The 'Hope for Children' CRC Policy Center in Cyprus focuses on protecting and promoting children's rights, particularly unaccompanied minor refugees in a shelter. Volunteers engage in daily activities, manage schedules, assist with necessary documentation, and can initiate personal projects to support minors. The experience provides invaluable insights into issues not prevalent in Poland, while also highlighting the beauty and cultural diversity of Cyprus.

1. Reviving HOPE for children
EVS in Hope For Children” UNCRC Policy
Center
Cyprus, Nicosia
Aleksandra Patriak

2. “Hope For Children” CRC
Policy Center (HFC) is an
active organisation aiming
to protect and promote
children’s rights in Cypriot
society. They are founded
in the principles of the
United Nations Convention
on the Rights of the Child

3. Together with other
volunteers we were
located in the capital of
Cyprus – Nicosia where
the HFC has it’s HQ. The
city is relatively small
but has its charms.

4. The homes of the volunteers were located all over
Nicosia. I was lucky enough to have a garden with lemon
and orange trees. Morover pomegranades were growing
just next to our doors. On the picture, the view from my
balcony 

5. HFC has a lot of projects to handle at once but my EVS
was based on the work in the shelter for unaccompanied
minors – refugees.

6. The daily duties are difficult to describe. You basicilly
manage a bit of everything that is needed in that particular
day.This includes but is not limited to:
supporting regular officers in the daily activities of the
shelter
making sure that that the daily schedules are maintained…

7.  Engaging in daily
activities like: taking
minors to the doctor,
Asylum Service,
Immigration etc.
 Preparing documents
necessary for Social
Department, Asylum
Interviews etc.
 Updating shelter’s data
base, daily reports and
other documents

8. Depending on your intrests
and/or profession, you also
have the possibility to
conduct your own personal
project. You can organise
some activities for the
minors or start your own
scientific research. You have
a lot of time to show your
potential and develop
something useful for the
shelter!

9. Because of the minor’s
background, the
experiences they went
through and imagies they
witnessed – this particular
group is difficulut to work
with. That is why it is so
important for us as the
EVS to balance your work
and free time.
Cyprus might seem small but
is full of beautiful places and
interesting events.

10. I personally recommend the
most beaufiul and unique
beaches of Famagusta – the
Gost Town. The city itself
has much more to offer!

11. Nicosia – the clash of two
cultures. Greece vs.
Turkey

12. Thanks to the fantastic
location of the island
which is situated in the
corner for three continents,
it is easy to travel for a
few days and explore the
closest countries.
Welcome Israel!

13. Concluding – this EVS is a great opportunity to
experience the problem that is not visible in
Poland. The people you meet there and the
conections you establish will stay with you for a
lifetime!
Thank you for your attention!