Created in 2016, CCIF Cyprus supports education and research for social inclusion of all citizens, including youth with fewer opportunities, disabilities and immigrants. Our purpose is to provide an enabling space to people from inauspicious environments and equip them with necessary digital skills to access today’s labour market, while increasing their chances at an equal treatment. At CCIF Cyprus, we try to fuel the dialogue between local communities to address the different fears many have, as we deem it a necessary step to build an inclusive and peaceful society. We have made it our goal to help communities understand that despite the difference in the manifested speech one might hold, the underlying values and feelings are not only equally valid, but also very often the same, in an attempt to connect groups with – and help them relate to – each other.
We are heavily involved in the integration process of immigrants in Pafos, offering them several times a week Greek, English, computer literacy classes, as well as drama classes and sport, so that they can develop their skills and capacity of expression. CCIF Cyprus helped immigrants and refugees learn languages to be better positioned not only to find work, but also to better communicate with their Cypriot counterparts for which sometimes different or foreign can seem rather threatening.