The Deputy Minister of Social Welfare, Ms. Marilena Evangelou, participated in the 62nd Session of the United Nations Commission for Social Development (UN) in New York.
The Deputy Minister emphasized, within the context of the National Statement of the Republic of Cyprus, the urgent actions and reforms that must be undertaken to achieve the implementation of the UN’s 2030 Agenda with fair, effective, and inclusive social policies.
Reference was made to the broader social protection policies of Cyprus, such as, among others, the EEE, the Minimum Wage, the General Health System, the Long-term Care Services, as well as to the modernization of services to respond to the green and digital transition.
Emphasis was placed on the recent reforms of the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare in the EEE, particularly on strengthening the Social Intervention Mechanism, which aims to activate beneficiaries by integrating them into the labor market through training programs or psychosocial support.
Emphasizing the importance of policies for reconciling family and professional life, so as to facilitate parents both in their work and in the care of their children, Ms. Evangelou presented the benefits arising from the Childcare and Education Subsidy Scheme for children up to 4 years old of the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare. Reference was also made to the parental leave allowance and the expansion of paternity leave coverage to all fathers regardless of family status.
Within the context of social inclusion of individuals with disabilities, reference was made to the “National Strategy for Disability 2018-2028.”
On the margins of the 62nd Session of the United Nations Commission for Social Development, the Deputy Minister of Social Welfare had a meeting with the UN Assistant Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, Mr. LI Junhua, during which they exchanged views on the challenges at the international level regarding the implementation of the Social Agenda 2030 and the Social Development Goals. Ms. Evangelou informed Mr. Junhua about the social policy implemented by Cyprus, while the UN Assistant Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs emphasized the importance of Cyprus’s participation as a member state of the European Union (EU) in the Commission’s work.
Ms. Evangelou also conducted bilateral meetings with the Minister of Labor, Welfare, and Social Protection of Portugal, Ms. Ana Mendes Godinho, the Deputy Minister of Multilateral Affairs of Costa Rica, Mr. Alejandro Solano Ortiz, and the Deputy Minister of Social Development of Jordan, Mr. Barq Al-Dmour, during which they agreed on the exchange of best practices on issues related to broader social policy.
During her stay in New York, the Deputy Minister of Social Welfare met with Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, as well as Mr. Kyriakos Papastylianou, the President of the Federation of Cypriots in America, and members of the Cypriot Diaspora, with whom they discussed the social challenges faced by the Diaspora, as well as ways for further cooperation.
Those with large families, recipients of the Guaranteed Minimum Income (GMI), and people with disabilities (PWD) will benefit from the support measures announced by the government, but with a delay.
It is reminded that on October 19, the President of the Republic, Nicos Christodoulides, announced, among other things: 1/ The inclusion of students from large families in the child allowance, 2/ An increase in the child allowance by 5%, 3/ The one-time payment of 120 euros to people with disabilities (PWD) receiving mobility allowance, and 4/ The one-time payment of 300 euros to recipients of the Guaranteed Minimum Income (GMI) receiving housing loan interest subsidy and 500 euros to GMI beneficiaries with a severe disability receiving housing loan interest subsidy.
ThemaOnline, following the aforementioned announcements, contacted the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare to inquire about when and how many people will benefit from these measures.
Regarding the increase in the child allowance, a source from the Deputy Ministry stated on our website that this measure requires legislative regulation, and following that, the child allowance will be increased by 5% and provided to eligible recipients.
Regarding the inclusion of students from large families in the child allowance, according to the recent announcements by the Deputy Minister of Social Welfare, Marilena Evangelou, a new category of beneficiaries will be created, in which 50% of the child allowance will be paid to students from large families until they obtain their first degree. This will apply to students up to 23 years of age for girls and 24 years of age for boys, provided that they are enrolled in a higher education institution.
