They describe themselves as “rebellious with a heart of gold.” They were strangers who “dared” to cross the divide and ended up becoming friends. They are the UN Youth Champions for Environment and Peace, and they are proof that investing in young people is the surest path towards a sustainable future.
In an island that often is defined by its division, a group of young Cypriots are demonstrating that the ground beneath our feet it is a home they all share.
For Güler Özgencil, the journey home was also a journey toward purpose. Having spent 12 years in the UK, she returned to Cyprus eager to reconnect with the island she left behind. “Before leaving, I had already been involved in bicommunal activities, and coming back reminded me how important peacebuilding still is for our future,” she explains. Becoming a UN Youth Champion for Environment and Peace offered her the chance to merge her passion for the environment with her commitment to Cypriot society.
For Elia Zoe Christou, the experience dismantled the invisible walls that have kept communities apart. Her most meaningful moment did not come during a formal dialogue session; it came through language. “When I couldn’t communicate in Turkish while we were working in the north, my teammates stepped in to translate for me. Beyond translating, they took the time to teach me words and expressions I still use today.”
The team’s flagship initiative, Nest4Peace, is simple in its design but profound in its impact. Through a birdhouse workshop, the group created spaces for local wildlife to thrive. But the birdhouses became more than shelters for birds, they became symbols.
“The birdhouse workshop represents our commitment to nurturing the environment and creating a sense of belonging for all living things within our shared spaces, regardless of background,” says Elia.
Güler adds that the real magic happened off the blueprint: “We are no longer just teammates; we have become close friends. Supporting each other, showing up for one another, and working through challenges together transformed us from strangers into a group united by friendship.”
For the group, the island’s environment proved to be the ultimate common denominator. “Nature doesn’t recognize political divisions, and neither did our mission,” Elia reflects. “By shifting our focus toward protecting our shared land and local wildlife, we stopped seeing each other as ‘the other’ and started seeing each other as teammates. We built a relationship based on our common future rather than our divided past. I believe that is the only true way forward for Cyprus.”
Güler agrees: “We share one island and one natural environment. Protecting our environment is a shared responsibility and a common ground where cooperation can thrive.”
Sometimes, the breakthroughs are quiet. Elia recalls discovering a surprising connection with a teammate over something as personal as fashion. “It might seem like a small thing, but fashion is a powerful form of self-expression. Realizing we shared a similar aesthetic was a reminder that we are often drawn to the same beauty and styles. It’s those small, everyday bonds that truly bring people together.”
For UNFICYP, such moments of connection are the building of implementing the Youth, Peace and Security agenda in Cyprus. They prove that when we invest in peace and in young people, we are creating conditions conducive for trust among communities to flourish.
The success of the Nests4Peace workshop has sparked a hunger for more: The team is already planning to expand their initiatives, driven by the positive response from their peers and the community. “Our hope is to continue building on this momentum,” says Güler. “We want to keep creating opportunities for collaboration, learning, and community engagement that promote both environmental sustainability and peace.”
For Elia, being a UN Youth Champion has reframed how she sees the island: “Environmental goals have a way of making human-made divisions feel small. By focusing on projects like the birdhouses, we realized that the nature we live in doesn’t recognize crossing points. We weren’t just two communities anymore; we were one team protecting one home.”
The UN Youth Champions for Environment and Peace programme, led by UNFICYP with the support of the British Council in Cyprus, is a testament to the power of youth leadership in conflict-affected societies. They are not waiting for permission to build the future; they are building it with their own hands, nest by nest.
