As Christmas approaches, Rev'd Maria Evangelou, the Cyprus Outreach Coordinator, continues a tradition first begun more than ten years ago of taking Christmas gifts to the children at the Kofinou Centre for Asylum Seekers.
Together with other helpers from the cathedral in Nicosia, vehicles were packed with handmade presents and purchased gifts, from the parishes of Paphos, Limassol, Dherynia, Ayia Napa and Nicosia.
The state-run Kofinou centre opened in 2004 to host a maximum of 120 people. A decade later, as demand increased, the authorities increased its capacity, and today the camp can be home to as many as 400 people.
Now, a new centre called Limnes (Lakes in Greek) is nearing completion and will no doubt offer a new challenge for Christmas donors next year.
When migrants arrive irregularly they are first assessed at the Pounara Centre at Kokkinotrimithia, near Nicosia. 'Limnes' is described by the Government as a Hospitality Centre for applicants for international protection, to which applicants coming from safe countries of origin are referred after being released from 'Pournara', where they have received the primary decision of the Asylum Service on their application for international protection.
Limnes, like Kofinou, will be an open facility and its residents are entitled to free movement both outside and inside it.
The work is expected to be complete by the end of this year with 1000 beds.
Meanwhile, at Kofinou, and with the cooperation and help of Ms. Afroditi Tsouri, Remunerated External Expert, gifts were handed out to children from countries such as Syria and Afghanistan.
Maria said,
They were so happy to receive these presents, it was such a positive experience to share with them. Between Advent 3 and 4, we felt both joy and love.
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