The award of the European citizen is just a medal in the chest and I wish it were euros to buy food for the whole world that needs them, said the renowned Limassol actor Costas Vichas, on the occasion of yesterday's decision of the European Parliament to award him the “European Citizen” award, for 2020, in relation to his humanitarian action in the Cypriot society.
Mr. Vichas thanked the European Parliament and the AKEL MEP George Georgiou who proposed his candidacy, as well as all the Cypriot MEPs who supported the candidacy, as well as the former MEP Neoklis Silikiotis.
At the same time, he underlined that this award reflects all the charitable work done with the help of the Center for Social Services Andreas Sophocleous (KEPAKY) and his wife and Chairman of the Board of the Center, Assousena Sophocleous, Aitreni Grami , the athletes, gymnasts and technicians of the Limassol team, but also actors, volunteers and ordinary people “who have been helping and supporting their fellow human beings for years”.
The “Yellow Line” helps about 11,000 families across Cyprus, while many other families as well as the homeless receive help from all of us volunteers, said Mr. Vichas, adding that with the pandemic and restrictive measures, 83 families of artists are currently being helped.
Asked about how he sees the coming months and the difficulties that the ongoing pandemic brings with it, Costas Vichas states categorically that “it is a tsunami that will cover us all and no one will believe that there are so many people who are hungry”.
Smiling at the question, if he dedicates the “European Citizen” award somewhere, the famous actor wishes the award to be in euros “to catch food for the whole world that needs it”. “It's just a mark on the chest without much significance for the purpose we have,” he adds.
For the award, he tells us, a modest ceremony will take place next month at the Limassol City Hall, while the official award ceremony will take place in November at the European Parliament.
The European Citizen Award to Costas Vichas
