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It is with great pleasure and honour that I am among you today. The service to people with disabilities is a work of inestimable value to society as a whole, so I congratulate you for the work you do, which is truly commendable.
The Community of St. Luke the Medic, since 2008, has been working with a vision to offer people with disabilities a warm and safe haven, as well as their loved ones relief and support in their daily lives. The Community is a family that works with faith, mutual support and love and puts each member at the centre of its care and concern.
The aim of the Community is to create a multi-purpose, well-staffed and well-equipped place of support services, where people with disabilities will receive the necessary care, treatment and productive employment and recreation, while around the main building there will be houses where these people can stay permanently or temporarily.
I would like to stress that in order to achieve this objective, in addition to its own resources, the Community has secured funding from the EEA and Norwegian Grants, as well as from the European Regional Development Fund through the Interreg Greece-Cyprus "Energize" programme. Under this programme, the operation of Energy Communities is being developed, with the ultimate aim of promoting energy saving projects in public buildings.
The benefits of the Programme are multiple, first and foremost ensuring the protection of people with disabilities in the community, as they will live in an energy friendly and accessible environment, with all the necessary safety features, such as specially constructed floors, which absorb vibrations, as well as isolation of any external sounds.
I particularly congratulate you for combining the provision of your support services with sustainability, contributing to the effort of the major pan-European goal of the Green Transition as well as to the national targets for the reduction of greenhouse emissions, which is one of the main pillars of the Governance Plan of the President of the Republic Mr.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Ministry of Social Welfare has as its mission to serve our vulnerable citizens. Strengthening and expanding Day Centres, increasing employment opportunities for people with disabilities, ensuring their independent living, supporting and empowering children and adults with disabilities are our priorities.
Building on the significant results of the actions already implemented over the last decade, especially after the ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities by our country, and recognizing that there is much room for further improvement, our vision and ambition is to build and add more value and improve the quality of life of people with disabilities.
All departments of the State Ministry of Social Welfare will work to upgrade and further expand the services offered by the State to persons with disabilities. Our immediate goals are to map existing structures and services, strengthen existing Day Centres, establish new ones where they are needed, expand the network of supportive housing for independent living, introduce new services such as Personal Assistant and Counsellor, increase opportunities for employment, recreation and participation in society.
In this effort, we recognise you, the non-governmental organisations, as valuable partners of the state. We wish to strengthen and empower voluntary organisations and we look forward to maintaining a good cooperation for the benefit of persons with disabilities.
In conclusion, I would like to congratulate you once again for your contribution and assure you that the Government has persons with disabilities at the centre of its attention.
I am sure that you will continue your remarkable charity work with the same zeal.
Thank you.
(ΘΘ/EΠ)
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