One-time payments to recipients of the Minimum Guaranteed Income (MGI) and people with disabilities (PWD)
Regarding the one-time payment for MGI recipients, the same source explained that this measure does not require legislative regulation, as it is a one-time payment, and the amount will be given once.
As for the timing of the one-time payment, it is expected to be provided to recipients before the end of 2023. It should be noted that there are 2,557 potential recipients for this benefit.
Regarding the one-time payment for people with disabilities (ΑμεΑ), the same source from the Ministry of Social Welfare mentioned that, in this case as well, the measure does not require legislative regulation.
The payment is expected to be made to eligible recipients before the end of 2023. The number of potential recipients for this benefit is 4,139.
doValue Cyprus joins forces with Ablebook, aiming for an inclusive and accessible Cyprus that offers equal treatment and opportunities for all. With a vision of an inclusive and accessible society, doValue Cyprus supports the multifaceted work of Ablebook, an innovative application dedicated to improving the quality of life for people with reduced mobility or disabilities in Cyprus.
The Ablebook is the first online platform on the island with the aim of providing accurate information regarding accessibility specifications for infrastructure and services in public and private spaces in Cyprus. The application is an initiative by Andreas Vassiliou and Symeon Stylianou, who decided to map the entire island in order to improve the quality of life for people, encouraging them to live freely and equally. At the same time, the Ablebook team, through its parallel actions, is doing significant work in raising public awareness about the issues faced by individuals with reduced mobility or disabilities in Cyprus.
In a meeting held on Thursday, October 19th, at the doValue Cyprus offices, representatives from the two companies signed a collaboration agreement, envisioning joint efforts to build a more modern and accessible Cyprus, free from discrimination and exclusion. Within the framework of this partnership, doValue Cyprus, along with the Altamira Real Estate team, which manages the real estate portfolio of the doValue Group, will serve as two of the main sponsors of the Ablebook platform, providing practical support and expertise for the further development of the application.
Rafaela Miltiadou, Marketing Manager at Altamira Real Estate, highlighted, “We are particularly thrilled to be part of the Ablebook team because we share a common vision and values with the individuals behind it. The Ablebook application will not only contribute concretely to improving the daily lives of people with any disability or mobility difficulties, but also enhance public awareness efforts. As doValue Cyprus, we aspire to support every initiative that adds to the building of a fair society that guarantees equality and accessibility.”
Andreas Vassiliou, Director and Founder of Ablebook, stated, “First and foremost, we would like to express our gratitude to doValue Cyprus for their esteemed collaboration and support, which provides us with the opportunity to further enhance our contribution to people with disabilities through the Ablebook application. Through this collaboration, we take an additional and significant step towards achieving our goal of promoting equal opportunities and accessibility in all areas.”
The expulsion of a 13-year-old person with a disability from Agia Triada beach in Paralimni is being reported by their parents.
According to a complaint they sent to Commissioners and relevant authorities, which is also held by “F,” a few days ago, they visited the beach, and there, for an insignificant and unreasonable reason as they describe it, the person responsible for their sunbeds and umbrellas verbally and physically attacked them, threatened them, and forced them to leave.
“We are a family of five, and our eldest son, aged 13, has disabilities. On 23/08/23, we visited Agia Triada beach around 12:00, which was crowded. There was only one available beach chair for disabled individuals, which we moved slightly to the left to be able to get our 13-year-old into the water. While the father was swimming with his three children, he noticed that there was a disturbance on the shore.”
The municipal official shouted, stating that the sunbeds could not be moved. Ignoring the explanations from the mother, he demanded that they move their belongings since they couldn’t use the sunbed anymore. He grabbed the sunbed and hit it on the ground.
The father, thinking it was a misunderstanding, tried to talk to the municipal worker, who continued to shout. ‘I presented the reasons why we needed the sunbed, but he remained stubborn and kept diverting. Due to his behavior and considering my family, I decided to leave. This man started to follow me. He yelled and continuously threatened that he would hit me if I dared to touch any sunbed. When I approached my family, he grabbed my left arm and attempted to push me twice. I pushed my hand away, stating that he had no right to touch me. He replied that he didn’t care if he lost his job or faced consequences because he would hit me.’
