The promotion of common goals, and the coordination of their social, cultural, educational, philanthropic, and professional events also featured high during the discussion at which students and young professionals ranging from 18 to 30 years of age took part, forming “a very promising nucleus,” in the words of Andreas Kakouris, Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus to the United States, who along with Consul General in New York Martha Mavrommatis, President of the Cyprus Federation of America Peter Papanicolaou, President of PSEKA Philip Christopher and activists Andy Comodromos and Savvas Tsivikos lent their support by participating in the convention.

The Cypriot Youth Committee of America, “CYCA”, was established in August 2002 as a Division of the Cyprus Federation of America. “Four years ago we gathered in this room and formed this youth organization,” Maria Athanasopoulos, the departing president, said in an interview with NEO. “However, we were not aware of how much power we would have someway down the road. It’s a great think! My personal experience is definitely priceless, unforgettable and for sure very meaningful.”

“There is vast potential and I wanted to be here at this first convention to show in practical terms my support,” Ambassador Kakouris added. “I gain my strength from what the diaspora is doing. This is a two way street, I can help them and they can help me.”

In fact, Mr. Kakouris has much in common with the members of the youth. “I feel very much a kinship with them. I was born and raised in the UK so I went through that process of being of Cypriot origin born abroad and having to marry where you are born and where your roots are…Both my parents come from the occupied area and I know how difficult it is to get people to be interested not just on a sporadic basis, but on a permanent basis, to become involved in a deep level.”

CYCA is heavily involved in fighting for justice for Cyprus and has held many events to raise awareness to the Cyprus problem, such as the “Beyond the Green Line Exhibit,” a collection of photographs of the occupied areas in Cyprus taken by young overseas Cypriots. “In America they don’t even know where Cyprus is, they don’t even know it’s a country, let alone that there are people that illegally occupy an area and there was ethnic cleansing that went on, there were people that were killed and displaced,” noted Maria Athanasopoulos.

Another CYCA initiative is the Discover Cyprus Program in partnership with the Youth Board of Cyprus, the University of Cyprus and the government’s financial support. It aims to provide young overseas Cypriots with the opportunity to visit their homeland, undertake a series of cultural activities and participate in an intensive language course. Students from the USA, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, South Africa and other parts of the world participate each year.

“When you meet fellow young Cypriots there is an immediate understanding, an immediate bond that develops and I thing you cannot explain it unless you experience it,” Dimitris Komodromos, CYCA’s chairman explained. “It’s also a very basic way of establishing a connection to Cyprus. It’s about really understanding who you are.”

Regarding the convention, “it’s not business as usual,” Comodromos said. “At this meeting we talked about Turkish issues, Maronite issues and we talked about the idea of what means to be Cypriot as opposed to just being Greek Cypriot. So we are constantly interrogating positions. At the same time, we do recognize that Cypriot culture is one that relies on Greek Orthodoxy, on Greek language, Hellenism.”

There is also another very important component to that search. “It’s also about developing Cypriot American culture, what is it meant to be Cypriot American.”

According to the Cyprus Federation of America (KOA) President Peter Papanicolaou, CYCA is the big promise for the future. “We want them to continue KOA’s mission,” he said. “Since this year two CYCA representatives are full members of KOA’s Board.” He also proposed to facilitate a weekend retreat to be held in September at the Saint Basil’s Academy in order for the youth and their friends to spend some time in a relaxed environment and to decide on matters of common interest.

Savvas Tsivikos, another veteran activist, suggested that CYCA should not be overwhelmed with the Cyprus problem, as was the case with his own generation, but rather seek and develop in parallel other aspects that can hold a youth organization together.

At the end of the convention, annual elections also took place and a new executive board was elected with Debbie Kamilaris, president, Spiro Xenophontos, 1st vice president, Myrianthe Marton, 2nd vice president, Stacey Kamilaris, general secretary, Evangelia Douros, recording secretary, Haralambos Tsivikos, 1st treasurer, and Renos Savvides, 2nd treasurer. Elpida Tsivicos, Strati Vezos and Marios Hatzikyriakou are in charge of Collegiate Relations and Maria Athanasopoulos, Georgia Lilikas and Nick Kinnis in the Media/PR Committee.

“I am very honored to be president of the Cypriot Youth Committee of America,” said Debbie Kamilaris. “Our purpose and mission for the upcoming year is to strengthen the American Greek – Cypriot youth community through educational, artistic, professional, political and social programs. Another main focus for the year is to acquire new members and hope that from our ranks will emerge the next generation of leaders and members of our community’s organizations and institutions.”