BRITISH High Commissioner Peter Millett yesterday announced the establishment of a branch of the education charity, English Speaking Union (ESU), in Cyprus.
Millet said he was a “bit surprised” that the establishment of a Cyprus branch has taken so long, given the importance of the use of English language on the island.
Noting that education is a really strong strand in the relationship between UK and Cyprus, Millett highlighted that there are now more than 10,000 Cypriot students at British universities, counting for more than one per cent of the population, while the British Council handles around 55,000 examinations a year.
The ESU’s main purpose is to foster international understanding and friendship through the use of the English language.
“English is in common use throughout this island and I hope that this branch can be used to bring people together with a common purpose in this modern age,” said Millett.
Director General of ESU Valerie Mitchell said she was delighted to be in Cyprus and welcome it as the 51st country to join the ESU “family” which first began in 1918.
“Above all, we are an education charity, and it is under this banner of education that we feel we are forming the strongest links today. As Nelson Mandela says ‘education is that golden thread which weaves the nations of the world together’,” said Mitchell.
The ESU “gives opportunities to people in different countries and we shall be reaching out to Cyprus whenever we can”, she added.
Mitchell noted that English was a “global language of opportunity” for young people today, adding however, that the ESU “completely respects the autonomy of other languages and those who use them” and “strongly supports linguistic diversity with all the colours and cultures that it brings with it”.
Garo Keheyan, Chairman of the ESU Cyprus branch said the ESU has a very wide geographical spread on every continent in the world.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity for Cyprus to participate in another international network, so Cypriots can meet and interact with people from all over the world.”
The Cyprus branch will be officially launched on Monday, with 40 overseas delegates from 11 international ESU branches attending the reception at the British High Commissioner’s Residence.
The launch ceremony will be opened by the British High Commissioner and the First Lady of Cyprus Elsi Christofias.
Among the international programs in which Cypriots will be able to participate through ESU are the Public Speaking Competition, which the ESU Cyprus branch has already sponsored a Cypriot participant to speak in London in May on the subject of ‘Regeneration and Renewal’, the International Relations Summer Conference to be held in Oxford in August which a Cypriot journalist will attend and the Globe Education Cultural Seminar for Teachers at Shakespeare’s Globe where a Cypriot English professor will also participate.
