Frederick University's Department of Arts and Communication, with the support of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in Cyprus, is hosting an event titled Voices of Resilience: Stories, Creativity and Solidarity to honor World Refugee Day.

The event will take place on Friday, June 20, from 10:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m, at the “Tassos Papadopoulos” seminar room (Frederick University new wing, 1st floor), in Nicosia.

Ms. Emilia Strovolidou, UNHCR Cyprus Communications Officer, will address the event.

The event will feature presentations and powerful stories from refugees who have found safe refuge in Cyprus, highlighting their resilience, survival, and integration into local communities.

Professor Costas Mantzalos, member of the Department of Arts and Communication's faculty, will present the EU-CONEXUS Festival, held in May 2025. The festival celebrated the Mediterranean region’s diversity and multicultural identity, showcasing the University’s commitment to inclusion.

Victoria Leonidou, also from the Department, will introduce the project Face Forward… into My Journey, a collaboration with the organization Nicosia for Art. The initiative offered immersive workshops for fashion designers from migrant backgrounds, blending storytelling and creativity.

Constantinos Economides will present Open Up Design Lab, a project implemented by the Pierides Foundation at the Nicosia Municipal Arts Centre, as part of the European Open Up program, promoting access and inclusion through art and design.

Personal Testimonies from Refugees

Bikash Shrestha (Nepal) will speak on the valuable contributions refugees can make to Cypriot society.

Wisdom Agbove (Togo) will share insights from his book, Reflections of a Youth in Search of Meaning.

Francis Mupini (Congo) will present the Cyprus Art Retreat, a creative community he co-founded with sculptor Tim Price.

A discussion will follow, moderated by Dr. Anna Merry, faculty member of the Department of Arts and Communication.

View the detailed agenda here and register here (by June 19). For more information, call 22394394, ext. 49117 (Dr. Anna Mery).