Artwork by Syrian unaccompanied children who reside at a temporary shelter in Pafos, Cyprus following a series of creative workshops offered by UNHCR in collaboration with METAdrasi. © UNHCR Cyprus
This year on 20 June 2024, to mark World Refugee Day, the UNHCR Country Office in Cyprus, together with METAdrasi, hosted the opening of the exhibition, Our Imprints: Drawings by unaccompanied Syrian children in Cyprus, which was inaugurated by the Deputy Minister of Social Welfare, Marilena Evangelou.
The exhibition was the fruit of artistic workshops that took place at the shelter for unaccompanied and separated children in Pafos from April to June 2024. The participants in the workshops were asylum-seeking boys, aged 14-17, who arrived in Cyprus without their families.
“Given the chance, they can heal, develop a sense of belonging and grow up to become valuable members of society with stable and bright futures.” – UNHCR Representative in Cyprus, Katja Saha
As UNHCR’s Representative in Cyprus, Katja Saha, explained during her welcoming remarks, the workshops were intended “to offer refugee children living at a temporary shelter in Pafos an opportunity to engage in a creative activity. The drawing workshops enabled the children to reflect on their feelings; develop trust; express themselves; share their hopes and keep their dreams alive.” Saha added UNHCR’s hope that the drawings will give a glimpse of the children’s experiences, as well as of their potential. “Given the chance, they can heal, develop a sense of belonging and grow up to become valuable members of society with stable and bright futures.”
Exhibition opening on World Refugee Day, 20 June 2024 in Nicosia, Cyprus - Our Imprints: Drawings by Drawings by unaccompanied Syrian children in Cyprus. ©UNHCR Cyprus
In her opening remarks, The Deputy Minister of Social Welfare, Marilena Evangelou expressed her eagerness to extend the program to all unaccompanied minors in Cyprus, offering them a platform for self-expression, healing, and flourishing. Looking ahead, she expressed the hope to further strengthen cooperation with UNHCR, METAdrasi and other partners to continue making a positive impact in the lives of those we serve. In addressing the children themselves, who also attended the opening event from the shelter in Pafos, she concluded: “Never stop dreaming, never stop hoping, and never stop creating. Your talents are inspiring, and your potential is boundless. We believe in you and are here to support you every step of the way.”
“Your talents are inspiring, and your potential is boundless. We believe in you and are here to support you every step of the way.” – Deputy Minister of Social Welfare, Marilena Evangelou
On behalf of METAdrasi, Olga Paraprastaniti who was the workshop facilitator shared that “Creating this project was not an easy task. We faced many difficulties, but I had the support of MΕΤΑdrasi and UNHCR.” Thanking everyone who helped to make the project and the exhibition possible, she concluded by above all thanking the children: “These children who grew up suddenly but dream of a better future. The children who hugged me and left their own imprints on my heart.”
“These children who grew up suddenly but dream of a better future. The children who hugged me and left their own imprints on my heart.” – Olga Paraprastaniti, Workshop Facilitator, METAdrasi
Saha thanked the attendees for showing their solidarity with refugees by joining the event and for their commitment to finding solutions to the challenges faced by refugees here in Cyprus. “Including refugees in our schools, workplaces, healthcare systems and communities is the most effective way to support them in rebuilding their lives,” she said. “World Refugee Day reminds us that we must take action, and show solidarity with refugees, for a world where they are truly welcomed. No action is too small.” She concluded by expressing UNHCR’s hope “that by raising awareness about refugee children’s needs, we will inspire more programs to be created for these and all the refugee children in Cyprus.”
The exhibition is hosted at the Center for Visual Arts and Research (CVAR) in Nicosia, and will remain open to the public during the following days and hours:
21-28 June 2024
Monday-Saturday 09:30-17:00
Sunday: Closed
Refugee children’s vulnerabilities and needs are very particular; as such proper support to overcome their trauma, and protection from further marginalization and exclusion is necessary. Immediate and unhindered access to schooling, language programs, psychological support and rehabilitation services are essential. There is also a need for more programs to prepare older teenagers for independent living once they turn 18. To better address the needs of refugee and asylum-seeking children, UNHCR calls on authorities in Cyprus to establish a best interest determination procedure for unaccompanied and separated children; create more shelters; encourage and support local and refugee foster families; train more social welfare officers and provide tailored orientation and integration programs. UNHCR also calls for vocational skills training, scholarships and opportunities for refugee youth, as well as improved public information and awareness programs within schools promoting diversity and acceptance.
See here for more information about UNHCR’s advocacy for the rights and needs of refugee children in Cyprus.
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