The actions of the “Open Society” program are completed in August with innovative actions to support the migrant integration process.

The implementation of the program was preceded by the Municipality of Larnaka as Coordinator with partners the Municipality of Paphos and the Community Volunteerism Council of Geroskipou(SKE) of Geroskipou and lasted 18 months. The aim of the program was to offer services and opportunities to migrants to improve theirparticipation in economic and social life, so that the local community can use their knowledge and skills. The program is co-funded by the Asylum, Migration, and Integration Fund by 90% and the Republic of Cyprus (10%), with a total budget of 100,000 euros.

Migrants are people from non-EU third countries who live and work legally in Cyprus, for financial reasons or with refugee status and subsidiary international protection or are asylum seekers. Through the “Open Society” actions, TCNs had opportunities to upgrade their skills, to socialize, to get acquainted with the culture and culture of Cyprus and to get to know the local population.

Services offered included first aid courses for domestic helpers, Cypriot dance classes and experiential workshops on Cypriot culture. The Municipalities also organized various educational excursions to the sights of Cyprus and multicultural events. In Larnaka, food-tasting and traditional TCNs costumes exhibitions were organized and in Paphos cricket tournaments etc.

SKE Geroskipou and SKE Pegeia offered day-care and creative employment of children and support of students in schoolwork. During the pandemic, online seminars for social skills upgrade were organized.

Finally, the Municipality of Larnaka organized a dialogue forum with the communities of TCNs to record their problems and needs.

Web page Www.opensociety.com.cy  Facebook and Instagram @opensociety

An innovative program to support young migrants and refugees organized by the municipality of Larnaca

An innovative action is being organized by the Municipality of Larnaca as a part of the “Open Society” program which aims to integrate refugees and migrants into the local community. The Municipality of Larnaca is the coordinating partner of the “Open Society” project and has commissioned the implementation of this action at CSI (Center for Social Innovation).This course will educate  young people with “migrant biography” about personal empowerment and  provide guidance  for their professional careers. These young people need social support to integrate more smoothly into the local society, culture, economy, and social life.

The action involves acquiring practical knowledge and developing skills that will help to their future professional careers. Children will acquire new skills, along with the socio-cultural and linguistic skills from their countries of origin. The results of the action will be presented at the completion of training in Summer 2020.

Open Society program includes other activities in Larnaca that will bring the refugee and migrant communities closer to the municipality and the local society, it also includes activities in Pafos and Geroskipou.

The program is co – funded by the European Asylum, Migration and Refugee Fund Integration (90%) and the Republic of Cyprus (10%).

More information:

Tel. 22875561-3 / e-mail: [email protected]

Larnaka Municipality organized with great success and participation its first public activity for the support of the social integration of refugees and immigrants after the restrictions of the pandemic.

As a part of the “Open Society” program, Larnaka Municipality organized an educational excursion and guided tour to get acquainted the Cypriot culture.

The excursion took place on Sunday 14^th of June 2020 and gave the opportunity to the participating refugees, asylum seekers and economic migrants to tour Lefkara and then to visit cultural sites and get informed about the sights of Larnaka.

They left by bus on Sunday morning from Finikoudes and went on tour to up and down Lefkara.

They were guided to the mountain area of Larnaka District and were informed about the architecture and traditional art of Lefkaritika and the local delicacies.

A lunch was offered in Vavatsinia and returned to Larnaka, salt lakes, the Hala Sultan Mosque, and the Bronze Age settlement of Choirokitia. The refugees and migrants were guided to the area of Finikoudes, the Medieval Castle, the Church of St. Lazarus and the Mosques of Zachouri and Kepir.

The Municipality of Athienou organized on Green Monday a traditional event with a great success for the “Cutting of the Lent” in the Chapel of Archangel Michael near Athienou.

Traditional music and dances, free fasting food and plenty of wine, in combination with the sunny day and the lush greenery, contributed to a beautiful event that was enjoyed by many people who went to celebrate the start of Lent.

Mayor of Athienou municipality welcomed the people, wishing “Happy Lent and Happy Easter” and in his greeting he informed the about the continuous efforts being made to promote landscaping works and in particular referred to his gradual outreach in collaboration with the Department of Forests, with a project funded by the Rural Development Project worth € 70,000.

The Municipality of Athienou, in the context of the above event, implemented the “Open Society” Program with the cooperation of the Larnaka Municipality and the European Funds Unit of the Ministry of Interior. This Program aims at the smooth and as complete as possible integration of third-country nationals into the local community, their familiarity with the local customs and customs and, in general, the facilitation of their living conditions. It was for this reason that all interested third-country nationals attended and learned about the traditional way of celebrating Lent and the customs of our country.

The Municipality and the Open School of Larnaka, within the framework of the “Open Society” program, announce the organization of Drawing courses for children and teenagers of Third Country Nationals (migrants, refugees, asylum seekers) residing in Larnaka.

The courses aim at creative expression combined with familiarity of the Cypriot history and culture.

Classes will begin in mid-June (afternoons) and continue in July (mornings) and will take place at Prodromou Primary School (17, Ektoros str., Larnaka).

The curriculum will be given to the participants shortly.

The maximum number of participants is 25 people, so order of priority will be applied.

• Please register by completing the online registration form here.

We look forward to meeting you!

The Municipality of Larnaka in cooperation with the organization “Oasis” announces the organization of First Aid courses for Third-Country Nationals, namely refugees, asylum seekers and immigrants living in the city and province of Larnaka.

The courses are part of the activities carried out by the “Open Society” program implemented by the Municipality of Larnaka and are aimed at training, education and development of personal skills of the TCNs. Courses are offered free of charge.

The Open Society program is co-funded by the European Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund and the Ministry of the Interior.

The courses will be conducted in two groups by the organization “Oasis” as follows:

Location: OASIS Building, 1A Leontiou Street, 6021, Larnaka

Date and time:

Part A’, Wednesday 19/2/2020 Time: 10:00 – 13: 00

Part B’, Friday 21/2/2020 Time: 10:00 – 13: 00

Participants will be offered coffee, tea, juice and cookies

To confirm participation:

Elena Nicolaou, organization “Oasis”

Email: [email protected]
Facebook: Oasis Project
Tel: 24002266

More information on the Open Society program: www.opensociety.com.cy | [email protected]
Officer / Coordinator: Dimitris Georgiou [email protected]