KA154YOU: Roots, DECEMBER 13-14 2025 OMODOS KISSOUSA LEMITHOU

Roots: Οι ρίζες μας ως θεμέλια ανάπτυξης

Exploring Omodos, Kissousa and Lemithou, identifying needs and proposing ideas for development

13 and 14 December 2025

The KA154 Roots project continues, and this time around we explored the villages of Omodos, Kissousa and Lemithou. This 2 day journey combined experiential learning, cultural discovery, and community engagement, giving participants the chance to connect with local environments, traditions, and voices from small communities.

On December 13 we did the following –

We visited the Linos Winery in Omodos, where we had the opportunity to speak directly with the owner, who explained to us in detail the traditional and modern processes of winemaking, sharing insights about local grape varieties, production methods, and the cultural importance of wine in the region. This specific winery existed since 1825, with the winery being passed down to generations, and operating under its current time since 1986. During the visit, we also found aout about the vineyards they use within the village of Omodos, as well as the fact that they have won two awards, both in 2022 these being

·       The Golden Award for Best Product Design

·       The Silver Award for Best Alcoholic New Brand/Product

Next, we had a meeting with the President of the Community Council of Omodos, this being Mr Evgenios Michael. Mr Michael spoke about the main challenges faced by the community and the actions already implemented to address them. Omodos is a highly touristic village, welcoming over 2,000,000 visitors per year, which creates both opportunities and pressures for the community, particularly for local businesses and workers operating in the tourism sector.

For our next stop, we visited, and explored Kissousa, before ultimately meeting Mr. George Panayiotou, the President of the Community Council. Mr Panayiotou explained how this is in fact a very small village with 12 or so residents, making it one of the smallest communities in Cyprus. Key issues include the building zone restrictions, the extensive damage caused by the wildfires during the summer in Cyprus, and ongoing difficulties in cooperation with governmental authorities. A major concern highlighted was the lack of long-term interest for residents to remain in the community, which threatens the village’s sustainability and future development.

After this, we departed to Lemithou, where we were hosted at Themis House. The group enjoyed a warm and welcoming environment in an excellent accommodation setting. In the evening, we shared dinner together, followed by a small social gathering organized by the participants, strengthening team spirit, bonding, and intercultural exchange in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

As for the following day, December the 14^th we –

Met up with the President of Community Council of Lemithou, Mr. Iacovo Pafiti. As with the previous villages, Mr. Pafiti explained the main challenges faced by the community. At this point, participants were split into different teams, in order to brainstorm, and come up with methods to improve such cities. Participants presented their ideas and suggestions to the President and the group on how to improve the visitor experience and, at the same time, make the village more attractive and pleasant for residents to live in, encouraging sustainability and long-term community development. Following the presentations, the group shared lunch together and then departed for home, enriched with meaningful experiences, new perspectives, and stronger connections formed during the activity.

Through this experience, participants strengthened their understanding of their roots, cultural identity, teamwork, and environmental awareness, while reflecting on how young people can actively contribute to the resilience and sustainable development of small and rural communities.

Photo 18 here