Cyprus

Cyprus County

Guiding in Cyprus first started in the 1920s and, in 1984, Cyprus became part of BGIFC. There are three Districts – Akrotiri, Episkopi and Dhekelia and Ayios Nikolaos - which cover the Army Garrisons and the RAF Base on the island. We also have units in Paphos and Nicosia.  The British Forces community provides the majority of Guides, Brownies and Rainbows but BGICyp (British Guides in Cyprus) relies heavily upon expatriate Leaders.

There is a lot of movement within the County as girls and Leaders leave to return to the United Kingdom but nevertheless there is a strong sense of continuity; many of the activities are unique to Cyprus – like the Cyprus Challenge (see hyperlink*) and Rainbow Frolics – which have become a welcome part of Guiding life. There is an active Friends of Guiding group, who organise fund-raisers throughout the year.

As with all Counties, Cyprus has a fluctuating number of units at any one time, depending more on the number of volunteer helpers and Leaders than on the number of girls waiting to join.  There are always girls on the waiting list and recruitment for Leaders is ongoing.

Akrotiri sits on a rocky peninsula about 13 miles S.W. of Limassol.  It has a vast airfield and a large Military Hospital (TPMH), so the infrastructure for the hundreds of RAF families living on base is impressive. Akrotiri has one Guide Unit, two Brownie Units and one Rainbow Unit.

Episkopi is a little inland and about 20 miles away from Akrotiri with which it is combined, from a military point of view, under the name WSBA – Western Sovereign Base Areas.  Episkopi is 14 miles from Limassol along the motorway. The garrison has a large sports facility.  Happy Valley, adjacent to the beach, is the primary focus for BGICyp events, including annual Camps.  There are currently one Guide Unit, one Brownie Unit and two Rainbow Units.

Paphos comes under Episkopi District, although it is situated some 30 miles further west on the coast.  Essentially a tourist town, it does have antiquities and a busy cultural programme.  The Brownie Unit was set up in September 2004 followed by a Guide Unit in 2006. The major problem with finding Leaders and volunteers here is that the large resident expatriate population tends to be made up of people who have retired to the island.

Dhekelia is another Army Garrison about 15 miles east of the busy Larnaca town and port; collectively the camps here are known as ESBA (Eastern Sovereign Base Areas). Dhekelia itself has a Senior Section Unit, one Guide Unit, one Brownie Unit and one Rainbow Unit, re-formed in 2006.

Ayios Nikolaos, another garrison that forms part of Dhekelia District, is about 8 miles north of Ayia Napa.  It is just south of the Green Line that separates the northern, Turkish-occupied side from the southern Greek Republic. Ayios Nikolaos has one Brownie unit and one Rainbow unit re-opened in March 2008.

Nicosia comes under Dhekelia and Nikolaos District and is the capital of Cyprus.  It has one Brownie unit, which started in October 2003.  A Guide unit was set up in 2005.   Nicosia is a vibrant city, divided in two halves – Greek and Turkish.  The major World Banks, Embassies and International companies are all based here, so there is a very diverse mix of families at any one time.

Diary for 2008- 2009

2008

2009


Click to download the Cyprus Challenge