ASYLUM RECEPTION CENTRE IN CYPRUS: SETTING THE BASES FOR A CONTEMPORARY ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE

The purpose of this article is to present the living conditions and services provided at Kofinou Asylum Reception Centre in Cyprus through a Project funded by the European Refugee Fund and the Republic of Cyprus. It is based on the knowledge gained, when an academic institution initiated the operational transformation of the Centre towards an organisational structure that would adopt modern principles of organisational management, parallel to the provision of comprehensive social welfare support. The main presenting pillars include details about a) The provision of counselling and supporting services, which were provided to the residents of the centre b) Administrative support for the daily operation and c) The design and implementation of educational and recreational activities. Emphasis was drawn upon the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats that were identified. It is suggested that both residents and staff’s active participation provided opportunities for those involved to investigate possible individual and organisational transformation over time, as participative ‘bottom-up’ approaches of organisational learning are generated. The knowledge generated could be used as a paradigm to lead policy-makers and central administration to accept the development of cross-system thinking and planning. It is also expected that decision-making flexibility will be increased through constant feedback from the bottom to the upper level and vice versa

MISLEADING PERCEPTIONS WITH ETHNIC MINORITIES: THE CASE OF PONTIAC GREEKS IN CYPRUS

Immigration policy in Cyprus was largely formulated in the 1990s, with the intent to meet the labour shortages as a result of the growth in tourism. Consequently, a large number of Pontiacs (or Pontic-Greeks) of Greek origin from the Caucasus region migrated to the Republic of Cyprus. Today, the overall number of Pontiacs is estimated to be a total of about 20,000, out of which 10,000-12,000 are living in the Municipality of Paphos. This paper aims to highlight the importance of the use of social services by Pontic-Greeks as part of their integration into the local society. Ethnic Pontic-Greeks in Paphos were asked to describe their current living conditions and their relationships with the local society and the use of social services, such as community kindergartens, children after-school services, nursing homes, senior citizens centres, and social welfare agencies. Τhe analysis articulated an underuse or no use at all of social services by PonticGreeks, mainly because they are not aware of these services or they hesitate to use them because they do not feel comfortable with the dominant population group; an issue that is an impediment to their social integration

MISLEADING PERCEPTIONS WITH ETHNIC MINORITIES: THE CASE OF PONTIAC GREEKS IN CYPRUS

Immigration policy in Cyprus was largely formulated in the 1990s, with the intent to meet the labour shortages as a result of the growth in tourism. Consequently, a large number of Pontiacs (or Pontic-Greeks) of Greek origin from the Caucasus region migrated to the Republic of Cyprus. Today, the overall number of Pontiacs is estimated to be a total of about 20,000, out of which 10,000-12,000 are living in the Municipality of Paphos. This paper aims to highlight the importance of the use of social services by Pontic-Greeks as part of their integration into the local society. Ethnic Pontic-Greeks in Paphos were asked to describe their current living conditions and their relationships with the local society and the use of social services, such as community kindergartens, children after-school services, nursing homes, senior citizens centres, and social welfare agencies. Τhe analysis articulated an underuse or no use at all of social services by PonticGreeks, mainly because they are not aware of these services or they hesitate to use them because they do not feel comfortable with the dominant population group; an issue that is an impediment to their social integration

Improving collaboration in social care services for children towards the generation of new organisational forms

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