Dialogue between Young People and the State: House of the Youth Representatives

To discover more about this evolving project, we interviewed Andreas Charalambous (President of the House of the Youth Representatives, 2019-2020), Nicky-Victoria Frantzeskou Ramos (former President of the House of the Youth Representatives, 2018) and Christiana Xenofontos (Member of the Coordinator Committee and Vice President A’ of Cyprus Youth Council). Representing Cyprus’ Ministry of Education, Culture, Sport and Youth, we also spoke with Marios Epaminondas.

When was the project idea born?

Team: In 2015, we realised there was a need to improve opportunities for 18-25 year-olds who wanted to get more involved in parliamentary politics. There was already a young people’s parliament established for 13-17 year-olds, but to become a representative in the Parliament the minimum age is 26. To encourage better dialogue between young people and policy makers, we decided to create a structured dialogue Erasmus+ project, bringing together the combined expertise of Cyprus Youth DiplomaCY and the Cyprus Youth Council, with the support of the Youth Board of Cyprus and the Ministry of Education, Culture and Youth.

How did you plan and implement the project?

Team: We applied for the funding in April 2016 and implemented the first parliament simulation in September 2016. The Parliament of Cyprus – known as the House of Representatives – served as a template, which we adapted to suit our purposes. For example, the real Parliament holds fourteen committees, but we picked just five that were most relevant for young people: Educational Affairs and Culture, Foreign and European Affairs, Internal Affairs, Labour and Social Insurance, and Environment. The simulation included 56 young representatives, the same number as the elected parliamentarians.

How were members of the Youth Parliament elected or selected?

Team: After publishing a call for participants, young people filled out applications, which we reviewed carefully. The applications were based on specific questions in which we wanted to see the commitment of the participants, which committees they prefered based on their interests and expertise and what contribution they could make to the project. We also formed a Press Team with young people experienced in journalism, so that each committee would be followed by one of them.

How did you organize logistics during the first year?

Team: In the beginning, our team consisted of just four people who had to manage everything! We hosted the simulation in a hotel where young delegates also stayed during the three days (our participants came from all over Cyprus). To coordinate and provide leadership for each of the committees, we also appointed five heads of the committees that were experts in their fields. From the second year, in order to improve the quality of the project, these heads were also selected with an open call and took on more responsibility for their teams during the project.

What actually happened during the simulation?

Team: First the committees developed their proposals, then delivered the results on the final day. In the first year the process required a lot more time and energy from our team. For instance, we had to spend the night before the last day printing the final documents. Since the 3^rd Youth Parliament, we have improved our efficiency and now we work paper-free. Even evaluations are conducted online. It is a big achievement and reflects our determination to create a more sustainable work culture.

What impact have you had on young people?

Team: Prior to our project, young Cypriots were quite disappointed with the political system and most didn’t even vote at elections. The Youth Parliament gave them an incentive to take a stand and get involved. As education on how democracy works is often lacking, young people have been very motivated to discover more about it through our project. To measure the impact, in 2018 we sent a questionnaire to all our past participants, asking for their ideas about an ideal candidate and whether their attitude towards politics had changed. It turned out that most of them were now far more motivated to involve themselves in political decision-making processes.

What challenges have you faced?

Team: A big project with so many participants has its challenges. At the beginning, our biggest hurdle was funding, which was solved by the European fund. But our biggest break came in September 2017 when we were recognized by the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Cyprus, which pledged to fully sponsor the Youth Parliament every year. We became the first Erasmus+ funded project to achieve such an honour!
Another obstacle was that we found it difficult to produce policy papers and conduct effective lobbying within the timescale of a year, so we extended the cycle to two years. Based on the feedback of the ministries and our young participants, the extra time has improved things substantially. Governmental mechanisms are typically slow, and it can take time to consult all stakeholders and develop an idea. Currently the pandemic is presenting new challenges, but committees have continued by working online.

What do young people learn by taking part?

Team: Apart from theoretical knowledge, they develop skills in the areas of communication, creativity and teamwork. Most participants have a background in working with associations. However, even if they have personal political aspirations, the Youth Parliament is all about creating a group that works towards the benefit of the whole society. Their hard work creates a really productive and collaborative atmosphere, but in taking part in parliamentary processes they also realise how complex and demanding politics can be.

Marios Epaminondas: In my view the process is as important as the outcome. People come together to form concrete proposals, but in doing so they are developing their skills and promoting liberal democracy. Even where none of the Youth Parliament’s proposals is adopted by the ministry, young people are still making a positive contribution to society.

Can you give some examples of the Youth Representatives’ proposals?

Team: The Committee of External Affairs liked our suggestion of providing training or mentoring to new diplomats. The recognition of non-formal education has also been an ongoing issue, and one of our expert groups continues to work with the Ministry of Education on developing this. While some of our other ideas were already being addressed through reforms, this was an area where we broke new ground. We have also tried to further encourage stakeholders to join the meetings of our committees, and to create an environment based on a cross-sectoral approach and participation. Thus, we managed to have an appointed contact at each ministry dedicated to dealing with our questions and priorities.

Do you have any suggestions for young people wanting to start a similar project?

Marios Epaminondas: Form a group – an informal group or an NGO – because being a team of like-minded people gives power to the individual. It is also important to find a policy maker who can advise you. You may not be able to talk to the prime minister, but another minister, council member or a headmaster of a local school may be a useful person to start with. Their expertise will save you time and energy. And remember that every initiative funded with public money needs to be transparent and inclusive, so think carefully about the ethical aspects of your project.