The other two children, aged 11 and 5, began to cry and asked to leave. The family called the police, who arrived at the scene and took statements.
On the other hand, the Mayor of Paralimni, Theodoros Pyrillis, informed ‘F’ that he would personally investigate the complaint. If any wrongdoing has occurred, he stated that the appropriate measures would be taken.”
A court issued a temporary injunction for a student to continue attending the private school’s gymnasium (middle school) where he was already enrolled, despite the opposition of the school’s director.
The parents of a child on the autism spectrum sought legal recourse to keep their son in the private school he was already attending. This was because the school considered it impossible for the child to be present in the gymnasium classes, a claim that the parents successfully disputed in practice.
Let’s take it from the beginning.
In November 2022, when the previous school year was still ongoing, the parents of the student (whose full details are available to NEWS 24/7) submitted an application for their son’s enrollment in the next grade. The first rejection from the school (Synchroni Paideia in Vyronas) came as a shock to them, as it was clearly stated that the child’s inability to follow the curriculum was the reason.
The reasons for the child’s rejection were sent to the parents in writing in December 2022. However, to their credit, the parents persisted because they knew that the best choice for their son was to continue in a familiar school environment where he had developed remarkable social skills and unique abilities.
After a significant amount of time passed without a response, the school sent an email to the child, informing him about the tuition fees for the next school year. Therefore, the parents assumed that the school had changed its position. However, in June, the school reiterated its refusal.
The Ombudsman’s Intervention:
The parents promptly informed the Ombudsman for Children about the situation. After reviewing the case, the Ombudsman sent a letter to the school (protocol number 337845/33408/2003), the central conclusion of which was that the child could continue his studies in the gymnasium, as it was in his best interest (in accordance with Article 3, paragraph 1 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child).
Moreover, Law 4074/2012 explicitly states that member states must take all necessary measures to eliminate discrimination on the basis of disability by any person, organization, or private company.
The school persisted in its refusal to the Ombudsman in late July, claiming that it did not have the capacity to provide learning support for the child. They even cited the non-binding opinion of KEDASY (Center for Special Education and Psychological Support), which had never been requested by the parents before, as the parents allege.
There was no other option but to resort to the judiciary, which, albeit belatedly, issued a temporary injunction allowing the child to attend his favorite school.
Specifically, on September 6th, the court issued a temporary injunction, stating that “the school must temporarily accept the application for the enrollment of the child of the applicants until the hearing of the application by the appointed court.”
Two days later, the parents received a notice from Synchroni Paideia, requesting them to provide a series of documents regarding the “special assistants” (note that these assistants are paid for by the parents) before their child can be accepted into the school!
How the parents will gather all these documents over the weekend for their child to attend school on Monday is unknown. The school, in response, emphasized that the child should attend a special school and that the educational process in the gymnasium is entirely different. It is important to note that if the court makes a different decision in December, the student will have to change his school environment.
NEWS 24/7, as required, gave the floor to the school’s director, Charalampos Kyraïlidis, who told us that they will accept the student as decided by the court, temporarily, and will do their best until the trial takes place.
In the end, as always, the conclusion belongs to the reader. The important thing is that the family was vindicated in court despite the obstacles, and the child will continue in the same learning environment, at least temporarily.
However, the child’s educational specialist, in a pedagogical report in April 2023, wrote that “the student is consistent, cheerful, fully adapted to the class environment, beloved by his classmates, and has a supportive interdisciplinary team alongside him.”
In the end, as always, the conclusion belongs to the reader. The important thing is that the family was vindicated in court despite the obstacles, and the child will continue in the same learning environment, at least temporarily.
The Danish government officially apologized today to individuals who were victims of abuse in public institutions in the past, whether they were admitted because they had disabilities or because they had behavioral problems.
