AEGEE-Mağusa SU 2026: Discovering Heritage and Hospitality in Northern Cyprus
Workshops in the sea, coastal excursions, and authentic local dining defined AEGEE-Mağusa’s Summer University “The Paradise of the Mediterranean” from 24 to 31 August 2026. 25 participants enjoyed a packed 7 days discovering island traditions and making lasting connections.
GT: What was your Summer University about?
AEGEE-Mağusa: Living in a legally unrecognized part of Europe, one of our main goals was to introduce our country, culture, and way of life to other Europeans. Many participants were surprised to learn about the international and political challenges that continue to affect our daily lives. At the same time, they were mesmerized by our warm, Mediterranean, and fun-loving way of living despite the ongoing conflict surrounding our island.
Can you tell more details?
Beautiful Cyprus has so much to offer to a wandering eye. Throughout the seven days, our participants had the opportunity to experience life as islanders. They explored our culture and history, danced to Cypriot music, enjoyed local food, and swam in the turquoise Mediterranean. By the end of the SU, they left not only with unforgettable memories but also with a deeper understanding of North Cyprus, its history, its people, and the realities of life in a place that many Europeans had never even heard of before.
Please name a few progamme highlights.
Where to start? It was a packed week; we made the most of every minute. Our European Night was one of the highest rated events. After the Euro-Tour, we all danced to a playlist the participants mutually created. Our hearts and stomachs were full. We visited the ghost town of Varosha, where our tour guide told us about the history and current situation of Cyprus. We did the workshop in the sea, as participants requested, and were very impressed. They had so many questions for the tour guide that he had to join us at the traditional Cypriot dinner to answer the rest of the questions! The night out in Agia Napa was also among the favourites – and our boat party was also a hit! Finally, we held a bachata workshop with fancy cocktails.
How many participants and organisers were at the SU?
We welcomed 25 participants with 11 organisers and helpers.
What were the funniest or most exciting moments?
The funniest moments were at the club in Kyrenia, where we stayed at a hotel for the night. We had some wild participants, as well as organisers… The next day, we had planned a walking tour of the Old Town, but it started raining! When the Dutch said this was BBQ weather for them, everyone agreed to still go on the tour. We still had to cancel some of it, but it was made up by the restaurant we closed for ourselves. The fine dining experience was the best food of the week. Unlimited wine and beer also saved the day!
How important was the gossip box?
The gossip box was very important; we read it every two days if not every day! There was so much gossip that we couldn’t even keep up. All we can say is that we saw two people share a piece of cake…
How was your group of participants?
The group was very energetic; we surely made some unforgettable memories together. Saying goodbye was the most difficult, there were tears. Our group chat has been active every day since the event ended. We had two participants who had joined previous SU’s and chose to come back. We’re happy that AEGEE-Magusa left such an impact. We hope we get to see some of the new faces again too. We would like to thank each one of our participants for being friendly and cooperative.
How would you evaluate the SU overall on a scale from 0 (very bad) to 10 (excellent)?
11 out of 10! All thanks to our amazing participants and the organizing team. We can’t forget the new members who helped us organize and manage everything. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!
Which impact did the event have on your antenna?
This was our most crowded event after the Covid-19 outbreak. We managed to attract new members to our antenna and have them taste the AEGEE spirit. We hope to expand our antenna and probably organize an Agora soon!
Will you organise an SU next year again?
We will surely organize another SU next year. We would like to organize a longer event, just so our participants and organizers can get more rest in between events. We are thinking about ten days.
Anything else you’d like to share about your SU?
Here at AEGEE-Magusa, we are all – literally and figuratively – family. Our participants got to feel this. If you plan on joining us in future events, expect to be treated as a member of this family. We welcome everyone with Mediterranean sincerity and love!
