On Sunday 13th June, the National Federation of Cypriots published an interview they held with UK Cypriot property developer and philanthropist, John Christodoulou. The interview was held virtually and was hosted by Christos Karaolis, President of the National Federation of Cypriots in the UK. The discussion covered topics including John Christodoulou’s real estate career, his philanthropic work and his painful childhood memories of Turkey’s invasion of Cyprus in 1974.
John Christodoulou fled Cyprus as a child after Turkey’s invasion of the island in 1974. He built a remarkably successful career in real estate and founded the property development and investment company, Yianis Group. He has also started his own charity, the Yianis Christodoulou Foundation, through which he supports children’s education and tackles child poverty – two issues that are very close to his heart.
The interview is now available to view on the National Federation’s YouTube channel and Facebook page (@UKCypriotFed).
The event was opened by the Presidential Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus, Photis Photiou, who paid tribute to John’s passion for Cyprus and active interest in the Cyprus issue. He also credited John for his charitable work during the COVID-19 pandemic, both in the UK and in Cyprus and said he was “among the best ambassadors of Cyprus abroad.”

Fleeing Cyprus as a refugee in 1974

John was born in 1965 in Kaimakli, Cyprus but was tragically forced to flee Cyprus as a refugee during Turkey’s illegal military invasion of Cyprus in 1974. He painfully recalled that on the day of Turkey’s invasion, he was walking with his mother and sister when they suddenly realised the invasion was happening after hearing explosion. John explained that his family quickly took shelter in his uncle’s basement alongside more than 30 other frightened people. He explained that he has never forgotten the “vulnerability and helplessness” that he felt that day, and he still worries about the psychological impact of the invasion on the adults that went through it.
Following the invasion, John’s family home was now under occupation so his family fled to the UK to start a new life. He noted that, “the UK had its hands wide open for refugees at that time.” John has credited the strength and bravery of his father, who worked hard to support the entire family after they fled to the UK, despite losing everything he had during the invasion. He said that his father has inspired him more than anyone else and “has given me the strength I have today.”

Cyprus issue

John spoke candidly about his fears for Cyprus in the face of President Erdogan’s increasing authoritarianism and threatening rhetoric. He said that the current situation “frightens” him that he “worries about his family in Cyprus.”
To confront these challenges, John spoke passionately about his desire for Cypriots across the world to come together and unify their efforts towards the reunification of the island and towards the end of Turkey’s occupation. He said that Cypriots in the diaspora and on the island, should all do more to raise awareness of the Cyprus issue and the injustice that Cypriots face – “talk is cheap… action is louder than words… so let’s make our voices louder.”
Email your MP about the situation in Cyprus: www.cypriotfederation.org.uk/mp