“The state (…) had a duty to oversee, and it did not adequately perform its job,” said Minister of Social Affairs Pernille Rosenkrantz-Theil in front of approximately 50 survivors who are still alive and went to Horsens, Western Denmark, for this event. “On behalf of the state, on behalf of the Danish government, I apologize,” the minister added.
Between 1933 and 1980, approximately 15,000 children and adults with visual or hearing impairments, epilepsy, speech problems, physical or intellectual disabilities were placed in these special institutions for varying lengths of time. During that time, the authorities’ concern was not to protect the rights of the patients, but primarily to protect society from them, explained expert researchers.
From 1929 until 1967, sterilization of patients with psychiatric problems was imposed by law, and until 1989, they had to obtain special permission to marry.
In 2020, the previous government initiated an investigation into the fate of these people who were admitted to institutions. Serious omissions and mistreatment of patients were thus revealed, including forced sterilizations, violence, sexual abuse, as well as deficiencies in medical care.
“What happened to you is far from what we want for Denmark. We will never forget what happened to you. What happened to you will never happen again,” assured the minister.
The reshuffles in the Valencian region brought Mar Gómez to the regional parliament
There is no obstacle that cannot be overcome. Mar Gómez is set to become the first parliamentarian with Down syndrome in the Valencian Parliament. She has been in the public service for 26 years and is now a member of the executive committee of the Partido Popular.
“We can take on our own challenges and chase our dreams just like anyone else,” she says. “The important thing is to love,” she adds, encouraging other people with Down syndrome to take the first step in the fight for their rights.”
The appointments to government positions in the autonomous community of Valencia will allow Mar Galcerán, the current secretary of the association of people with different abilities of the PPCV, to enter
The President of the Generalitat Valenciana, Carlos Mazón, pointed out on social media, after learning of the information published by El Mundo, that it is “extremely good news for politics” and a sign that “obstacles are overcome.” He welcomed the future Member of the majority group in Les Corts.
The President of the Generalitat Valenciana, Carlos Mazón, pointed out on social media, after learning of the information published by El Mundo, that it is “extremely good news for politics” and a sign that “obstacles are overcome.” He welcomed the future Member of the majority group in Les Corts.In the regional elections on May 28, the PP elected 15 Members for the electoral district of Valencia, although the formation of the Council under the presidency of this party led to some losses in the parliamentary group of the People’s Party, as the seat is incompatible with the high office of the second or third director in the Generalitat de Valencia.
The President of the Generalitat Valenciana, Carlos Mazón, pointed out on social media, after learning of the information published by El Mundo, that it is “extremely good news for politics” and a sign that “obstacles are overcome.” He welcomed the future Member of the majority group in Les Corts.In the regional elections on May 28, the PP elected 15 Members for the electoral district of Valencia, although the formation of the Council under the presidency of this party led to some losses in the parliamentary group of the People’s Party, as the seat is incompatible with the high office of the second or third director in the Generalitat de Valencia.
The latest change was the appointment of the substitute, Ernesto Fernández, as the general director of the Entitat Valenciana d’Habitatge i Sòl (EVha), which was published this Thursday in the Official Gazette of the Generalitat and takes effect immediately.
It would have to be replaced by number 19 on the list, Maribel Sáez, but she is also the general director, in this case, of the Commerce Council.
In this way, as soon as Ernesto Fernández formalizes his resignation from his position in Les Corts, the position will be filled by number 20 on the candidacy, Mar Galcerán, who started working in the public service twenty-six years ago, thirteen of which have been in the Ministry of the Presidency of the Generalitat.
In 2010, she passed the first competitive examinations adapted for people with intellectual disabilities held in Valencia and worked in the Department of Social Welfare and later in the Department of Equality and Social Inclusion, and today she works in a junior position in the Health Department.
Mar Galcerán started in politics at a very young age, with the help of the Youth of the PP, and today she is a member of the Autonomous Executive Committee of the PP of the Valencian community, as the secretary of the area of people with different abilities.
