Frederick University’s Department of Arts and Communication, with the support of UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency in Cyprus, is hosting an event titled “Voices of Resilience: Stories, Creativity and Solidarity” in honour of World Refugee Day.

The event will take place on Friday, June 20, from 10.45am-1pm, at the “Tassos Papadopoulos” seminar room (Frederick University, new wing, first floor), in Nicosia. It will feature presentations and powerful stories from asylum-seekers and refugees in Cyprus, highlighting their resilience 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 by Frederick University. 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 talk about the project: Face Forward… into My Journey, a collaboration with the organisation Nicosia for Art, through which immersive workshops were offered to fashion designers from migrant backgrounds, blending storytelling and creativity.

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

Asylum-seekers and refugees in Cyprus will also speak on the valuable contributions they can make to Cypriot society by sharing insights from their personal experiences.

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

Each year on June 20, the world honours the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee their home country to escape conflict or persecution. This year, World Refugee Day focuses on solidarity with refugees.

In the words of UNHCR: “Solidarity means honouring refugees not just with words but with actions. It means listening to them and making space for their stories. It means defending their right to seek safety and finding solutions to their plight, ending conflicts so they can return home in safety. It means ensuring they have opportunities to thrive in the communities that have welcomed them and providing countries with the resources they need to include and support refugees. But above all, solidarity means saying, clearly and courageously, that refugees are not alone and that we will not turn our backs.”

View the event’s detailed agenda here and register here (by June 19).

For more information, visit www.frederick.ac.cy or call 22394394, (Dr. Anna Merry).