-
.
- Ελληνικά
We are delighted to launch today an important measure for our culture, the Youth Culture Card.
From today, the Card is ready to contribute to the realization of our goal of cultural education and the promotion of citizenship to young people who have reached the age of 18.
To begin with, I would like to mention that the Deputy Ministry of Culture, adopting the programme of the administration of the President of the Republic Mr. Nicos Christodoulides, in cooperation with the Cyprus Youth Organization (CYYO), had immediately since last spring launched a competition for the Youth Culture Card. This project was awarded to the Bank of Cyprus, which is responsible for issuing and managing the Card.
The Youth Culture Card is a prepaid plastic card (prepaid type) to which the amount of €220 is credited. I would like to mention here that €200 comes from the State Budget, while €20 is credited unselfishly by the Bank of Cyprus, which contributes this amount as part of its social responsibility, and we thank it very much for this.
Referring to the characteristics of the Youth Culture Card and its benefits, I would like to say that.
- The Card, which can be issued at any time during the beneficiary's 18th year, will be valid for 12 months from the date of issue.
- The Card, which can be issued at any time during the beneficiary's 18th year, will be valid for 12 months from the date of issue. Our aim is that, with this card in hand, our young people will be able to come into contact with various forms of art and contemporary cultural creation.
- By using the Card, young people will have the opportunity to attend cultural events and visit cultural venues such as concerts, theatre productions, dance performances, art and other exhibitions, film screenings, arts festivals, museums and archaeological sites.
- By using the Card, young people will have the opportunity to attend cultural events and visit cultural venues such as concerts, theatre productions, dance performances, art and other exhibitions, film screenings, arts festivals, museums and archaeological sites.
The card is configured in such a way that it can only be used for payments at venues that fall under the categories of theatre, cinema, dance performances, visual arts and cultural venues in the MCC (Merchant Category Code). I note, in addition, that it is possible to use the card for purchases on internet platforms (online ticketing services) for participation in cultural events.
Beneficiaries can apply for the card from today via the BoC Mobile App or even by physically attending any Bank of Cyprus branch, presenting the necessary documents in accordance with the Bank's procedures.
Applicants will receive their card by post at the address indicated in the application. They will also be able to collect it from any Bank of Cyprus branch the applicant requests in their application.
The card code will be available through the BoC Mobile App, while the card code can be changed through the ATM machines.
It will also be possible for the 18-year-old to be informed via Internet Banking and the BoC Mobile App of both the account balance and the status of transactions.
For any queries or clarifications, please visit the website of the Ministry of State Department of Culture www.culture.gov.cy/kartapolitismou where there is a contact number of an Officer of the Ministry of State Department of Culture for further information.
The Youth Culture Card is a measure that is part of our strategic pursuit to promote cultural literacy. Bringing ourselves and our children into contact with the culture of our country is of vital importance, as it puts us in touch with the identity of our country and the contemporary manifestations of our culture. It shapes our education and enhances the critical thinking, development and creativity of our society.
If we can get our young people to embrace this 'opportunity', which opens a door to culture, then we will have succeeded in enabling our young people to broaden their cultural literacy, enrich their education and develop their critical thinking.
As previously stated, this measure is being implemented on a pilot basis with more than 10,000 young people aged 18 as beneficiaries. The age of 18 is considered the year of adulthood in which young people are legally responsible for many aspects of their lives. The Youth Culture Card aims to encourage them to get in touch with the culture, arts and cultural wealth of our country, having the freedom to choose different cultural events that correspond to their interests and in different areas of culture.
The aim of the Ministry of State is to develop and improve this initiative in order to offer even more to culture and our young people.
In addition, with this measure we are strengthening cultural institutions by indirectly supporting their work. This falls within the broader framework of our strategy to further encourage cultural creation.
Before concluding, I would like to address the Cyprus Youth Organisation and thank them for their excellent cooperation. Special thanks to the Bank of Cyprus, which, I repeat, as part of its social responsibility, has gone beyond the terms of the contract to provide additional support to this effort by subsidising each card with an additional €20.
I would be ungrateful if I did not thank my predecessor, Deputy Minister of State Mr. Michalis Hatzigiannis, who laid the foundations for structuring the framework of the Youth Culture Card, as well as the Director General of the Deputy Ministry, Ms Emmanouela Lamprianidis, the Education Officer Ms Marina Tryfonidou, the Senior Coordination Officer of the General Directorate of Development Ms Toula Patsali and all the Officers who have worked and will continue to work for this measure.
We thank the President of the Republic of Cyprus not only for his presence here, but also for proposing the establishment of this institution in his programme of governance, which demonstrates that the Government emphasizes culture, recognizing the value it can add to society, to education and to the life of each individual.
Before I give the floor to the other speakers, the CEO of the Bank of Cyprus, Mr. Panicos Nikolaou and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Youth Organization of Cyprus, Mr. Kleanthi Koutsofta, allow me to show you some of the audiovisual material that has been produced as part of an information campaign that will be launched today. The campaign will be disseminated through various media. Our aim, in cooperation with the ONEC, is to inform as many young people as possible to embrace this measure.
Contents of this article including associated images are owned by PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
Source
