A Youth Club with a Difference

Meet Yiannis Christodoulou, the young energetic Activities Manager of   "Multimode Centre for Youth” (PO.KE.N.Y) in Iposnas, Limassol.

This is a club so different in its high ideals and nobility of purpose that it  humbles, dwarfs and touches you with its vision. The aim of the club, as Yiannis explains, is not only to shape and mould the young but to give them a purpose in life and channelize their energy into something constructive so that they stay away from drugs, alcohol and violence.

With normal activities like football, theatre, singing, art, and dance – the club aims to mould children’s character and future to develop them into better human beings. Even with high emotion sport like football (16 teams), children are taught not to play or even speak rough. They are taught to play with love, good human values and an honest game. Winning and losing, they are taught, is secondary. Each game starts and ends with a message of love.

The club was founded in 2005 and is blossoming under the patronage of Church of Ay. Athanasios. Priest Emanuelle is the President and all other administrators are voluntary workers. Yiannis himself is a school teacher. There are 150 kids from ages 4 to 16.

From 13 founding members club now has 700 members and is growing. The Church provided bulk of the initial funding and it now functions on the continuing generosity of the church,contributions from the local community and sponsorships from corporates.

The club also organises special events to educate these young kids about important aspects of civil and social responsibility. One such event was to educate them in Road Safety and to make them understand rules of the road. It was a two part workshop. In the first part, local traffic Police and the SBA participated and provided guidance. In the second part 90 cyclists of all ages were taken on roads, escorted by traffic police, to give them a sense of the real world.

What touches about this initiative is that it is supported by the community to engage its youth in more meaningful activities with thoughtful vision to provide a good outlet for their energy and spare time. The untamed river which would flood and destroy the village, when dammed energizes the whole community after being harnessed.

John F Kennedy famously said “Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country”. It is all about taking matters in your own hands and not depending on others for what is within your capability to do about your future. This is what we need to guide our youth in every street and community all over the world today.

You can reach the club through Yiannis at 25 396 496 / 99 595 295 or
by email : po.ke.n.y.@cytanet.com.cy

/VanG/