UN Youth Champions for Environment Peace

The UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) and the British Council run this programme for young people from every community on the island, now in its sixth year. Participants learn environmental peacebuilding over four workshop days in the Nicosia buffer zone, then form intercommunal teams that design and deliver their own environmental action with a mentor and a small grant. Participation is free.

What you get:

• Four days of in-person workshops at Ledra Palace in Nicosia with environmental and peacebuilding practitioners, trainers and youth activists
• A small grant for your team to carry out its environmental action
• Support from a mentor and experts while your team delivers its action
• Membership of the UN Youth Champions for Environment and Peace network and connections to environmental and peacebuilding organisations
• A programme certificate for those who attend every workshop day and take an active part in their team's action
• Accommodation in Nicosia may be available on workshop weekends for participants who cannot commute, subject to demand and confirmation

What you'll do:

• Attend all four workshop days: 3, 4, 10 and 11 October 2026
• Form an intercommunal team and develop an environmental action plan

• Aged 18 to 30
• From any community living in Cyprus
• Very good knowledge of English; the programme runs in English
• Able to attend all four workshop days (3, 4, 10 and 11 October 2026); attendance is mandatory
• Committed to implementing an environmental action as part of a team by February 2027, and in Cyprus from October 2026 to February 2027
• Able to enter the UN buffer zone in Nicosia
• Not a participant in any previous UN Youth Champions programme
• No previous environmental or peacebuilding experience required