Rizokarpasso

Committee:

Mary Helen Karaolis OBE (President)

Maria Demetriou (Vice-President)

Androulla Nottage (Treasurer)

Christina Yianni (Secretary)

Kate Christoforou

Maria McVey

Demetris Nicola

Maria Panteli

Andreas Strongolou

Website: www.rizokarpasso.org.uk
Email: [email protected]

About

The Association of Rizokarpasso in Britain was formed immediately after the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974 which left approximately 1,500 ‘Rizokarpassides’ displaced in the unoccupied area and 3,500 enclaved in Rizokarpasso. There are now only 258 Greek Cypriots enclaved in Rizokarpasso, 52 of whom are schoolchildren. In 1974 there was an immediate need for urgent assistance and the ‘Rizokarpassides’ in the UK decided the best vehicle to help was the formation of The Association of Rizokarpasso in Britain.

From its beginning, in 1975, the Association has had regular contact with the British Foreign & Commonwealth Office and Members of Parliament as well as the UN, EU and other decision-making centres of power abroad. For 50 years it has actively campaigned for: the reunification of the island and people of Cyprus; the removal of all Turkish troops from Cyprus; the repatriation to Turkey of illegal Turkish settlers in Cyprus; the return of all properties to their lawful owners; the return of all the refugees to their homes and properties in safety; the abolition of the anachronistic Guarantor Status held by other countries; the full and effective investigation of the fate of all the missing persons. The Association has always participated in the various National Federation of Cypriots in UK campaigns for Cyprus e.g. at rallys and demonstrations; sending emails to UK Members of Parliament; planting of one of the 50 olive trees as a reminder of the 50 years of Turkish occupation of the northern part of the Republic of Cyprus following the 1974 Turkish Invasion. The Association has always participated at the World Conference of Overseas Cypriots held in Nicosia.

At the same time the Association, through its Charity “Help Rizokarpasso”, has provided financial support to the enclaved and other Rizokarpassides, as appropriate, e.g.  for medical needs or university study. In 2014 the Association donated to the restoration fund of St Andrew’s Monastery, which is of such special significance to Rizokarpasso. Since 2005 we have been providing a €50 Christmas present inside a Christmas card to each of the schoolchildren in Rizokarpasso. We have donated to Melathron Agoniston, Radiomarathon and the Cyprus Wildfire Support Account, as well as making donations to Charities and Churches in memory of members, e.g. British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research UK, Great Ormond Street Hospital, North London Hospice, Royal Brompton Hospital, Alzheimer’s Society, Thalassaemia Society, Parkinson’s UK, Theatro Technis, Community of St Barnabas, St Demetrios Church, Royal Free Hospital Charity.