Active Cypriot Programs and European Learning Into Acceptance, ACPELIA

Nikolas Nikolaou (Project Manager)

Nikolas Nikolaou (president of NGO ACPELIA) plays a central or peripheral role in every project with his expert knowledge. Experience with more than 50 erasmus project in coordination KA105, KA229, KA152YOU, KA153YOU, KA154YOU, KA210YOU, KA220YOU, KA220ADU, KA219.

President of ACPELIA (Mr Nikolas Nikolaou, physics teacher in high school, BSC, MSc in Chemical Engineering National Technical University of Athens and MSc, BSc in the University of Cyprus at Physics department) has previous experience by taking part in many seminars and actions related to Environment, Non-Formal Education, Entrepreneurship and Discrimination. He organized and participated in more than 20 European programs which are doing with Non-Formal Education (KA105, KA205, KA229, Youth In Action) as well as several local environmental and Science projects with groups of young people, many of them can be found in his website: www.nikolas-nikolaou.net. Also, Nikolas is coordinating the biggest students and teacher annual Conference about Natural Sciences that is a yearly conference in Cyprus with the participation of more than 1000 students and more than 300 teachers. He manages to coach a team of the organising committee and to make them all do well for 10 years now that is taking place the Conference starting alone and now has a big team to coordinate.

Erma Georgiou, Management Team / trainer.

Erma Georgiou, gained a BA in Theatre Studies from the University of Athens, and then graduated from the drama school of G. Armenis.She is also registered as a yoga and meditation teacher from Yoga Alliance Institute and has attended various seminars on theatrical techniques such as physical theatre, voice lessons e.t.c.But, she is always searching ways to empower people and finding therapy through arts and therefore she attended drama therapy lessons. She has worked with children of refugee background in Elix N.G.O at Athens and she attended to the workshop "Facilitate Teachers using the arts in working with groups'' from P.Y.E organization and she was impressed by the creativity of the process as well as the potential of arts to empower people.

At the moment,she is working as a school assistant empowering students with social and educational difficulties,she is also teaching drama lessons to kids and adults in the afternoons and empowering through drama activities people with mental health needs in the psychiatric ward of the Limassol hospital.She has a great passion in the development of individuals as well as groups, and this is the reason that she decided to collaborate and become a trainer at the NGO Acpelia. She worked as a trainer in more than 10 projects implemented by ACPELIA last 2 years.  

Boghos (Bobbie) Avetikian, Youth Worker

Boghos Avetikian is an Armenian Cypriot, who after achieving a BA in English and Communications at the American University of Armenia immediately got involved in Erasmus+ projects after graduating. After participating in 25+ projects, both Youth Exchanges and Training courses, Boghos soon got involved in facilitating and coordinating projects on his own, focusing on numerous themes such as sustainability, social entrepreneurship and inclusion. Boghos Avetikian loves jogging and music, and should be in Nicosia, you will probably see him running around in the afternoons with his earphones in his ears.

Eirini Christofi, Youthworker

Eirini Christofi is a dance graduate from the department of Arts at De Montfort University in UK (Leicester). In 2016 she specialized in Inclusive Dance in collaboration with Candoco Dance Company (London) and Stopgap Dance Company (Surrey). In 2017 she returned to Cyprus where she began teaching in the private and public sector. Her collaboration with movements and organizations in Limassol and Nicosia has been active in recent years undertaking choreographies and presentations for various events, festivals, concerts. Her participation as a performer, professional dancer and choreographer in the contemporary dance community ,all over Cyprus, continues to this day. At the same time, she completes her postgraduate studies

Chrystalla Polydorou, youth worker 

During her studies in Agricultural Sciences at Cyprus University of Technology, Chrystalla Polydorou developed a strong interest about nature. She displayed her love of music at a very young age. She took part in two musical theater shows while attending college, which made her love for music even more. She obtained a variety of work experience following her graduation before going out on her own as a freelance social media manager for small companies. She actively pursues singing, vocal lessons, and presenting Instagram live sessions in addition to her professional activity. She is passionate about coaching and lifelong learning. Chrystalla has a great belief in the value of youth engagement, as they are the tomorrow leaders who hold the potential to shape the future of any community.

Stathia Michael, youthworker

Stathia Michael is a visual artist from Limassol, Cyprus. Due to her constant fascination with art, she decided to explore, learn, and experience more about the art world, as well as hone and develop her own art in the process, from a very young age. Stathia studied fine arts at the Athens School of Fine Arts for 6 years in Athens, Greece, earning both a bachelor's degree (with pedagogy included) and a master's degree in fine arts (specializing in traditional arts). Additionally,during her studying period in Athens, she had an internship that took place at the National Theatre of Greece (Ethniko Theatro), and after finishing her studies,she also worked at Skinotexniki as well as at various other jobs in Limassol.The mediums Stathia uses to create artworks are oil paints, pencils,  graphite, charcoal, and also Digital art. Her artwork is characterised by use of vivid,strong colours,bold and brash expression, spontaneity, with a hint of sentimentality and fun as well