municipality and Paralimni Youth Organization.

Students presented their pitches and engaged in an actual debating session, where other groups provided support or posed challenging questions, requiring them to defend their stance with strong argumentation. Following the debates, a voting process took place to determine whether their proposals would pass. Key officials present included the Anti-Mayor of Paralimni-Deryneia, Mr. Kleanthis Koutsosftas, and Municipal Councilor Ms. Antigoni Markou. Ms. Georgia Klefti, President of Paralimni Youth, and other youth representatives also actively participated in a meaningful dialogue, exchanging ideas, suggestions, and opinions directly with students on youth priorities.

More on students work can be seen in the webzine they created here and the eTwinning pages where all the activities of the project (online and with physical presence) are included here.   

The "Speak Up" mobility concluded with a formal Diploma Awarding Ceremony, recognizing the students' active participation and the successful completion of their projects. This was followed by a celebratory Farewell Lunch at Play4All, combined with a fun bowling activity, providing a joyful end to a productive and memorable week.

The "Speak Up" Erasmus+ mobility successfully achieved its ambitious goals, truly giving young people a voice for change. Students gained invaluable experience in:

Active Citizenship: By engaging directly with societal issues and local governance, students developed a stronger sense of civic responsibility and their role in democratic processes.

Critical Thinking & Research: The application of the Six Thinking Hats and rigorous research cultivated their ability to analyze complex topics from multiple angles, particularly their relevance to sustainability, healthy living, and gender discrimination.

Communication & Public Speaking: Through drafting proposals and delivering advocacy speeches and engaging in debates, students significantly enhanced their public speaking confidence and persuasive communication skills.

Intercultural Collaboration & Inclusivity: Working in mixed international teams fostered deep intercultural understanding, teamwork, and mutual respect, highlighting the inclusive nature of the program that brought diverse voices together.

This mobility reaffirmed the importance of empowering youth in the European dialogue for social change, leaving participants more confident, engaged, and globally aware.

• Continue to foster long-term collaborations with our European partners to deepen the impact of the "Speak Up" project.

• Explore new methodologies for debate and argumentation to enhance students' critical thinking and persuasive skills further.

• Build upon the successful use of digital tools like Canva and Google Sites, integrating more advanced functionalities for project dissemination.

We extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who contributed to the successful organization and profound impact of the "Speak Up" Erasmus+ mobility:

• Our dedicated teachers: Ms. Sophia Sourkouni (Computer Science teacher, for technological aspects), Ms. Katerina Pittadji (English teacher, for ice-breaking and GooseChase activities), and Ms. Antonia Perikou (English teacher, for coordinating EYP students and project tasks).

• Journalist and media educator Mr. Kyriakos Pierides, Mr. Nikolas Karydis (Director, IMME), and Dr. Michalis Chatzitheodosiou (Scientist, ESA) for their insightful workshops at the House of Representatives.

• The House of Representatives and the House of the EU for hosting our workshops and tours.

• The University of Cyprus for their welcoming reception and informative tour.

• The Cape Greco Environmental Centre for their crucial lessons on marine conservation.

• The Paralimni Municipality, especially Anti-Mayor Mr. Kleanthis Koutsosftas and Municipal Councilor Ms. Antigoni Markou, for their engagement and support.

• The Paralimni Youth Organization, particularly President Ms. Georgia Klefti and its members, for their active participation and dialogue with the students.

• The Paralimni Lyceum Parents' Association for their generous support throughout the mobility.

• All staff, students, and families who contributed to making this week a resounding success.