Social inclusion requires all of us to organise our society in a way that leaves no one on the margins and recognises every person’s right to live and participate safely and creatively within the community, said President, Nikos Christodoulides, addressing on Friday an event held at the Presidential Palace to present the results of the architectural competition for the construction of a Day centre for people with autism.
The new centre will be built on state-owned land in the parish of Agios Dimitrios in the Municipality of Strovolos, with a total gross floor area of up to approximately 740 square metres and the capacity to support up to 30 people.
The President recalled that the decision of the Council of Ministers of 19 November 2025 approved, firstly, the construction of the Centre, secondly, the acceptance of Eurobank’s donation of two million euro, and thirdly, the State undertaking responsibility for the furnishings, the equipment, operation and maintenance of the centre, whilst in December of the same year the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare and Eurobank signed the relevant Memorandum of Understanding, establishing a clear framework for joint action.
Noting that Eurobank had undertaken to finance the study, design, construction and supervision of the project, he expressed the Government’s warm thanks to the bank and its management for this significant donation and for undertaking the supervision and management of the project’s implementation, whilst also making special mention of the members of the Selection Committee and its advisers, who, as he said, assessed 37 entries with professionalism, transparency and commitment to the terms of the competition.
He added that the Government is proceeding with the creation of a model autism centre in the district of Famagusta at a cost of 4.5 million euros, the implementation of which, he said, has already begun.
‘In our view, the quality of a society is reflected, amongst other things, in the way it cares for our fellow citizens who need greater support. The day centre currently under construction is a tangible investment in human dignity, participation and social cohesion. It is also a promise to people on the autism spectrum and their families that we do not merely see them or listen to them, but that we also respond to their needs’, he concluded.
For her part, the Deputy Minister for Social Welfare, Tina Pavlou, said that the lack of suitable facilities increases the risk of inactivity, isolation and social exclusion and places a significant burden on the family environment, adding that the new centre aims to fill this gap with an additional, modern day-care facility for people over the age of 22, which will offer specialised programmes for creative activities, empowerment, skills development and gradual social integration.
She added that Eurobank had undertaken, at its own expense, to organise the open architectural competition in collaboration with ETEK, as well as to finance the design, construction and supervision of the building infrastructure, including the necessary electrical and mechanical installations and security systems, so that the centre is handed over fully ready for operation.
She further noted that, for its part, the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare is responsible for providing state-owned land, determining building requirements, facilitating the necessary planning permissions and accepting the infrastructure following the required inspections, whilst, upon completion of the building, it will take charge of furnishing and equipping the centre, as well as funding its operation and maintenance.