To mark World Storytelling Day and in connection with Cyprus’s assumption of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the University of Cyprus Library organized a special educational event, welcoming the fourth-grade students of the Makedonitissa B Elementary School.

The initiative was implemented by the European Documentation Center (EDC), in collaboration with the Library’s Children’s Section for Infants, Preschool, and School-Age Sections of the Library, and is part of the Center’s broader strategic goal to disseminate European knowledge and strengthen European awareness in society. The EDC seeks to foster citizens’ awareness, critical thinking, and participation, bringing the European Union closer to young people through modern, experiential, and pedagogically tailored activities.

Particular emphasis was placed on fostering children’s love of reading and enhancing their educational experience by combining knowledge about Europe with creative activities, storytelling, and active participation. Through such initiatives, the Center makes a substantial contribution to shaping active and informed European citizens from a young age.

The visit began with a tour of the Library’s facilities led by librarians Alexia Louka and Mikaella Charalambous, during which the children learned about the services and resources the Library offers to the university and the wider community.

Next, the head of the European Documentation Center, Ms. Mikaella Charalambous, presented basic concepts and information regarding the European Union. The students learned about the purpose of its creation, how it operates, and the fundamental values it upholds, such as peace, unity, and cooperation.

Next, the children journeyed into the magical world of the fairy tale “Yuki and the Forest Union,” which was read by Ms. Nasia Charalambous, the scientific coordinator of the Infant, Nursery, and Early Elementary Groups of the Children’s Department. The story explains the creation of the European Union in an inventive and symbolic way through metaphors inspired by nature. The protagonist is Yuki, a little firefly, who is called upon to convince his friends to overcome their differences and coexist harmoniously. Through the story, children come to understand fundamental values such as peace, unity, and solidarity.

The event concluded with creative educational workshops, which were designed by Ms. Nasia Charalambous and carried out in collaboration with the events team: Alexia Louka, Georgia Andreou, Mikaella Charalambous, and Flora Dimitriou, giving children the opportunity to express themselves creatively on the theme of war and peace.

This initiative reaffirms the Library’s pivotal role as an institution of education and culture, making a substantial contribution to the development of active and informed citizens.