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‘Empower, Motivate, Connect’ were the key messages of AIPFE Cyprus-Women of Europe at the presentation of the organization’s vision on July 1, at the Old Powerhouse, in Nicosia.
The event was attended by over 140 women and men from the business, entrepreneurship, political and civil society arenas, including former Minister Claire Angelidou, MP Roula Mavronicola, Equality Commissioner Iosifina Antoniou, former Commissioner Katie Clerides, Major General Kristin Lund, Municipal Councilor, Soula Kollakidou and others.
AIPFE-Women of Europe, is an international organization, set up in Brussels in 1987 by Rodi Kratsa, who was a member and later Vice-President of the European Parliament. The Cyprus Chapter, established in 2001, by Ms. Claire Angelidou, former Minister of Education and Culture, aims to disseminate the idea of European citizenship and to promote the involvement of women in civil society in Cyprus and abroad.
In her opening address, Ms. Angelidou, Honorary Member of AIPFE Cyprus, said: “I could never imagine that the Organization which timidly began when I invited Euro MP, Rodi Kratsa back in 2001, would reach such high standards and be engaged in so much activity.”
In order for any organization to continue to work passionately towards a cause, it is important for every newly-elected Board to share a common vision and work towards its realization in unity. For the term 2015-18, AIPFE Cyprus worked with Brand Strategist, Andreas Mesarites in an effort to formulate a vision with a cause. In Mesarites’ words: ‘Through this workshop, AIPFE Cyprus was acquainted with itself and its values.’
When invited to run the Vision Workshop, Mesarites posed this question: ‘I wonder how our lives would change if we recognized a woman as a concept. Then, automatically, it ceases to pertain to women only, as the female concept is universal.’
The Organization’s President, Anna Koukkides-Procopiou, who has followed the course of AIPFE Cyprus since its inception, presented two European funded programs, ‘Women Fit for Business’ (WF4B) and ‘Gender Diversity in Decision-Making Positions’ highlighting their success over the past year. The former program provided 12 young, unemployed female university graduates with the necessary soft skills through training, internships and mentoring- a project which will be renewed into 2015-2016, through the efforts of a number of volunteer trainers, mentors and coordinators.
The latter focused on mapping the local labor market, and proceeded with the necessary training and the creation of a good practices manual to break down social stereotypes and make the business case for diversity at a European level.
‘So, what can someone gain by becoming a member of AIPFE Cyprus?’ Koukkides-Procopiou asked her audience.
‘We can offer you guidance on EU and other available funding on business, entrepreneurship, training and education opportunities through our collaboration with our partners,” she explained.
And when it comes to giving back to the community?
‘You can empower, motivate and connect WF4B graduates with the labor
market, by providing guidance and support in the launching of their very own project,’ she added.
To find out more about AIPFE Cyprus –Women of Europe, to participate in our programs, training and our work in general, please contact [email protected]
