During the visit of the delegation from the “Youth Guard Units” association to the Republic of Cyprus, an official meeting was held with the Minister of Education, Sports, and Youth, Dr. Athena Michaelidou. The meeting proceeded in a spirit of open dialogue, mutual respect, and an inspiring exchange of ideas between representatives of both parties.
The meeting was attended by Tania Mihaylova, Chief of Staff of the Bulgarian Minister of Education and Science; Petar Mladenov, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports; Monika Yanakieva, Director of the “Selection, Contracting, and Reporting” Directorate at the Human Resource Development Center; Giuseppe De Francesco, the Honorary Consul of Italy in Plovdiv; and Pol. Iliya Milushev, Advisor to the President of the Republic of Bulgaria. They actively participated in the discussion, sharing their experience and vision for modern education and youth policies in Bulgaria. On the Cypriot side, Alexandros Florentzos and Marios Epaminondas, experts from the Ministry of Education, Sports, and Youth, also took part. They are involved in planning educational policies, European and international affairs, and the development of lifelong learning programs.
Bulgarian youth actively participated in the discussion by comparing the education systems in Bulgaria and Cyprus, addressing common challenges and best practices that promote personal development, engagement, and innovative thinking among young people.
In her presentation, Dr. Athena Mihailidou outlined the main directions of the ministry’s work, emphasizing that over 60% of Cypriot citizens continue their education in higher education institutions. This is an indicator of the high commitment of young people to knowledge and development. She noted that the curricula are regularly updated to meet contemporary realities and facilitate the practical realization of young people in the labor market.
In the section dedicated to sports and youth initiatives, Minister Mihailidou highlighted that Cyprus is developing national programs and Olympic initiatives to support talented athletes who combine their education with professional training. Individual study plans are being developed for them, including options for remote and personalized learning, to ensure a balance between academic and athletic paths.
Special attention was given to the topic of spiritual and religious education. The minister shared that in Cypriot schools, religion is taught with an emphasis on fostering respect and understanding between different religious and cultural traditions—an important element in building tolerance and common European values.
The meeting took place in an exceptionally warm and productive atmosphere, with all participants expressing a desire for deeper cooperation between Bulgaria and Cyprus in the fields of education, sports, and youth policies. The young people from the “Youth Guard Patrols” association shared that they were highly impressed by Cyprus’s modern and practical approach to youth development, as well as Minister Michaelidou’s personal commitment to their education, spirituality, and sports culture.
Association “Youth Guard Units” holds accreditation No. 2025-1-BG01-KA151-YOU-000297794 under the Erasmus+ program, which ensures the sustainability and long-term development of projects in the areas of youth policies, leadership, and civic education.
The organization actively participates in international initiatives aimed at fostering values, responsibility, and innovative thinking among young people—this includes meetings and joint training sessions in the Vatican, Montenegro, the Italian Republic, and the Republic of Cyprus.
Photos by: Milen Torbev
