Dylan Power
Tuesday, October 31st 2023
VSE Members News
Iro Michael and Ioanna Petridou, Association for the Prevention and Handling of Violence in the Family
Since April 2023 and following a Ministerial Decision of the Deputy Ministry of Welfare, the Association for the Prevention and Handling of Violence in the Family has undertaken the operation of a program, called Sofi’s House, for migrant young and underage mothers who have arrived in Cyprus as asylum seekers or victims of trafficking. Currently the program hosts twelve (12) young women and eleven (11) newborns and children.
Sofi’s House provides these women with a safe space to live, as well as practical support, counselling, accompaniment, child care, training on parental skills, vocational support, medical services, and legal counseling. The program is staffed by psychologists and social workers on a 24/7 basis. As part of the program, APHVF also operates its Child Care Support program by professional childcare workers, aiming to support mothers and empower their parental skills. Moreover the Association cooperates with a lawyer to provide legal aid, while it will cooperate with nurses to safeguard these women and girls physical health, especially if they are pregnant or have newborn children.
The program aims to protect these women and girls from all forms of violence and act in a preventative manner for their support and protection; to psycho-educate them on parental skills, sex education, health care, and violence prevention; and enhance their social skills in general. Also the program aims to incorporate them in the society; offers them psychological support, material support, educational services, etc. The purpose is for these women to be able to live independently.
For more information, please contact: Soficaresmothers@domviolence.org.cy
