LEFKARA ASSOCIATION OF GREAT BRITAIN   EST., 1985

Registered Charity No.295494

           The story so far. 

    Please read below a very brief history of the  activities of Lefkara Association of Great Britain.

It was back in May 1985 when a handful of Lefkarites met and decided to form the Lefkara Association of Great Britain to help young and old alike for a better tomorrow for all. 

So In that month in 1985 over 150 people gathered at  the  Cypriot Community Centre from all over London and as far as Birmingham, Manchester Liverpool, Derby and many other cities  to be part of the inauguration meeting.

 During the meeting a discussion took place as to the aims of the Association and it as decided to draft a Constitution. 

The constitution (part of the aims can be viewed under (aims and objectives) 

 George Savva was appointed as temporary chair of the Association by the committee.The committee was formed and included the following volunteers.

 George Symeoudis , Michael Kossifos, Nicos Karous , Chris Sentoukaris,   Michael Koutas, George Demetriades , Gabriel Elia, Charis Cosma ,  Michael Demetriades (Kannas) Andreas Eliades, Rita Kossifos, Nina Makkofaidou, Loulla Eliades, Varnavas Varnavides, Nicos Karous,   George Savva.

In 1986 the Association gained the charity status under charity number 295494. 

During that period a number of fundraising activities did take place and the Association was able to help the hospital in Lefkara by buying an ambulance to serve the needs of the people in the surrounding area. Computers were bought and books for the schools in Lefkara. Here in England a football tean was set up, and was training in the grounds of a well known local football team.Our aim is to encourage more people and in particular young people to come forward and be part of our varied acivities.  We are working closely with the police and the local authority and I will like to thank all the officers from both authories for the help and guidance they are giving us.

In 1988 George Symeoudis was appointed as chair and it was followed  by Nicos Karous. 

Last year 2008 we held a very successful seminar On drug and alcohol abuse here in London and was the subject of a radio programme and the local papers are still showing a lot of interest on this subject and our initiatives  prompted the Mayor of the City of London to call all elected members in Local authorities for a meeting to be held in London as to how best to tackle the problem.

The Association will involve a large number of people and will be engaging itself into dialogue with the young people by organising seminars exhibitions aound Training,Employment, Health, Crime, Drugs and Alcohol abuse and many other topics.

 

Recently we held 3 seminarswith the the help in form of sponsorship from the National  Lottery Awards For all Funding and the Safer Stronger Communities Board. Be Safe Feel Safe .

 

The seminars were  around the topical issue on Violence and Crime followed by Drugs and Alcohol Abuse and the Third Around Education Training and Apprenticeships. All were very well attended and it  is hoped we will be holding further seminars and conferences  free for all during 2010.

 

These seminars were shown all over Europe   and were the subject of an extensive coverage in many papers and it resulted in no less than 6 interviews with local radios and television.

A DVD is available as was shown on television at the cost of just £12.00 pounds.

 

If you want to purchase one please contact 07957 233 886

 

 

 You can contact me on 020 8351 1385

or emai: gsavva49@hotmail.co.uk

fax 020 8379 3417

This  website is updated at regular intervals

 Our Association has the know how and the ABILITY TO ENGAGE ITSELF IN THE TRUTH SENSE OF THE WORD in a voluntary way  to help others and with the help of some small grants the Association can go into partnership with the community.

The chair of the Association is   George Savva M.B.E.  

Full  list of members can be seen under (members)  This is just  a very brief history of the activities of our Association.

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Blue plaque for missionary Gladys goes back on wall

Wednesday, 11 November 2009

Job done: Councillor George Savva with Gladys Aylward deputy head Paul Phillips

By Nick Tarver

A NEW blue plaque commemorating a missionary made famous in a Hollywood film will replace the original which had been ripped down.

The original plaque, which commemorated Gladys Aylward, was taken down by tenants of a house in Cheddington Road, Edmonton, in April, causing outrage among other local residents.

Despite repeated appeals for it to be replaced, the landlady of the property has finally agreed that another plaque can take its place.

Haselbury ward councillor George Savva led the original protest and Gladys Aylward School, in Windmill Road, Edmonton, and the Enfield Society have agreed to share the bill for a new plaque at a cost of just under £700.

Mr Savva said: “After a long campaign I’m glad the owner has agreed to allow us to put the plaque back. The plaque is something that Edmonton should be proud of and we should look after these things because it’s our heritage.”

Born into a working class family in 1902, Gladys grew up in Edmonton, but travelled to China in the 1930s to work as a missionary.

When the Japanese invaded in 1938 she helped evacuate nearly 100 children over the mountains. Her life was immortalised in the Ingrid Bergman film, The Inn Of The Sixth Happiness.

Paul Phillips, deputy headteacher at Gladys Aylward School, said: “We’ve a small legacy of artefacts from her life and times. We want to do more work with the community and she’s a good role model. It’s also good to show that Edmonton has a history. The owners have agreed to keep it there and let us know if there’s any damage.”