Over 40 young Cypriots from across the world met in Nicosia from 25 to 27 August, for the 7th General Conference of the NEPOMAK – World Organisation for Young Overseas Cypriots.

This year’s conference marked 12 years of continuous service by NEPOMAK to young people across the diaspora, since it was founded in 2002.

At the conference, delegates held workshops to discuss the improvement of existing NEPOMAK programmes, the establishment of new programmes, the latest developments on the Cyprus issue and they also developed a network of friends from across the globe.

They discussed how to enrich NEPOMAK’s programmes designed to promote Cypriot history, heritage and the Greek language in the Diaspora including, NEPOMAK’s Discover Cyprus Programme. Plans were also made to take forward NEPOMAK Professionals – launched after the conference four years ago,
it has gone onto become the largest online network of overseas Cypriot professionals.

In partnership with CYTA and Cypriot start-ups, developing of a mobile application was discussed to act as platform to bring the diaspora closer to Cyprus and enable the youth of the diaspora to network.

The introduction of two full-fees scholarships for young Cypriots was announced during the three days event – one scholarship at the University of Cyprus for an MBA and the other scholarship will be at the Open University of Cyprus in any discipline.

After eight years as president, Christos Karaolis stepped down and expressed “a personal thank you to all the 150 young Cypriot volunteers who form
NEPOMAK’s regional, national and global committees”.

Antonia Savvides of United Kingdom was elected as a new president.

“Today 15,000 young people around the world make NEPOMAK and our activities a part of their daily lives. We will continue to expand our network by providing the new generation with the opportunities to engage with our roots, to learn about our history and to express their passion for our homeland.”

A new Executive Council was elected for the period 2014 to 2016. Australian NEPOMAK president Demetri Nicolaou was elected as one of the vice presidents, Abraam Gregoriou as a treasurer and Kosta Socratous as an organising secretary. For more information visit www.nepomak.org or www.facebook.com/nepomak.aus.nz