Social inclusion requires all of us to organize our society in a way that leaves no one behind and recognizes every person’s right to live and participate safely and creatively in the community, said the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, in his remarks on Friday, at an event held at the Presidential Palace to present the results of the architectural competition for the construction of a Day Center for People with Autism.
The new Center 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 meters and the capacity to support up to 30 people.
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“The creation of the Center responds to a real and pressing social need. Behind every policy decision are people: young people and adults who are entitled to—and we have an obligation to provide—opportunities, families who shoulder a heavy burden of care every day, and professionals who need the right infrastructure to provide higher-quality services. “The government must listen to this need and respond consistently, with a plan and through action,” he noted.
“Our aspiration and our goal is for the Center to become a model of quality, a place where the architecture serves daily life, where tranquility and safety coexist with learning and skill development, and where families know that their children, their loved ones, are in an environment of care, dignity, and opportunity,” President Christodoulides emphasized.
According to the President, the proposal by architects Chrysostomos Theodoropoulos, Eleni Livani, and Panagiota Karamanea stood out for its functional clarity and simplicity, for its understanding of the needs of the people who will use the Center, creating conditions of safety, autonomy, tranquility, and participation, “an essential part of adapting the natural and built environment to their individualized care needs, daily support, and respect for their dignity.”
The President recalled that the Cabinet decision of November 19, 2025, approved, first, the construction of the Center; second, the acceptance of a donation from Eurobank in the amount of two million euros; and third, the State’s assumption of responsibility for the furnishing, equipping, operation, and maintenance of the Center, while in December of the same year, the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare and Eurobank signed the relevant Memorandum of Cooperation, establishing a clear framework for joint action.
Noting that Eurobank undertook the financing of the study, design, construction, and supervision of the project, the Government expressed its warm thanks, the State to the bank and its management for this significant donation and for undertaking the supervision and management of the project’s implementation, while also making special mention of the members of the Selection Committee and its advisors, who, she said, evaluated 37 entries with professionalism, transparency, and commitment to the terms of the competition.
“Today’s ceremony is not the end of a journey, but the beginning of a demanding path that will transform a plan into a vibrant hub of social care. This project embodies a broader understanding: that social inclusion—our goal—cannot be achieved through mere fine words and declarations alone. It requires accessible services, appropriate infrastructure, specialized staff, continuity of care, and practical support for families; it requires all of us to organize our society in a way that leaves no one behind and recognizes every person’s right to live and participate safely and creatively in the community,” he went on to emphasize.
He added that in this context, the government is moving forward with the creation of a Model Autism Center in the Free 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, among other things, in the way it cares for our fellow citizens who need more support. The Day Center currently under construction is a tangible investment in human dignity, participation, and social cohesion. It is also a promise to individuals on the autism spectrum and their families that we do not merely see them or hear them, but that we also respond to their needs,” she concluded.
For her part, the Deputy Minister of Social Welfare, Tina Pavlou, said that a day center for individuals at the more severe end of the autism spectrum must minimize unnecessary stimuli, facilitate orientation, provide safe and easily navigable routes, create opportunities for quiet retreat, and allow for direct, controlled contact with nature, while also supporting the work of professionals and adapting to the different needs of each individual.
The absence of appropriate facilities increases the risk of inactivity, isolation, and social exclusion and places a significant burden on the family environment, he continued, adding that the new center aims to fill this gap with an additional modern day-support facility for individuals over the age of 22, where specialized programs for creative activities, empowerment, skills development, and gradual social integration will be offered.
“Our goal is not simply to provide a safe space. It is a meaningful daily life, personalized support, opportunities for participation, and respect for each person’s potential and needs,” she noted.
She added that Eurobank undertook, at its own expense, to organize the open architectural competition in collaboration with ETEK, as well as to finance the feasibility studies, detailed design, construction, and supervision of the building infrastructure—including the necessary electromechanical installations and security systems—so that the center would be delivered fully operational.
He added that, for its part, the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare is responsible for state-owned land, determining building requirements, facilitating the necessary permits, and accepting the infrastructure following the required inspections, while, upon completion of the building, it will be responsible for furnishing and equipping it, as well as for funding its operation and maintenance, while the implementation of the programs and the hiring of the necessary specialized staff will be entrusted to the Christos Stelios Ioannou Foundation.
She then thanked Eurobank and its CEO, Michalis Louis, for their active role in the preparation and implementation of the project, as well as her predecessors at the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare, Marilena Evangelou and Klea Papaellina, for their contribution to the project’s implementation.
“The social inclusion of people with disabilities is a matter of rights, equality, and public responsibility. Access to appropriate services and dignified conditions of support is a prerequisite for a society that respects each of its members. “With a donation from Eurobank, we aspire for the Day Center to become a tangible expression of that respect,” he concluded.
For his part, Mr. Louis said that the Day Center will be a project with a total budget of €2 million, which will be fully funded by Eurobank, with the goal of creating the infrastructure and conditions that will provide care, support, independent living, and a sense of purpose for people with autism.
He added that this project demonstrates the importance the Eurobank Group places on initiatives with a meaningful social impact, as well as its belief that economic growth and social progress are inextricably linked.
“We believe that diversity is not a barrier. It is part of every person’s uniqueness. That is why we approach the issue of autism with respect and empathy, recognizing the challenges faced daily by individuals with autism and their families,” he added.
In closing, he thanked the Ministry of Social Welfare for its excellent cooperation, as well as everyone who contributed to the success of the competition and the progress of this important project. “Our collaboration is a prime example of what we can achieve when the government and the private sector join forces for a common purpose. And let us remember that inclusion begins with understanding, is strengthened through respect, and is realized through action,” he concluded.
On behalf of the selected team of architects, Chrysostomos Theodoropoulos said that the architectural proposal takes the form of a very clear and simple architectural gesture that redefines the relationship between the individual and the environment through the creation of a protected, legible, and sensorially balanced microcosm.
“The building we proposed does not seek to impose itself as a form but to function as an active system for organizing experience, where every spatial decision contributes to reducing complexity and enhancing the sense ofcalm and safety for individuals on the autism spectrum,” he went on to explain.
He added that the building is designed as a cohesive ensemble of ground-floor, enclosed, and semi-open spaces organized around an interior courtyard, creating an introverted yet not isolated world, while the courtyard serves as the core of life and orientation—a fixed point of reference that organizes movement, light, and the relationship with nature.
“A central element of the proposal is the layering of spaces. The experience unfolds as a carefully orchestrated journey from the urban environment, the noise, and the entrance area, through semi-open entrance zones that act as transitional filters into the inner courtyard, where order and tranquility prevail, and finally into the sensory garden, where the user reconnects with nature. This transition serves as a mechanism for stress relief, transforming the spatial sequence into a therapeutic experience. “The composition strikes a balance between introversion and extroversion; it protects without isolating and organizes without restricting,” he concluded.
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Source: CNA
