Our Cyprus project, the Dignity Centre Nicosia, supports refugees and people seeking asylum living across the island.
The Dignity Centre is located at Perikleous 17a, Nicosia 1010.
How you can help
- We rely on individual contributions to keep the Cyprus Dignity Centre running. Donate to support our essential work.
- Come and help! Apply to volunteer in Cyprus for 2-4 weeks.
About the Dignity Centre Nicosia
Since opening its doors in 2019, the Dignity Centre Nicosia, has become a lifeline for refugees and people seeking asylum across Cyprus.
The Centre’s current iteration has been running since September 2021, offering a ‘free shop’ – the Dignity Market – and an administrative Helpdesk, with services evolving in line with our members’ shifting needs and the wider political backdrop.
As part of a small and essential ecosystem of support in Cyprus, the Centre provides a vital space of welcome where members can access essential services, connect with each other and find a sense of belonging during a challenging time in their lives.
New arrivals can select food and hygiene items from the Dignity Market, including nappies for families with children under four.
Supported by a rotating team of international volunteers, our busy Helpdesk assists with important bureaucratic tasks such as opening a bank account, accessing the job market and assistance writing CVs.
Many of our members use the space to charge their phones, play games and relax in a comfortable, welcoming environment.
We also offer a weekly barber service provided by skilled members of the asylum seeking and refugee communities; and comprehensive signposting to help people navigate the system and access services, no matter what stage of their journey they are at.
The Centre has an open-door policy and is a community space where we can listen to the evolving needs of those we serve and respond appropriately.
The Background and Need
Cyprus has long received one of the highest numbers of asylum applications per capita in Europe. Although overall arrivals have declined in recent years, the system remains burdened, with more than 20,000 active asylum applications at the end of 2024 and a significant backlog.
Reception standards in Cyprus continue to fall below acceptable levels: many newcomers face homelessness, insufficient sanitation and destitution. This precarious situation is worsened by restrictive policies like the nine-month wait for employment eligibility, barring asylum applicants from work and heightening their vulnerability.
In 2023, the need for dignified, safe and supportive services became even more urgent due to a sharp rise in violent, racist attacks and systemic discrimination. Reports document recurring assaults on people seeking asylum, migrant delivery workers and owners of migrant-run shops, and an ongoing pattern of police profiling.
Recently, people seeking asylum have also been trapped in the UN buffer zone for months under deplorable conditions, with reports of inadequate food and medical care, and severe mental health strain.
In this context, the Dignity Centre Nicosia offers an alternative welcome: a place of safety and connection that responds directly to the needs of those we serve and provides dignified support at times of urgent need. Take a tour of the Centre in this short video: