ACTIVE CONSULTATION WITH THE REFUGEE AND IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES

Burning issues concerning the living conditions of migrants and refugees in Cyprus were revealed through the A’ Dialogue Forum ‘’Open Society’’, which was created by the Municipality of Larnaka as the coordinator of the program of integration with local authorities. Said issues are the serious lack of housing and the cost of rent but also the willingness of the refugees and asylum seekers to learn the Greek language and find a job so to have an independent and respectful life and not to depend on state allowances.

The Dialogue Forum is one of the activities of the program presented on Wednesday 27h of November in the context of the press conference. In his speech, the Mayor of Larnaka Andreas Vyras emphasized that Larnaka did and always will have as a goal to be an open society of mutual respect and coexistence through which everybody will feel like home without being of victim of any discriminatory behavior. Mr Vyras welcomed the development of the program actions as an input to the overall effort for a smooth integration of immigrants and refugees to our society. The Head of the European Funds Unit Constantinos Kyprianou mentioned that the local authorities can play a drastic role in ensuring a smooth integration and in overcoming racism and xenophobia. He also mentioned that funding opportunities towards Cyprus for the management of the migratory phenomenon will triple over the last 3 years.

The Dialogue Forum was funded to give the opportunity to refugee, asylum seekers and migrant representatives to express their positions and through the Municipality of Larnaka to forward them to the government. This is to ensure a better understanding of their needs and organization of more targeted interventions through implementation of programs.

Several refugees shared their experiences and life difficulties in Cyprus and expressed their commitment to work so as to live with dignity. Through the dialogue some core categories of issues emerged, which were recorded and will be publicized and be made full use of by the public authorities.

Please see above for relevant attached pictures

For more information: www.opensociety.com.cy | larnakaopensoc[email protected]

Responsible Officer / Coordinator: Dimitris Georgiou [email protected]

First channel of communication of the Municipality of Larnaca with the community of Refugees and Migrants

The Municipality of Larnaca, as Coordinator and its Partners organize a Press Conference for the implementation of the integration program refugees and immigrants from local authorities.The program “Open Society” will be presented with the focus on informing the public on the different activities that have been taking place to support the integration of immigrants and refugees in Cypriot society. The First Dialogue Forum will follow with refugee and immigrant organizations to promote an open discussion between the different groups. The Mayor of Larnaca will be a guest speaker.

The event will take place on the 27^th of November, 2019

Day: 27^th of November 2019 | House of Arts and Literature

Former Ottoman Bank at King Pavlos Square LARNACA

Press Conference | Time: 9.00 – 10.00

Dialogue Forum | Time: 10.00 – 13.00

• Invitation and Press Conference Program

Information:

Websiste www.opensociety.com.cy Facebook Open Society – Ανοιχτή Κοινωνία
@togetheropen society
Open Society Communication Team 22875561-3
E-mail: [email protected]

The municipality of Paphos organizes within the project “Open Society”, cricket tournament which will take place at Panayia Theoskepasti High School on Sunday 28 of July 2019. The cricket tournament is held in collaboration with the Cyprus Police. The program will start from 09:00 am in the morning with a training seminar and afterwards the […]