Cyprus Youth Organization

What Cyprus Youth Organization does

Cyprus Youth Organization (Οργανισμός Νεολαίας Κύπρου, ONEK) is a statutory public-law entity (Νομικό Πρόσωπο Δημοσίου Δικαίου) established in 1994 under the Youth Board Law of Cyprus and operating under the Ministry of Education, Athletics and Youth. Its mandate is the creative contribution to youth-policy decision-making in Cyprus, with the greatest possible positive impact on young people. The organization serves Cypriot youth broadly (children aged 8-17 through STEAM and makerspace programs; ages 15-35 through career guidance, entrepreneurship support, and civic participation), and indirectly supports educational institutions, municipalities, and NGOs that partner in program delivery.

ONEK delivers services through a portfolio of branded programs spanning career counseling (YKK / Υπηρεσία Καθοδήγησης Καριέρας), youth entrepreneurship support, STEAM education (STEAMers, Youth Makerspace with 3D printing, laser cutting, robotics, and VR), psychosocial empowerment (Mikri Arktos / Μικρή Άρκτος, anti-bullying, addiction prevention), participatory platforms (Ekfracy / ΕΚΦΡΑCY crowdsourcing), information networks (Youth Wiki, Eurodesk, Youthcast), and benefits products (European Youth Card, Culture Youth Card). It runs approximately 80 Municipal Youth Councils and operates five physical Youth Centers covering all Cyprus districts (Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca, Paphos, Ammochostos), supported by a portfolio of digital platforms under the onek.org.cy domain ecosystem.

The organization is not a commercial enterprise. All programs are delivered free of charge to beneficiaries, with no customer pricing model. Funding flows from the Republic of Cyprus national budget and European Union co-funding mechanisms — primarily the European Social Fund and the Youth Employment Initiative. ONEK operates with 11-50 employees and is not publicly traded. Revenue figures are not disclosed in public materials. Note: This is a government agency, not an investable equity; the analysis below should be read in that context.

Name

Cyprus Youth Organization

Legal name

Οργανισμός Νεολαίας Κύπρου (ONEK)

Website

https://onek.org.cy

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cyprus Youth Organization (ONEK) is a statutory government agency that provides free youth programs — career counseling, entrepreneurship support, STEAM education, psychosocial services, and civic participation platforms — to Cypriot youth aged 8-35 across five district Youth Centers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (624110), Educational Support Services (611710), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth & Young Adult Workforce Programs (Out-of-School Youth) (EDAAAOAD), Youth-to-Adult Transition & Life Skills (Independent Living, Soft Skills) (EDAAAFAN), Benefits Counseling & Financial Literacy for Transition-Age Youth (EDAKANAJ)

Keywords

• Youth career services
• Youth entrepreneurship support
• STEAM education programs
• Youth policy advisory
• Maker skills training

Headquarters

HQ city

Strovolos

HQ country

Cyprus

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: ONEK is a statutory body of Cyprus, funded primarily through the national budget. The organization receives government appropriations to operate its programs and services for youth across Cyprus. Additional funding comes from European Union programs including the European Social Fund and Youth Employment Initiative.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Cyprus Youth Organization (ONEK) is a statutory government body that provides free youth services across Cyprus, including career counseling, youth entrepreneurship advisory, STEAM education and makerspace training, mental health and psychosocial support, and youth participation platforms. It operates a network of five Youth Centers covering all districts and runs digital platforms such as the YKK Career Guidance Service, Youth Makerspace, European Youth Card, Ekfracy participatory platform, Youth Wiki, and Eurodesk.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Youth Makerspace: A creative technology lab offering workshops in 3D printing, laser cutting, robotics, Virtual Reality, and design thinking for young people. Operates both as a fixed facility and Mobile Makerspace.
• STEAMers / The STEAMers
• Υπηρεσία Καθοδήγησης Καριέρας (Career Guidance Service / YKK)
• ΕΚΦΡΑCY (EkfraCY / Platform EΚΦΡΑCY)
• Youth Wiki Cyprus
• Eurodesk Cyprus
• Youthcast
• European Youth Card Cyprus / EYCA
• Culture Youth Card (Κάρτα Πολιτισμού Νέων)
• Youth Policy Portal
• Young Cities
• Up To You(th) Festival

Products and services

• Youth Career Guidance Service (YKK) (Υπηρεσία Καθοδήγησης Καριέρας) Free career counseling and professional orientation service for young people across Cyprus, with career counselors available in every district and offerings that include individual counseling meetings, Career Academies, business development workshops, online counseling, and the national 1410 helpline.
• Youth Makerspace (including Mobile Makerspace) Physical and mobile makerspace facilities providing technology skills training in 3D printing, laser cutting, Virtual Reality, robotics, and design thinking workshops for youth ages 8-17 and young adults, offered free of charge.
• STEAMers Program Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics education program for youth including STEAMers Kidz for younger children, summer camps, ongoing workshops, and TECH Academy in partnership with the Cyprus Computer Society.
• European Youth Card (EYCA) Cyprus Digital and physical card providing Cypriot youth with access to discounts and services across Europe through the European Youth Card Association network.
• Ekfracy (ΕΚΦΡΑCY) Participatory Platform Crowdsourcing platform at ekfracy.gov.cy enabling youth to share opinions on youth policy topics such as entrepreneurship, mental health, and civic participation through surveys and consultations.
• Psychosocial Empowerment Programs (Mikri Arktos / Mental Health and Addiction Prevention) Mental health and psychosocial support programs for youth including the Mikri Arktos program, addiction prevention (Xero Ti Zitao), school bullying prevention (Stekomaste Mazi), Sign Language workshops, and the European Mental Health Promotion project.
• Youth Entrepreneurship Development Programme (co-funded by EU) Support programme providing entrepreneurship counseling, guidance for applicants to the Youth Entrepreneurship Support Scheme, mentorship, and business development support for young entrepreneurs in Cyprus, co-funded by the European Social Fund and the Youth Employment Initiative.
• Eurodesk Cyprus European youth information network providing Cypriot youth with information on European opportunities including mobility, training, funding, and youth initiatives.
• Youth Wiki Cyprus Information platform providing data and analysis on national youth policies in Cyprus as part of the EU Youth Wiki initiative.
• Young Cities / Municipal Youth Councils Program supporting youth participation in local governance through approximately 80 Municipal Youth Councils across Cyprus, part of the Young Cities initiative.
• Culture Youth Card (Κάρτα Πολιτισμού Νέων) Cultural benefits card for young people providing access to cultural events, venues, and related discounts in Cyprus.
• Youthcast Informational platform featuring podcasts and content about youth topics in Cyprus.

