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Gentlemen and ladies officials of the state,
Gentlemen and ladies representatives of the Steering Committee of the PSCEU and the ESSE,
Dear Volunteers of the Volunteer Corps and the Pancyprian Organizations of the PACEE
Dear representatives of companies who excel in Corporate Volunteerism and Voluntary Service
Dear representatives of companies who excel in Corporate Volunteerism and Voluntary Service,
Allow me to convey to you the greetings and deep appreciation of my husband, who, unfortunately, is unable to be with us on time due to another emergency commitment.
It is our great honour and pleasure to host today at the Presidential Palace the established annual Volunteer Reception, as a minimum sign of appreciation to all of you, who have transformed the concept of selfless giving into an attitude of life and are part of the humanitarian chain of solidarity with our fellow human beings and our country.
The establishment of Volunteer Day on 5 December, for all the people around the world who are always on the front line in times of crisis and emergencies, is a very good opportunity to express our appreciation and gratitude towards the valuable contribution of all volunteers, all of you. It is a valuable role that you play above any personal pursuit, committed to the common good, in areas or issues that need a collective and immediate response, supporting the work of the competent authorities and public services in fulfilling their mission, filling any gaps that may exist over time or addressing distortions.
All of you who are being honoured tonight are a shining example of your commendable voluntary work, which is based on cooperation and solidarity. Your action creates new models and networks of cooperation, extending existing social capital and sends a strong message of awareness to all citizens for each of us to take a more active social role. Thank you very much for showing us the way.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Volunteering has deep roots in Cyprus with a long-standing presence and contribution especially in the issues of vulnerable population groups, a sector with which it is mainly identified. However, volunteering and active citizenship concern horizontally all sectors of society, in which we need to invest in order to build a model state. By investing in volunteering, you invest in an inclusive society in which all members live with dignity, acceptance, justice and equal opportunities. We are honoured that our country is among the very few countries in the EU that have a comprehensive policy on civil society and the activities of the voluntary movement. This is mainly due to all of you who believe in selfless contribution and the values that volunteerism stands for, translating words into deeds.
I would like to express the State's thanks to the President and members of the Pancyprian Coordinating Council for Volunteerism, old and existing, for the half century of contribution which highlights the role of volunteerism in our country covering the whole spectrum of social life, filling and covering existing gaps of the state.
I would like to express the State's thanks to the President and members of the Pancyprian Coordinating Council for Volunteerism, old and existing, for the half century of contribution which highlights the role of volunteerism in our country covering the whole spectrum of social life, filling and covering existing gaps of the state.
The will of the present government is to preserve this valuable fund of solidarity in society, strengthening in every possible way your noble and valuable activity, contributing in general to the well-being of our society. It is our duty not only to strengthen the action of volunteers so that they are more efficient and more effective in their efforts to manage any challenges and difficult situations, but first and foremost to ensure that assistance is targeted and coordinated so that all vulnerable groups in all provinces of Cyprus, towns and villages are covered by volunteers and the state and that there is no overlap or waste of resources.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Each of us, from our own post, in our own temporary capacity, can be useful to our fellow human beings and beneficial to society. This is what I try to do as the wife of the President of the Republic of Cyprus, but first and foremost as a mother and an active citizen.
The Government honours, highlights and supports such activities and attitudes because they remind us that well-established and prosperous societies are based on social solidarity, the selfless voluntary contribution of man to his fellow man. Because through them we build a value system that honours man and our society. And I feel grateful because I have had the pleasure of meeting so many people, including so many women, who volunteer quietly, unsung heroes/heroines, in parishes, villages and cities. In conclusion, I would like to reassure you that for the present government, which follows a people-centred approach and is governed by social sensitivity, the voluntary movement is a valuable partner and companion in the efforts to mitigate social inequalities and to build a modern, responsible and participatory state.
In conclusion, I would like to reassure you that the voluntary movement is a valuable partner and companion in the efforts to mitigate social inequalities and to build a modern, responsible and participatory state. We are confident that civil society will continue to work in a supportive manner to serve new and future needs of society, always with the appropriate support from the state, so that together, through synergies, we can find solutions that will serve the needs of our fellow citizens to the maximum extent and build a more modern and just state.
Thank you very much. Remember that we leave this life with what we have given and not with what we have received.
(RM/EP/ASP)
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Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
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