I am Dalia Staponkutė – born and raised in Šiauliai, a Doctor of Humanities, writer, and translator. My journey began in Šiauliai, where I completed the XI Secondary School and later worked at the then Šiauliai University, teaching philosophy. It was here, in the City of the Sun, that my perspective on culture, language, and the world was shaped. Since 1989, I have been living in Nicosia, Cyprus, yet my connection to my hometown has always remained strong and meaningful. Šiauliai represents to me a place of memory, identity, and inner return. Through my work and cultural activities, I aim to promote Šiauliai in the Cyprus–Greece region and strengthen cultural ties with Larnaca.

Photo by Vilmantas Dambrauskas.