Resilient cities, healthy people

12/06/2026

Yesterday, Peer Supporters from Social Hubs, Cities, and Countries gathered for a Co-Reflection meeting! It was a real joy to reconnect, exchange experiences, reflect on challenges, and explore new ideas together. Spaces like these strengthen our sense of belonging to a wider community, inspire collaboration, and boost our motivation to keep moving forward together. 💙

05/06/2026

"But he didn't hit you, did he?"
Trigger Warning: domestic abuse, coercive control
One of the conversations that comes up time and time again among the members of the Survivor Women's Social Initiative—our peer support group for women with lived experience of abuse—is just how difficult it can be to recognize, explain, and be believed when the abuse leaves no visible scars.

Coercive control, emotional abuse, intimidation, isolation, financial control, gaslighting. These experiences can profoundly shape a woman's life, yet they are often minimized or dismissed because they do not fit common assumptions about what abuse "looks like".

Many women speak about the relief of discovering that what they experienced has a name. Of hearing others describe situations that felt uncannily familiar. Of realizing they are not "too sensitive", "overreacting", or imagining things—as they may have been told for years.
This is the power of peer support. Shared experience helps transform confusion into understanding, self-doubt into validation, and isolation into connection. It reminds women that they are not alone, and that their experiences matter.
These same dynamics can also find their way into family courtrooms, where coercive control and other non-physical forms of abuse are often far more difficult to identify and evidence than visible acts of violence.
The Guardian article "But he didn't hit you, did he? Inside the coercive control courtroom" offers a powerful insight into this often-overlooked reality.

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/mar/23/but-he-didnt-hit-you-did-he-inside-the-coercive-control-courtroom?utm_source=chatgpt.com

At first, Victor love-bombed Anna. By the end, he’d rigged a doorbell camera to track her. Coercive and controlling behaviour has been a crime since 2015, but few cases get to court. What happens when they do?

30/05/2026

25/05/2026

11/05/2026

Members of the choir of the Agios Dometios and Engomi Multifunctional Center visited the residents of the "Agios Antonios" retirement home in the Nicosia area on January 8, 2026, to wish them a happy new year.
The choir's motivation for this activity was to contribute to society, promote social participation, encourage peer support, and strengthen social roles and group cohesion. The choir combines music with group commitment and active participation (breathing, articulation, memorization, coordination, and cooperation). Music affects participants' emotional, social, cognitive, and physical functioning.
The festive atmosphere at the retirement home, with everyone singing and dancing, was the greatest source of satisfaction for the choir members. The willingness to give back to the community leads to significant contributions to active aging across all areas of their lives.
Music had an emotional impact on the residents of the institution (reducing anxiety, improving mood, recalling memories with familiar songs, social activation, and gentle physical mobilization through clapping and singing along).
Through this activity, the two organisations built a network and cultivated the adoption of good practices within the community, as well as awareness that music serves as a non-pharmaceutical intervention for individuals' mental well-being.
The activity was carried out as part of the EU4HEALTH Program "Resilient Cities Healthy People", which the University of Nicosia coordinates and implements in the Agios Dometios Multifunctional Center.

04/05/2026

Two Years of Building Resilience: Our Progress So Far! 📈🏙️

We’ve reached a major milestone! As Resilient Cities, Healthy People (ReCiHePe) moves through its second year, we are seeing the real-world impact of our work in communities across Europe.

Having completed our initial research and framework stages, we are now actively delivering:

Direct Support: Many individuals in vulnerable groups—including refugees and the elderly—now have better access to mental health resources.

Empowered Neighbors: Our peer-support training programs have equipped local citizens with the tools to provide "psychological first aid" to those around them.

Stronger Networks: We’ve successfully integrated social care services with local municipalities to ensure no one falls through the cracks.

We aren't just talking about resilience anymore; we are building it, one city at a time. Thank you to all our partners and volunteers for an incredible two years! 🤝✨

01/04/2026

Organized entertainment in day care facilities for older adults serves as a targeted intervention that supports their mental health, social connections, cognitive stimulation, and functional abilities. This was the purpose of the tombola event held during the holidays at the Adult Social Hub Multifunctional Center Agios Dometios and Engomi on December 10, 2025, at its premises. The participants enjoyed every moment, with teasing, laughter, singing, and great excitement during the raffle prize drawing. Such activities improve mood, reduce stress, and alleviate feelings of loneliness, especially during the Christmas festive season, when these feelings can be particularly intense for some individuals without a supportive environment. They also strengthen the sense of "belonging" and help maintain human relationships and peer support.

