Cyprus Cultural Association NOSTOS Pissouriou

The Cultural Organisation 'NOSTOS' Pissouriou was founded in 2000 in the village of Pissouri in Limassol district, Cyprus, by people with great passion and love for their land. The main objective of 'NOSTOS' is to preserve and disseminate our cultural heritage. It lists more than 100 members including over 60 dancers. The Organization's cultural activities include dancing teams of all levels (young children to adults) and theater workshops. The Group has portions dance (infant sections, section for adults, Complex) and theater workshops. Also in the group there is a theater team, environmental department for programs that have to do with environment and also European Department who has to do with all European Programs. The Group is proud to hold a collection of traditional costumes of the islands of Cyprus, Rhodes and the regions of Epirus and Black Sea. The traditional dresses of Cyprus used by the dancers of the group in various performances in Cyprus and abroad and are exact replicas, made in the loom, and are based in the collection of Mr. Nikos Simeou, Pissouri, collector of old objects and traditional costumes. This collection has been certified for authenticity by Ms. Eleni Papadimitriou, researcher with expertise in traditional Cypriot costumes and textiles. The highlight event of 'NOSTOS' is the Festival of Traditional and Folk Dance, held annually since 2000. It takes place every year in early August, in the amphitheater of the Pissouri Community Council . A cultural event that has become a reference point in the cultural life of the traditional village of Pissouri and not only. Three years ago 'NOSTOS' established an European Programs Department (especially in Environmental Programs). It runs under the guidance of an experienced manager in environmental issues and it is actively participating in regional and European programs that are dealing with the environment. The aims of this department are to inspire young people to be aware of environmental issues, strengthen their relationship with the physical environment of Cyprus and try to involve them actively in actions of local and European level. First Environmental Program that NOSTOS organised was the European Erasmus + program Non Formal Enviromental Education which took place from February till September 2015.