The future Member of the People’s Party assures that she “will work to serve the citizens” and encourages “anyone to fight for their dreams.”
Every individual, without exception, has the right to life. This should be considered a given. In recent years, significant steps have been taken regarding people with disabilities, as society tends to become more informed about these issues, developing greater sensitivity and understanding.
What many may not know is that in Cyprus, there are supported living residences for individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism. To shed light on this significant work of social integration taking place in these residences, Litsa Charalambous spoke to CITY. We met her at a residence for individuals with autism located in Limassol. Ms. Charalambous studied occupational therapy, pursued a postgraduate degree in equality and education issues, and later completed her doctoral thesis, which focused on the assessment and training of individuals with disabilities for their inclusion in the labor market. Subsequently, she attended numerous European conferences abroad but felt that the knowledge she gained couldn’t be effectively utilized in Cyprus.
Every individual, without exception, has the right to life. This should be considered a given. In recent years, significant steps have been taken regarding people with disabilities, as society tends to become more informed about these issues, developing greater sensitivity and understanding.
What many may not know is that in Cyprus, there are supported living residences for individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism. To shed light on this significant work of social integration taking place in these residences, Litsa Charalambous spoke to CITY. We met her at a residence for individuals with autism located in Limassol. Ms. Charalambous studied occupational therapy, pursued a postgraduate degree in equality and education issues, and later completed her doctoral thesis, which focused on the assessment and training of individuals with disabilities for their inclusion in the labor market. Subsequently, she attended numerous European conferences abroad but felt that the knowledge she gained couldn’t be effectively utilized in Cyprus.
The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities represents a milestone in global history. It clarifies how all the rights and freedoms apply to these individuals with the aim of ensuring the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights. It also outlines the obligations of United Nations member states and suggests measures to satisfy the rights of persons with disabilities.
Following an evaluation of Cyprus on how well it complies with this convention, approximately 70 negative points were identified, leading the Cypriot government to essentially establish supported living accommodations.
From 2014 to 2020, eleven new supported living accommodations were established in all the provinces of Cyprus. After a new announcement, another seven accommodations were put into operation in March 2020. Then, in September 2021, four more homes were opened, two for individuals with autism in Limassol and one home for five individuals with intellectual disabilities in the Larnaca province.
“We bear full responsibility from the beginning to set up these homes, but the state covers the financial support through European funds. The organization is closely monitored and supervised. Every month, we provide a report on each individual, their visits, when they leave the house, and the therapies they receive. The social inclusion department of the Ministry of Labor also visits the homes twice a week to ensure the proper functioning of the residence.”
Difficult cases
These homes were called upon to manage the most difficult cases. Authorities had in mind three specific individuals who were very challenging to handle; they were moved from place to place, and no solution could be found.
“We are proud that these individuals came to us, and despite there being no way to manage them, we succeeded. These are individuals who have not learned to have functional relationships. Families reach a dead end, and with our supervision, they consider it a miracle because they now see a different person. The change in their behavior is staggering. It is a great joy for us, albeit with a lot of effort, to help individuals with autism,” emphasized Ms. Charalambous.
The approach they use in these homes is called ‘positive behavior support.’ In other words, there is no punishment; you set aside the negatives, ignore them, and focus only on small, positive behaviors to reinforce. With this model, you highlight positive communication methods, which, as it seems, works in such cases.
Their daily life
People with autism living in these homes follow a routine, which is very important for them: for example, they wake up in the morning, take a shower, and brush their teeth. Furthermore, there are person-centered programs. Sessions with psychologists or visits from someone involved in the arts, for instance, are conducted to work with each individual separately. Activities are provided by specialists as well as by the staff as part of socialization. In some cases, staff members accompany individuals outside the home to eat at a place they like.