Quantifiable outcome

• 16 groups completed Sign Language Learning Workshops at 5 Youth Centers in 2025-2026
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• European Youth Card Association (EYCA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2026ONEK is the national coordinator for the European Youth Card in Cyprus, participating in the EYCA network. The partnership involves implementing the European Youth Card program, participating in General Assemblies, sharing best practices, and contributing to European youth policy. ONEK attended the 42nd General Assembly in Tirana, Albania in June 2026.
• Council of EuropeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean institution participating in youth policy discussions and initiatives, represented at EYCA General Assemblies and youth working groups.
• European CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU institution providing funding and policy framework for youth programs. Participates in youth policy working groups and provides support for youth initiatives across Europe.
• EurodeskcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean youth information network providing information about European opportunities to young people. ONEK operates as part of the Eurodesk network in Cyprus.
• NGO Support CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCyprus-based NGO support organization co-organizing the NGO Fair at the Youth Festival, providing platform for youth civic engagement.
• Cyprus Youth CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational youth council co-organizing the NGO Fair and youth participation initiatives with ONEK.
• Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth (Cyprus)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment ministry overseeing youth policy in Cyprus. ONEK works in close cooperation with the Ministry for youth policy implementation, career guidance in schools, and youth employment initiatives.
• Ministry of Energy, Commerce and Industry (Cyprus)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment ministry managing the Youth Entrepreneurship Support Scheme. ONEK's entrepreneurship counselors provide guidance to applicants and supported youth entrepreneurs.
• Junior Achievement CyprusminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational organization providing entrepreneurship education programs. Participates in events with ONEK to support youth entrepreneurship.
• Cyprus Broadcasting CorporationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational broadcaster partnering for youth information and awareness campaigns, including fake news prevention initiatives.
• European University CyprusminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner collaborating on startup support programs, career guidance initiatives, and summer academies for youth.
• Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI/KEVE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness chamber supporting youth entrepreneurship awards and initiatives, including the 'Ge' Neo Epixeirein' Youth Entrepreneurship Awards.
• Human Library CyprusminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization providing Human Library sessions at ONEK events, promoting dialogue and understanding among youth.
• SciCo CyprusminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerScience communication organization providing interactive science exhibits and workshops at youth events.
• Cyprus Computer SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional society participating in Tech Fairs and providing technology-related activities for youth.
• Technological University of Cyprus (TEPAK)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity collaborating on personal finance lectures, career academies, and summer programs for youth.
• Irish Presidency of EU Youth Working GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIreland assumed the EU Youth Working Group presidency from Cyprus, continuing work on youth spaces and empowerment in the changing information environment.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• European Youth Forum: Europe-wide umbrella of national youth councils and organizations operating in EU youth-policy spaces. Comparable to ONEK's policy-formulation function but at a continental scale.

Direct peers

• Youth Work Ireland: Ireland's largest national youth organization, delivering youth services, training, and policy input across the country. Comparable in mandate, geographic footprint within one country, and government-funding mix to ONEK.
• National Youth Council of Ireland: Umbrella body representing voluntary youth organizations in Ireland, with a formal role in youth-policy formulation. Comparable to ONEK in its statutory youth-policy mandate and representation function.
• National Youth Agency (UK): England's statutory national body for youth work, providing training, resources, and policy advocacy for the youth sector. Directly comparable to ONEK as a government-backed national youth agency offering career, training, and development programs.
• Eurodesk: European youth information network of which ONEK is the Cyprus partner. Comparable as a co-funded, multi-country network delivering information services to youth.
• Cyprus Youth Council: National youth council representing Cypriot youth organizations and a documented ONEK co-organizer of youth participation initiatives. Directly comparable in youth-policy representation in Cyprus.
• Junior Achievement Cyprus: Cyprus-based entrepreneurship-education nonprofit that is an active ONEK partner. Operates the same youth entrepreneurship education niche locally and serves the same Cypriot youth segment.
• European Youth Card Association (EYCA): Association of national coordinators (30+ member organizations) issuing the European Youth Card. ONEK is Cyprus's national coordinator, making EYCA the closest structural peer for ONEK's card program.

Emerging players

• CoderDojo Foundation: Global volunteer-led network of free coding/STEAM clubs for youth. Comparable to ONEK's Youth Makerspace and STEAMers programs in target audience (ages 8-17) and free technology-skills training model.

Regional players

• SciCo Cyprus: Cyprus-based science-communication organization partnered with ONEK to deliver STEAM workshops and exhibits. Comparable in Cyprus-local STEAM education delivery.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCjJGwqVYJ6dFfZPNLpxV5Ig
• Facebookfacebook.com/ONEKCyprus
• Instagraminstagram.com/makerspacelarnaka
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/orgneolaias

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cyprus Youth Organization