The activity was carried out as part of the EU4HEALTH Program Resilient cities, healthy people , which the University of Nicosia coordinates and implements in Agios Dometios Multifunctional Centre.

26/03/2026

In an interactive atmosphere, dentist Dr. Morfo Kourouklari presented the topic "Oral Health in Adulthood" to members of the Adults Social Hub of the Multifunctional Center Agios Dometios and Egkomi on December 3, 2025, at the center's premises.

Participants had the opportunity to learn about prevention and daily dental care, as well as risk factor control and treatment for gingivitis, periodontitis, tooth loss, denture problems, and more. The importance of dental monitoring and the possibility of doing so through the General Health System (GESY) were also highlighted. The presentation concluded with the provision of materials for daily dental hygiene and care, along with practical instructions from the dentist. Participants expressed their satisfaction with what they learned and had the opportunity to clarify their questions through a productive dialogue.

Peer support was particularly valuable: through companionship, mutual encouragement, and shared experiences, members felt secure and a sense of belonging, which reduced social isolation and strengthened group bonds. Maintaining oral health and overall physical and mental health supports active aging among older adults, enabling them to be equal members of society across all areas of life.

The presentation was a unique and memorable experience for the participants, as part of the activities of the EU4HEALTH Program Resilient cities, healthy people which the University of Nicosia coordinates and implements in Agios Dometios Multifunctional Centre.

16/03/2026

On 26 November 2025, members of the Adults Social Hub of the Multifunctional Center Agios Dometios and Egkomi visited the Ethnomartyr Kyprianos Museum in Strovolos. The activity was a meaningful group experience that strengthened social connections, helped combat loneliness, and supported mental stimulation through shared participation and dialogue.
The focus of the experience was the historical and religious figure of Archbishop Kyprianos (1756-1821). Archbishop Kyprianos was a prominent figure in Cypriot history, remembered for his contributions to education and his struggle for freedom. At the same time, his sacrifice during the period of Ottoman rule, with his ex*****on on July 9, 1821, is a timeless symbol of faith, endurance, and dedication, which served as a powerful point of reference for the participants.
During the visit, participants watched videos narrating historical events and toured exhibits featuring works of art and photographs. At the same time, they had the opportunity to see artefacts related to Archbishop Kyprianos and relics from the area's historic churches, which strengthened their interest and emotional connection to local history and tradition. These stimuli served as catalysts for discussion, memory recall, and the sharing of personal experiences, strengthening memory and concentration.
Peer support was particularly valuable: through companionship, mutual encouragement, and the exchange of ideas, members felt secure and a sense of belonging, which reduces social isolation and strengthens group bonds.
In addition to the museum tour, the visit ended with a pilgrimage to the church near the museum, an experience that greatly satisfied the participants, as they intensely experienced their religious and spiritual feelings through this journey of memory, faith, and community.
The activity was carried out as part of the EU4HEALTH Program Resilient cities, healthy people which the University of Nicosia coordinates and implements in Agios Dometios Multifunctional Centre.

09/03/2026

The Power of Exercise in Adulthood

On November 20, 2025, the presentation "The Power of Exercise in Adulthood" was held under the EU4HEALTH Program Resilient cities, healthy people which the University of Nicosia coordinates and implements in Agios Dometios Multifunctional Centre. Dr. Harry Papacharalampous, a licensed physiotherapist, presented a holistic overview of the consequences of falls and practical prevention strategies that enhance safety in everyday life. The content was shaped by an assessment of the program's target group needs. Falls among older adults are a major public health issue, affecting function and quality of life, and are multifactorial, influenced by physical, cognitive, environmental, and pharmacological factors (WHO, 2021).

Key prevention points:

• Safety and balance: key elements for prevention.
• Small home changes: make a big difference.
• Gentle daily exercise: strengthens the legs.
• The body can become stronger again, at any age.
With patience, time, and care, walking becomes steadier, movement more confident, and everyday life more comfortable and safe. A practical session followed, with specific exercises and mutual support among participants, staff, and program coordinators.

We stay active. We stay safe. We stay independent.