To ensure higher quality services to citizens, cooperation between voluntary organisations and all local bodies and the state is necessary, said on Tuesday evening the Deputy Minister of Social Welfare, Anastasia Anthousi, expressing the state's thanks to the Limassol District Volunteer Coordinating Council (VCC).
In her address at an event of the Limassol ASC, on the occasion of the International Volunteer Day, which was celebrated on December 5, Ms Anthoussi said that the new and ever-changing social needs require flexibility and harmonious cooperation between all bodies working in the field of social care.
"We believe that cooperation of voluntary organisations with all local bodies and the State is necessary to ensure better quality services to citizens," she said, adding that the efforts of the Deputy Ministry are also directed in this direction.
In particular, he continued, recognizing the contribution of organized civil society, the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare, through the State Aid Schemes administered by the Social Welfare Services, supports the efforts of Non-Governmental Organizations to develop and provide social care programmes.
By way of example, he said that in 2021 a total of 281 programmes received financial support to cover part of their operating costs and other needs, totalling in excess of €12.7 million.
For the current year, she indicated, the final total amount to be granted is expected to exceed €14.5 million, while she expressed her satisfaction that most of the programmes have continued their operation from previous years and her interest in developing new programmes in order to meet emerging needs of the Cypriot society.
For 2023, according to Ms Anthoussi, a budget of €18 million has been included in the Deputy Ministry's budget for the subsidization of social care programmes by Local Authorities, Non-Governmental Organizations and other bodies.
Finally, he assured that the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare will continue to provide all possible support to voluntary organisations "so that together we can contribute to the social development and progress of our country".
On behalf of the Limassol Municipality, Mayor Nicos Nicolaides, after thanking the Limassol NSSC for its enormous contribution to the city's society and the citizens in need of support and assistance, noted that, on an institutional level, it is absolutely necessary to unite and coordinate the forces of the state, local government, the church and social institutions in order to mitigate social problems.
"On the part of the Limassol Municipality, it is our conviction that the Local Government can and should play a primary role in these issues, because, like the church, it is an institution that is closer to people and their daily needs," he added.
Saying that the Limassol Municipality has, in recent years, set as its goal the upgrading of its involvement and the expansion of its social care programmes, he recalled the creation of the Emergency Centre and the Centre for the Support and Reintegration of Homeless People SHEDIA, the completion of the Adult Centre at Filellinon Street and the Multifunctional Social Services Centre at Misiaouli - Kavazoglou.
Regarding the project for the construction of 600 affordable housing units in the areas of Agios Nikolaos and Agios Ioannis, for which there is an agreement with the COAG, Mr. Nicolaides expressed the hope that any obstacles to the financing of the project by the COAG will soon be overcome. He also stressed that the commitment of the Municipality remains undiminished for the project and that he would like to believe that the same applies to the government.
Finally, he assured that the cooperation between the Limassol Municipality and the Limassol NCCC will be preserved and further strengthened for the good of the city.
Addressing the event, where the value of volunteerism and the work carried out by the Limassol District Volunteer Coordinating Council was underlined, was delivered by the Village Bishop of Amathus Nicholas and the President of the Council, Stavros Olympios.
Androulla Savvidou, Asousena Sofokleous, Vassos Koumbaros, Ritsa Filippou, Socrates Pavlou and Chrystalla Kythraiotis were honoured for their voluntary action.
Source: KYPE
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