Seniors explore how their shared ecological Cypriot practices of ‘yesterday’ can be used for a green future

A big thank you to Materia Group for hosting the first environmental workshop of the ECOAGE training, on Thursday, 27 April 2023. Through the ECOAGE programme, older adults from Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities are empowered to become environmental mentors to the younger generation.

Older adults from both communities (Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities) participated on our first inter-communal environmental workshop “Back to the future: Repurposing traditional knowledges for a Green Future” and explored how their shared ecological practices of ‘yesterday’ can be used to solve the environmental problems of today.

Following a sing-along of the Cypriot folk song Tillyrkotissa / Dillirga, they proceeded with the workshop and engaged in discussion about how their shared cultural practices, such as making halloumi/hellim, growing herbs and vegetables, etc. which used to be done out of necessity, can now be reused by younger generations for greener living. The session ended with the participants providing their messages to the younger generations about working together for a more sustainable future.

The main presenters of the workshop were Rhys Evans and Johan Brastard of the University College for Green Development (HGUt), Norway, and organised by Youth Empowerment Foundation and Association of Elderly Rights and Mental Health.

The Ecoage project benefits from a grant under the Active Citizens Fund Cyprus programme, funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, through the EEA and Norway Grants 2014-2021.