“We want to make their lives as normal as possible. Of course, this changes depending on each person’s psychological state. When someone doesn’t feel so good psychologically, the decision is made to go outside for a walk. We look at each individual separately, their mood, and their desires,” noted Ms. Charalambous.
As Ms. Charalambous mentioned, the many organized activities resemble an institution, something they want to avoid. In general, the goal of these homes is to transition from Institutional Care to Care in the Community, which means deinstitutionalizing people with disabilities, many of whom lived in closed care units.
In the home where individuals with autism reside, 95% of the activities that take place are individual. However, sometimes they can all be together, always under the supervision of the staff, for example, in the living room of the house to play a group game.
“The fact that they are housemates does not mean they have to become friends. We certainly have the goodwill for them to have good relationships with each other. However, we will pursue a group activity only if they themselves desire it and if such a group activity brings them joy. If it causes them stress, why should they do it?” is what it states.
“The house is quite spacious, with several rooms, and each person has their own room. ‘Now, after years, they know each other, they know who their housemates are, but they don’t bother each other,'” is what it says.
On the contrary, the situation in the homes for people with intellectual disabilities in Larnaca is entirely different. There, they live like a family and all have their coffee together. However, as mentioned to us, this is not the primary goal. “‘The main concern is to have a good quality of life and to do things they themselves desire,'” emphasized.
The goals
Asked about the goals she has set, she mentioned that regarding the professional aspect, the goal is for this organization to grow, as there are thoughts to take on more homes.
“I am someone who loves what I do very much, and I like to meet needs wherever they exist. I certainly study things thoroughly before taking any action so that when the time comes to implement them, I know I can accomplish them in the best possible way, as I committed from the beginning,” she said.
Her desire is for the “transition” program to become a recognized educational college. “I don’t believe I will change the world. But we all have an obligation in our own field to do whatever we can to take a step to change our surroundings,” she emphasized.
Message for the future
Ms. Charalambous views positive developments regarding the rights of people with disabilities but expressed her dissatisfaction with the promotion of models for children with “special abilities,” which she considers discriminatory.
“It’s not about special abilities. These are individuals like us who have some disability. This is how we should say things. It’s called a disability; they are not people with special needs. In conventions and records recognized worldwide, the terms used are these. We say intellectual disability or physical disability. And certainly, you don’t characterize people by their disability but by their personality,” she concluded.
Since September 11th, when schools opened, until today, in the special education unit of the primary school in Limassol, parents and the teacher of the eight children have been waiting in vain for an escort.
The latest update-commitment states that today (Wednesday) a companion is expected to go to school for the first day, but the parents are fed up with the promises, emphasizing that ‘one escort is not enough for eight children.’ The School District of Limassol is aware of the issue and fully agrees with the parents, with its president, Dinos Ellinas, stating to ‘Π’ that the District simply implements the decisions of the Ministry, while sending a message about the need to fill other positions.
“Unfortunately, we have been experiencing a mockery here for ten days since the schools opened,” says Nadia, a mother of a first-grade elementary school child, which affects her child. “We have reached the point of wondering whether our children should go to school or whether it is better to keep them at home for everyone’s safety,” she adds with evident disappointment. “They tell us every day that someone will come as an escort tomorrow. The teacher of our children is a hero who manages to cope with this situation, but she can’t go on any longer.” As she explained to us, this is a Special Education class where all eight children are on the autism spectrum, which significantly affects their daily routines. “These children cannot go to the toilet, wear diapers, do not speak to others, cannot take care of themselves, they need special treatment to be able to participate in the school’s daily activities. We are not asking for anything more, just to provide 2-3 escorts so that they can go to school normally.”
As has been reported to “Π”, the same situation prevails in at least two other similar units in Limassol, which still remain without escorts. The problems caused are enormous, as teachers are forced to perform escort duties during their free periods, taking children to the toilet or feeding and caring for them, which is not their responsibility. At the same time, there is a risk for the other children, as it is extremely difficult for an educator to cope, especially with issues that are the responsibility of escorts.
