At the heart of this initiative is UNESCO’s pledge to strengthening quality and inclusive education by integrating living heritage into teaching and learning. Intangible cultural heritage – the living traditions, skills, expressions, and knowledge passed from generation to generation – offers unique opportunities for learner‑centred, hands‑on education that values cultural diversity and promotes inclusion. Yet in today’s fast‑paced world, ensuring that younger generations understand, appreciate, and help safeguard living heritage can be challenging.
To respond to this need, UNESCO and the Cyprus National Commission for UNESCO are launching a joint project to develop capacities on ‘Teaching and Learning with Living Heritage’ in Cyprus. Developed in cooperation with the UNESCO Office in Venice and the Regional Centre for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage in South-Eastern Europe, the programme aims to equip primary and secondary school teachers with practical tools and creative methodologies outlined in the UNESCO resource kit for educators ‘Teaching and Learning with Living Heritage: Resources for Teachers’.
By embedding living heritage into everyday teaching, educators will be empowered to make learning more meaningful, hands-on and connected to students’ own cultural environments.
From 24 February to 1 March 2026, teachers will take part in 2 afternoon online training sessions, followed by a 3 day in-person workshop in Limassol and the Municipality of Kourion. The experience extends beyond the classroom; participants will visit the Akrotiri Environmental Education Centre and the Akrotiri Wetland, discovering how the area’s unique natural environment has shaped traditions such the craft of soft basket weaving.
Akrotiri is also renowned for its rich oral traditions and remarkable biodiversity. The wetland provides a vital habitat for migratory birds such as Greater Flamingos and endangered species, including the Mediterranean monk seal and Green/Loggerhead turtles. By exploring this landscape firsthand, educators will gain a deeper understanding of the intrinsic link between intangible cultural heritage and the natural environment.
On completion of the training, with support from programme funding, participants will be better equipped to apply the methodologies learnt and the relevant activities into their schools and learning environments. This ensures that the knowledge gained during the workshops translates into meaningful classroom practice, benefiting students nationwide.
On 17 October 2026, marking the International Day of Intangible Cultural Heritage, the programme will culminate in a presentation event, during which Certificates of Participation will be awarded to the teachers involved in the programme in recognition of their commitment.
By placing living heritage at the centre of teaching and learning, the project will help schools, teachers, and students in Cyprus to develop key competencies and improve the quality of education, while supporting the transmission of the island’s rich and diverse living heritage for years to come.
This activity is made possible thanks to the annual contribution of Italy to the UNESCO Office in Venice.
read more: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/empowering-educators-cyprus-teaching-and-learning-living-heritage?hub=701
