Unemployment keeps refugees on the margins of society and can lead to unemployability which is a loss for neighborhoods and economies. A job is often the key to integration and independence, if not greater wellbeing. However, the labor market requires skills and credentials that some may not have. Recognizing this, Caritas Cyprus offers employability and vocational programming through its KIPOS (‘Garden’ in Greek) Enrichment Center. Beyond career counselling and support with CV writing, job searching and interviewing, Caritas Cyprus has initiated a series of practical training events designed to provide access to job-relevant and marketable skills and formal certifications where possible.
The first of these sessions—organized with Mission Solidarity—in the spring of 2026 focused on Culinary Skills. Participants engaged directly in a professional kitchen environment, learning essential cooking techniques, food preparation, hygiene, and teamwork under the guidance of an experienced chef. Hosted at the facilities of the Cyprus Red Cross, the course blended technical instruction with real-world application, culminating in a practicum where trainees will prepare and serve large-scale meals for the Community Kitchen organized by Mission Solidarity.
Beyond technical skills, the training fostered confidence, collaboration, and adaptability—key components of human capital that extend far beyond the kitchen. The broader vision is to equip migrants with portable, practical competencies that remain valuable regardless of where life takes them as well as with a sense that they can shape their future through continued learning. Whether participants build careers in Cyprus, relocate elsewhere, or eventually return to their countries of origin, the skills gained through programs like this can support self-reliance across borders.
In this, Caritas Cyprus reflects the sustainable livelihoods and vocational training vision championed by Pope Leo XIV and hosted at the Papal Castel Gandolfo—underscoring the enduring importance of dignified work and the development of practical abilities as foundations for social inclusion and economic participation.
