Opening a bi-communal café in one of the most tense and militarised zones on Earth, Cyprus’s Green Line, isn’t something most people consider—that’s unless you’re Costa Constanti from Adelaide.
His cafe on the Green Line earned Constanti the Movement for Change Award at the 2025 Cyprus Diaspora Awards (CYDIA). The award recognised the global Cypriot diaspora, who challenge the status quo and create new pathways for social impact.
The Green Line cuts through the heart of Nicosia, dividing the Cypriot capital between the Turkish-occupied north and the free areas of the Republic of Cyprus. It forms part of the United Nations’ longest-running peacekeeping mission, established in 1975 after the Turkish government invaded and occupied the island’s northern region.
“I kept hearing so many stories from both sides—Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot,” Constanti says.
“Stories that didn’t match the headlines. So, I wanted to do something with that.”
The Green Line remains tense—bristling with armed Greek Cypriot, Turkish, and UN soldiers. It’s watched over by cameras, drones, and trigger-happy snipers, embroidered with razor and barbed wire. Not exactly the first place one imagines for a hip coffee house.
But Constanti, an Australian Cypriot, is an advocate par excellence. He transformed one of the many abandoned buildings inside the buffer zone—left behind after the 1975 conflict—into the Home for Cooperation. Thanks to Constanti, this bi-communal space now houses a café where Greek and Turkish Cypriots can sit, talk, and simply be.
Constanti grew up in Victoria before moving to Adelaide, where he began organising youth events for the Cypriot community—barbecues, bowling nights, meetups. Over time, his focus shifted from cultural preservation to conflict transformation.
In Cyprus, that “something” became a long-term contribution to civil society. He worked with NGOs supporting missing persons’ investigations, peace education, and post-conflict dialogue.
As a board member of the Association for Historical Dialogue and Research, Constanti led efforts that brought the Home for Cooperation to life—now an award-winning model for grassroots peacebuilding.
But Constanti’s mission for peace doesn’t stop in Cyprus. His work with anti-slavery initiatives through the WICZ+ Foundation and the Syrian Missing Persons Project, supported by the UN, has earned him a reputation for principled action.
He’s also been involved in environmental campaigns like Reforest Nicosia, and served as Cyprus rapporteur for Freedom House, focusing on democratic transparency and accountability.
Today, he heads CONSTANTi.org, a platform for NGO consulting and political analysis operating across Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific.
“This is about people. Displaced people. Divided people. People whose stories still don’t get heard. If a coffee table can become a place for peace—that’s where I want to be,” Constanti says.
His humility keeps him grounded: “The CYDIA award isn’t about recognition—it’s a reminder of what still needs to be done.”
Costa Constanti has become a conduit for peace and intercommunal harmony—all over a cup of coffee. Cypriot, Greek, or Turkish, it’s all the same in the end.
