27 Ezekia Papaioannou Street
Nicosia
Cyprus
- Gender
- Human rights
- Youth and education
Mission
To promote a society in which everyone can enjoy the basic human right to choose freely, based on accurate information, on issues relating to their sexual, emotional and reproductive lives, and advocates towards the creating space for exercising this right. Assistance services and information provided by the Association are done so on the basis of the facilitating the aforementioned human right.
Objectives
To protect, defend and promote every person’s sexual and reproductive rights.
To provide training and counselling services in the area of sexual and reproductive health and rights, which are accessible to all, and in particular to the more vulnerable groups in society.
To take the leading role in the area of sexual and reproductive health via dedicated, skilled and qualified volunteers and staff.
To promote sexual and reproductive health rights and human rights on an international level giving emphasis to mobilizing resources for this in developing countries.
As previously mentioned the Association provides educational, informational, and counseling services in the sphere of SRHR and has a long experience and expertise in the provision of Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) through non formal education and in advocacy work on SRHR. The Association implements and evaluates information and educational programs for youth by youth and specialists, educates parents, teachers and other professionals and publishes authoritative information and educational materials on issues of sexuality. The free helpline 1455, staffed by trained volunteers, offers information on sexuality. Finally it carries out research programs and documents needs in Cyprus and conduct programs to promote and defend Sexual Reproductive Rights. At this time period the CFPA runs also the following projects: 1) “KEEP ME SAFE”: Empowering Young People with Learning Disabilities (YPWLD) to protect themselves against sexual abuse and violence across Europe” funded by the European Commission Directorate General Justice. Programme “Daphne III: To prevent and combat violence against children, young people and women and to protect victims and groups at risk” 2) “I’M SET” – Implementing Mandatory Sexuality Education for Teens in Cyprus. This project is an 18-month bilateral cooperation between Cyprus and Norway which also involves an outstanding collaboration between civil society organizations and educational authorities in Cyprus. A project with the aim to promote the sexual rights of teens through the implementation of mandatory human rights based Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) in middle schools in Cyprus. The project has been developed and is coordinated by the Cyprus Family Planning Association (CFPA), with the active participation of the Commissioner for Children's Rights, the Pedagogical Institute - Ministry of Education and Culture, the Mediterranean Institute of Gender Studies in Cyprus and Sex og Politikk - Association for Reproductive and Sexual Health and Rights in Norway, as partners of the project. This project is funded by from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA Grants and the Republic of Cyprus. 3) i-vee - the development of an interactive mobile application with the aim to explore the values of volunteerism using the game mechanics. This project is implemented in cooperation with the Egypt Foundation for Youth and Development (EFYD) and funded by United Nations Development Fund (UNDP)
The experience and expertise of the Association in the field of SRHR can contribute and support the main scope of ALF which is overcoming the misunderstandings and stereotypes which affect relations between and within societies of the region. Sexuality is a natural and precious aspect of life essential and fundamental part of our humanity which very often can lead to discrimination, stigma, fear and violence; threats that are obstacles between people’s relations and at the same time creating problems also within societies.
Volunteers have been one of the main strengths of the Association. Their active involvement in the Association whether this is in the governance of CFPA or the programs and activities of the Association is mutually beneficial not only for the organization and the volunteers but also for the society as active citizens. The Association has volunteers and especially young people who participate and are involved in decision-making. As a result, CFPA is well informed and up-to-date related to the current and changing needs of young people, therefore is able to effectively design, implement and evaluate programs and services targeted to young people but It also provides opportunities, skills and knowledge for shaping a team of future leaders and decision-makers. Many members of the Board of Directors of CFPA have been members of the ‘Youth for Youth’ group and continue to be very passionate, active and loyal to the Association’s vision and mission and provide their support by being actively involved in the organization’s programs and activities some of them for many years. Some of them are active members in European Youth Networks such as YSAFE Network. The very active young volunteers have the skills and experience to contribute to the development of an Intercultural Strategy for the Euro-Mediterranean Region.
We would just love to belong to a network where its aim is to bring people together from across the Mediterranean to improve mutual respect between cultures and to support civil society working for a common future for the region. It feels like a safe environment for an NGO where can be given the opportunity to be empowered and flourish in the civil society world by sharing expertise, experiences, inspirational ideas and projects, best practices, building up relationships among people, countries, regions and together can bridge cultural differences and perceptions and can actually lead to a better understanding of humanity.