EQUAL Project

The only hope for 12,000 asylum seekers in Cyprus

Since Cyprus joined the European Union in May of 2004, measures for the integration of asylum seekers in the Cypriot society, have yet to be introduced. It is now estimated that more than 12,000 asylum seekers live in Cyprus. If we consider that only a very small number of asylum seekers receives welfare benefits, and thatavailable jobs in farming and agriculture, the only jobs that asylum seekers can legally work in, are very few, the salary very low,and the conditions often very difficult, one wonders how do these people manage to survive.

In this context of desperation the EQUAL project was like giving again a new hope to asylum seekers. Fifty people from different nations were selected to participate in this pilot program. The participants would receive Greek language lessons, and vocational training in a different field such as: secretarial studies, refrigeration and air cooling systems, and cooking. The selection of these fifty people was made by KISA, the language and vocational training by Intercollege, and the job placement and mediation was done by the Employers and Industrialist Federation, and the PanCyprian Federation of Labour. The role of the Ministry of Interior was to facilitate the participation of the asylum seekers in the project by taking care of aspects like work authorization. Despite the fact that the project is not finished yet and there is still a lot to be done, all fifty participants are satisfied with the work done so far by the different partners of the project. "It is the first time since I am in Cyprusthat I can work in an office as a secretary and receive treatment like a European ," said one of participants in the EQUAL project.

Nevertheless, throughout this process, two major incidents happened: first, the sudden death in August 2006 of Mian Mohammad Bashir from Pakistan, after he had just completed his vocational training and while he was waiting to begin his job at a large restaurant in Nicosia, and second, the arrest of Iyiola Abdusalam from Nigeria, who lost his right to continue with the program because his file was rejected by the reviewing authority, just before he was about to begin his job at a hotel in Limassol. The arrest of one of the participants, as well as, other smaller incidents against the participants of the project, prove once again how precarious and vulnerable the position of asylum seekers can be, even whenwe participate in a project funded by the European Union and the Republic of Cyprus.

Despite the fact that there have been some difficulties with the implementation of the program, and although the EQUAL project is only a temporary program that concerns only 50 people out of 12,000,the success of this project is undeniable. This project is viewed by many people asa great first step towards the integration of asylum seekers in Cyprus and so many other asylum seekers are desperately waiting the imminence of new programs of this kind, so that they may have the chance to be participants.

Thank you for listening.

Jonathan Shemupunge

EQUAL Participant

November 2006