Nicosia Mercy Centre

On the 16th of December 2009, the Nicosia Mercy Centre officially opened its doors to the public, at 17A Pericleous Street in the old city of Nicosia. As many people were going through temporary difficulties in their lives, our aim was to be that bridge that would support them by providing food, bedding, clothes and a warm atmosphere, welcoming them and treating them with dignity, when they came as those feeling rejected, disappointed and without hope. On Wednesdays, we started by providing hot and cold drinks with cakes and biscuits and offering food parcels, clothes, shoes, bed sheets and blankets. Soon, we formed the first cooking teams that cooked food at home and came to serve it in the Centre. Shortly after, we opened on Friday mornings providing a good breakfast. Our Education department found some teachers to help those needing some basic skills such as English, Greek and Computer lessons. Over ten years ago, more than 100 people attended a seminar that brought a big challenge in the hearts of some people who got together to plan toward forming a charity to meet the current needs of the more vulnerable and disadvantaged people in Nicosia. In 2008 as many needs were coming into surface, individual or small group efforts were not adequate to meet all the needs, so a broader group of volunteers registered with the trading name “Nicosia Mercy Centre” in August 2009.