The president of the School Board, Dinos Ellinas, in communication we had with him, acknowledged the serious problem that exists. “It’s a paradox we face every year, even though we know the need for escorts, the Ministry of Education always approves fewer positions, and afterwards we try to find solutions with additional positions,” he commented initially, adding that “we are tormenting parents, children, and educators.” This issue must be resolved by covering all the real needs, he said, emphasizing that “as a School Board, whenever we have approval for a position, we pay for it immediately.”
Timely remark by the Senior Vice Rector of the University of Nicosia during an event in Larnaca, where the possibility that Mental Health could be the next Pandemic was emphasized.
“Mental health is one of the most significant challenges for the healthcare systems of EU member states,” emphasized Professor Konstantinos N. Fellas, Senior Vice Rector of the University of Nicosia, in a timely presentation during an event in Larnaca titled “We Can Do Better: Mental Health in the Workplace.” Professor Fellas clarified that according to credible reports, mental disorders, especially depression, constitute a major cause of disability worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, 5% of the global population lives with depression, with women, young people, and the elderly being more susceptible.”
In his presentation on the topic “The Psychosocial Legacy of the Pandemic on Youth,” Professor Fellas initially provided a summary of the frightening and unprecedented impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic that affected large segments of the Cypriot population and severely tested everyone, creating the impression that “we were now trapped in an extended nightmarish ordeal.” He spoke of anger, despair, uncertainty, fear, loneliness, and social exclusion that emerged as a result of the pandemic, while noting that the scientific community had warned about the short-term and long-term consequences on our mental health.
He reminded that a nationwide study conducted in 2022 by the University of Nicosia and the Cyprus Youth Organization revealed various negative emotions prevailing among the youth as a consequence of the pandemic. “A thousand young people aged 14-35 from all over Cyprus participated in the survey. 46% of them reported that their mental health deteriorated due to the pandemic,” he said. Furthermore, he added that 71% of young people aged 14-17 declared that their mental health was adversely affected, while 29% of the same age group expressed the need for psychological support since the beginning of the pandemic.
He didn’t fail to address the negative experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals during the pandemic. “A scientific study by the University of Nicosia and ACCEPT organization documented anxiety, melancholy, depression, loneliness, panic attacks, and suicidal tendencies. They felt ‘disconnected’ from the LGBTQ+ community, admitting that they struggled without this vital support network,” he emphasized.
Professor Fellas spoke about what children, their families, and educational staff faced upon their return to school, emphasizing that school is an ideal space to create bridges of communication and dialogue with children.
“We must speak to them honestly and treat them like young adults. Strengthening the mental resilience of children and cultivating optimistic thoughts and values are collective tasks that undoubtedly require the cooperation not only of educators and parents but the entire school, the relevant ministry, and various relevant bodies to help children adjust to the post-pandemic era,” he suggested. As he pointed out, adequate support from the state, the activation of appropriate structures, and the development of supportive programs are essential to heal the wounds caused by the pandemic.
He elaborated on the harsh consequences of the pandemic not only in Cyprus but worldwide, especially for young people whose lives were disrupted, filled with pervasive fear, forced isolation, imposed loss of their freedoms, sudden disruption of their school routines, distancing from their hobbies, and beloved friends. He concluded his speech by emphasizing that we must make education and training an absolute priority, reevaluating and reconsidering the intended role of the educational system beyond success in examinations, seeking to reconnect education with the mental world of young people.
“The legacy we owe to the new generation is the education to empower young men and women to be autonomous, casting off indifference and disdain, and turning towards cultivating a strong desire for progress and development,” he stressed.
The event where Professor Fellas spoke was organized by the Europe Direct Information Center of Larnaca Municipality and the Delegation of the European Commission in Cyprus, under the patronage of the Member of the European Parliament and rapporteur for the European Year of Skills, Loukas Fourlas.
Source: παιδεία news
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