As part of its multifaceted Corporate Social Responsibility program, the HM Group signed a cooperation agreement on August 5 with the international humanitarian organization “Hope For Children” CRC Policy Centre, with the aim of supporting and promoting children’s mental health in Cyprus.
The HM Child and Family Counseling Center will be housed in a historic building in the Agios Andreas neighborhood of Nicosia, which has been donated to Hope For Children by the MANA Association, and will be staffed by the organization’s specialized professionals. The restoration of the listed building will be funded by the HM Group, which will be the main financier of the entire project.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
The Hope For Children Organization will be responsible for operating the Counseling Center, which will offer free mental health services, as well as related psychosocial, social, and legal services to children and families in need, in accordance with the high professional standards it already upholds. In the new, specially designed, and child-friendly building, all the specialized services offered by Hope For Children in Cyprus will be provided through a multidisciplinary approach. These services are aimed, among others, at foster children and foster parents, children who have experienced domestic violence or school bullying, children exhibiting delinquent behavior, and adolescents and children facing psychosocial difficulties and challenges.
The goal of the Counseling Center is to address the rapidly growing need for easy and quick access to comprehensive mental health services for children and families. Existing child mental health services in Cyprus are under intense pressure, having to manage rising demand and long waiting lists. The HM Child and Family Counseling Center will be able to serve 300 to 500 vulnerable children and their families each year, offering holistic support under one roof.
This project, which aims to be a lasting legacy for future generations, reflects the HM Group’s commitment to promoting children’s well-being, strengthening family resilience, and empowering communities in Cyprus. To achieve this ambitious goal, the HM Group has chosen to partner with Hope For Children, an international and independent organization that implements programs to ensure every child’s healthy development in a safe environment, with access to appropriate education and healthcare. In Cyprus, the organization employs more than 110 health professionals, counselors, educators, and caregivers, with the goal of promoting and protecting children’s rights, in accordance with the standards and principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and European Union law.
Speaking at the signing of the agreement at the offices of the Hope For Children Organization in Limassol, the-CEO of the HM Group, Dr. Stavri Morti, emphasized that by preserving and restoring a historic building and by funding the operation of a comprehensive center providing specialized mental health services for children and families, the Group is investing in the promotion of children’s mental health and well-being, while also launching a long-term partnership with the Hope For Children Organization, which will benefit future generations as well.
On behalf of the Hope For Children Organization, Executive Director Andria Neocleous welcomed the HM Group’s willingness to support the creation of the HM Child and Family Counseling Center and stated: “Investing in the protection and well-being of children through corporate social responsibility programs has a substantial and long-term social impact, and the HM Group is an excellent example of this approach. We thank him warmly for his trust and support. The creation of the Counseling Center will allow us to respond even more effectively to the increasingly complex needs of children and their families. The data are particularly alarming, as there has been a steady increase in reports of incidents of violence, child abuse, and child neglect, a fact that makes it imperative to strengthen prevention, protection, and psychosocial support services.”
