Thank you for your invitation to address today's charity event organized by the Strovolos Philoptochos Brotherhood in memory of our beloved Zeta Emilianidou.
Let me first congratulate you for the help and support you provide to our fellow human beings facing various problems, proving that the presence of volunteers is strong and noticeable in Cypriot society, and their contribution in addressing social problems and maintaining social cohesion is undoubtedly very important.
The activity of the Strovolos Philoptochos Brotherhood, since its foundation on January 20, 1951, highlights and promotes the spiritual wealth of its members and demonstrates the importance of voluntary contribution in managing the needs of our society. Volunteerism is an attitude of life with particular values, such as charity, solidarity, social justice and social participation.
It is worth noting that the Strovolos Philoptochos was the first charitable organization founded in Strovolos and embraced the people of Strovolos with much love, receiving back the same love and support. In the early years of its establishment, it provided necessities to needy children such as milk, rations, shoes and school uniforms, so that no child would feel disadvantaged. I congratulate the Strovolos Philoptochos that after the invasion and crisis of 2013 it still supports 33 needy families monthly, and also at Christmas and Easter it makes sure that they have the best possible holidays without deprivation. Its altruistic action does not stop here, as it subsidizes patients to go abroad for treatment, as well as for surgeries performed in Cyprus by specialist doctors.
The increase in the need for social support in recent years has shown the necessity for the Government to proceed swiftly with the reform of the welfare and social solidarity system, with the aim of providing every citizen with the necessities of life, based on criteria relating to income, property, family composition and any specialised needs, a successful project resulting from the hard work of the late Zeta Aimylianidou.
In parallel with the implementation of the EEE legislation, the policy on care issues was revised in order to improve the quality of life and ensure the social inclusion of people who are beneficiaries of EEE, including the elderly, through the subsidy of their identified needs for care services, a policy that is now being continued along the path charted by the late Zeta Zeta, through the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare.
We continue, in parallel, our efforts, through the continued promotion of appropriate policies and measures, to further reduce unemployment, enhance the employability of the unemployed and workers, support the creation of new and quality jobs, improve welfare systems and promote social cohesion, and modernise institutions and practices in labour matters.
The transition from unemployment to employment or training is promoted by the Ministry through the implementation of active policy measures in the form of Incentive Plans for recruitment and/or training of the unemployed, with a particular focus on the youth group.
Nevertheless, the role of the state is complemented by the work of Non-Governmental Organizations, which now constitute an organized system of social offer and valuable partners of the state.
I assure you that the Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance will continue to show undiminished interest in Non-Governmental Organizations and provide support for their work.
In conclusion, allow me once again to thank you for the invitation you have extended to me and to congratulate you for your initiative and for the interest you show in improving the quality of life of our fellow human beings.
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Note: The speech was read on behalf of the Minister by the Director General of the Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance, Mr Andreas Zachariadis.
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