Şadiye Işısal is a peacebuilding and youth empowerment advocate from Cyprus, working at the intersection of youth participation, reconciliation, bicommunal dialogue, and inclusive development. Her work focuses on creating meaningful opportunities for young people to contribute to peacebuilding and decision-making in Cyprus and to strengthen cooperation across the island’s communities.
She currently serves as Administrative and Operational Coordinator for the EU Scholarship Programme for Cypriot Youth at UWC, where she supports educational and cross-community opportunities that bring young Cypriots together and contribute to confidence-building. She has also been actively involved in Cyprus peacebuilding initiatives, including AHDR, Generation Nexus, UNDP initiatives, and the Local Conference of Youth (LCOY) Cyprus, and has participated in dialogue and youth-focused initiatives connected to the UN and the Cyprus peace process.
Şadiye is a UN Youth Champion for Environment and Peace and the recipient of the British Council/Study UK Alumni Awards Cyprus 2025 Social Action Award. In 2026, she participated as a Turkish Cypriot expert in the Wilton Park Cyprus Dialogue: Building Trust through the Technical Committees, contributing to discussions on youth participation, confidence-building measures, and the role of the Technical Committees.
She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Peace, Conflict and Democracy at the University of Cyprus, building on an MSc in Development Studies from SOAS, University of London, and undergraduate studies at the University of Essex. Her work is driven by a commitment to ensuring that young people are recognised as active participants in shaping Cyprus’s future and in building a more peaceful, inclusive, and sustainable island.
