With cyclamen from the land of Rizakarpasos, trapped pupils and students thanked the Minister of Education, the president of the Limassol POED and the President of the Limassol School Board for the donation of computers that will facilitate them, as mentioned, in teaching lessons at all levels on Saturday of education.
A total of fifty computers were given with the kind sponsorship of the Limassol FOED and the Limassol School Ephorate during a ceremony that took place on Saturday morning at the Ministry of Education, under the auspices and in the presence of the Minister, Athena Michailidou who, addressing the children who came as families today from the occupied Rizakarpaso she said excitedly: “It is our honor to have you here today. I wish we could have been there. There is no greater lust and desire for us than to be there because that is where we feel our heart beats.” “I also come from Kyrenia. I experienced the persecution but we were not strong enough to stay there ourselves”, said the Minister of Kerynia.
Thanking POED and the Limassol School Board for the donation, he said this is the least they can do. “We want you to know that we are here for you. For us it is important not only that you are there and live decently, but that we do everything we can to make the education in your schools as high quality as possible.” They have a plan, a plan, he continued, in collaboration with the Education Service Commission, the School Board and the head of the Office of the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Anna Aristotelous, to improve things. “Children are not only entitled, but entitled much more than any other child to equal access to education, better learning outcomes, opportunities and exits to Universities or wherever else they wish, or to the labor market”.
Mrs. Michailidou continued, they have had several meetings and have fully understood what needs to be done and she expressed her commitment that there will be better conditions in the schools of Rizokarpasos. He thanked everyone for the effort being made in the schools of Rizokarpasos and stated that “for me it is the best Saturday morning, to see this image, children from Rizokarpasos holding cyclamen. Thank you very much”.
Dora Sergiou, President of the Limassol FOED, said that the computers for the children of Rizokarpasos are part of a large sponsorship that they secured with the Limassol School Tax Office from a private company and its purpose is to strengthen the educational work and provide equal access for all children in education. POED and teachers always stand together in any effort made to improve the quality of education and especially in efforts to strengthen access to education, he noted.
He expressed the belief that this donation will help the educational journey of all the children of Rizokarpasos, whether they are elementary school students, middle school students, or students. “We want you to know that all of us stand by your struggle and want to contribute to your effort to stay and live in dignity on your ancestral land. We admire you. You are a living example of patriotism and fighting spirit.” He also wished that their next meeting would be in “free Rizokarpasos – and we hope that we will not say this wish for another 50 years – in a free and reunited Cyprus”.
Dinos Hellinas, President of the Limassol School Tax Office, expressed his great joy at the delivery of the computers to the children of Rizokarpasos and the wish to find imitators of companies, such as the one in Limassol that proceeded with the large donation of a total of 1000 computers to needy students in the city and province of Limassol , of which 50 were given to the children of Rizokarpasos. “It would be good if this event took place in Rizakarpasos and it would be an honor for us to be there with you and see the conditions under which it takes place, from logistical and other support.” He expressed the hope that the visit to Rizakarpasos will take place soon.
Michalis Mikelis, President of the Rizakarpasos School Tax Office, stated that everyone's purpose and desire was for this tradition to take place in Rizokarpasos and in the schools, so that all the students and their parents would know each other and go to the monastery of Apostolos Andreas, “patron of Karpasia and founder of Rizokarpasos high school” for a pilgrimage “and may we all get strength. Unfortunately, however, the continued ban on our entry into schools since last May, on the other hand, they did not allow us to do so.” After a long time of waiting, without solving this issue, they decided – he added – that the delivery should be made to the Ministry of the Interior. On behalf of the Rizokarpas School Tax Office, the community councils and the organized bodies, Mr. Mikelis expressed his heartfelt thanks to the Limassol POED and the Limassol School Tax Office for the donation.
“This act of yours is of great importance to us, not material but moral. Because with this act of yours you are sending us the message that even after 50 years of occupation, there are people of yours and you, who do not forget, know and remember that there, at the easternmost end of our Cyprus, in Rizokarpasos, in Agia Triada and in Agios Andronikos, 300 Greek Cypriots remain, despite the difficulties, with the hope of the reunification of our homeland. you gave us strength to hold on to our place as long as we can. Thank you”.
Mr. Mikelis also expressed the thanks of Anna Aristotelous, who was unable to attend due to commitments.
The computers were given to the children by Mrs. Michailidou, Mrs. Sergiou and Mr. Ellinas, the children reciprocated with three bouquets of cyclamen and flowers brought from Rizokarpasos and everyone took a picture together.
Yannis Papapetrou, head of the parish of Agia Triada – Rizokarpasos and Andreas Chronias, head of the parish of Lekos, were also present at the event.
The portable electronic computers were delivered to students who during the 2022-23 school year attended the occupied schools of Rizokarpasos and to students of the occupied community who attended Higher Education Institutions, during the same academic year.
Source: KYPE
