Nicosia Aspelia
Rotary ClubWelcome To Rotary Nicosia-Aspelia
R.I. District 2452
We usually meet at Semeli Hotel in Nicosia for lunch 13.15 on Fridays. However, lunches are somtimes exchanged for fleeowship eveings or joint events with other Nicosia clubs. Please contact our secretary if you would like to visit our club.
The Rotary Club of Nicosia-Aspelia was established in 1995. It soon grew to become one of the most dynamic amongst the 19 Rotary Clubs in Cyprus with a multinational membership from a variety of professions. Our meetings and club business are conducted in English. We have a mix of nationalities and cultures from countries such as: Cyprus, Lebanon, Germany, Switzerland, Armenia, Sweden, Iran, UK, Egypt and Ireland.
We have interesting speakers and enjoyable fellowship meetings. Please contact the secretary for informtaion.
President Jenny Tsiakka Avraam
Secretary Monica Terzian
Rotarian visitors and Rotarian friends are always welcome.
Semeli Hotel Nicosia Cyprus
Nicosia, Cyprus
Semeli Hotel
Meets Wednesday, 19:30, English
Visit MyRotary
History of the Club
The Rotary Club of Nicosia-Aspelia was established in 1995 with a multinational membership from many professions that soon grew to become one of the most dynamic among the 19 Rotary Clubs in Cyprus.
In 1998 the Club established a Scholarship Fund to support needy university students from the Nicosia District. The seed money came from the proceeds of a Grand Raffle that raised CYP 50,000 (EUR 85,430) and since then, the Fund’s capital has increased substantially contributing scholarships to students.
The Club has also been active in international projects – water wells in Zimbabwe, eradication of Thalassaemia in Albania, computers to orphanages in Armenia, fishing boats for Tsunami victims in Thailand, shoes for orphanages in the Middle East and sending emergency aid Shelterboxes to disaster areas such as Haiti and Pakistan.
During the Rotary Centennial year of 2005-2006, Aspelia was involved with two projects in Cyprus, both of which are active today – a cord blood bank facility and an Alzheimer’s patients day care centre. Other projects Aspelia supports include the Pediki Stegi children’s home, the anti-drugs mobile unit of the police, information material for the Dyslexia Association, two minibuses for the Anti-Cancer Society, recycling awareness, an educational organic farm, medical lectures and public speaking seminars for young students.
Over the last 15 years, Aspelia has raised more than half a million euros for Community and Club projects, has contributed regularly to Rotary Foundation international projects and participates actively in District projects and offices.
Club Roster
Click below for details
President
Past Presents
Farid Mirbagheri
President of Rotary Club Nicosia – Aspelia 2020-2021
NAIRY MERHEJE
President of Rotary Club Nicosia – Aspelia 2016-2017
Nazo Davidian
President of Rotary Club Nicosia – Aspelia 2015-2016
Louisa Counounari
President of Rotary Club Nicosia – Aspelia 2014-2015
Loucas Vrionides
President of Rotary Club Nicosia – Aspelia 2013-2014
Eleni Zapiti
President of Rotary Club Nicosia – Aspelia 2012-2013
Katerina Nicolaides
President of Rotary Club Nicosia – Aspelia 2011-2012
Caterina Kalavas
President of Rotary Club Nicosia-Aspelia 2010-2011
Projects
Projects 2020-2021
THE POLLINATOR & ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION TASK FORCE OF ROTARY CYPRUS
The Pollinator Project of ROTARY Cyprus (Climate Change and Biodiversity in Cyprus) – Initialized by the Rotary Club Nicosia Aspelia in close cooperation with the ROTARACT Clubs Nicosia Aspelia and the University of Nicosia was launched in February 2021 during the Cyprus Rotary’s celebration of the 116th RI Birthday anniversary.
The project is run by an Environmental Task Force of ROTARY Cyprus involving the ROTARY Clubs: Kyrenia, Kyrenia Cosmopolitan, Kyrenia Liman, Kyrenia St Hilarion, Limassol, Limassol Kourion, Nicosia, Nicosia Aspelia, Nicosia Ledra, Nicosia Lefkothea, Nicosia Salamis, Nicosia Sarayionou, Paphos Aphrodite and the Cyprus University of technology and the ROTARACT Clubs: Nicosia Aspelia, University of Nicosia/sponsored by RC Nicosia Aspelia.
Presentations in English and Greek about the importance of pollinators to humans and the environment.
Flyers about the Pollinator Project in English, Greek, Turkish and Arabic
Please find the lastest District Conference presentation HERE
You can watch the Pollinator Project video HERE
The project has been entered as a Rotary Showcase Project at Rotary International
https://map.rotary.org/en/project/Pages
The 1st Rotary pollinator park in Cyprus was organized by the Rotary and Rotaract clubs of Nicosia Aspelia in cooperation with the Aglandjia Municipality the Cyprus University of Technology and all the Nicosia Rotary clubs. The tree planting took place on the 14th of November 2021.
Pollination in Action
Aglantzia Municipality is getting even Greener!
Now it also has a Pollinator park. 🐝🌱 🌿 ☘️ 🍀 🐝
Rotarians with the Mayor of Aglandjia
How to get involved?
As an individual: Start your own pollinator garden plot
As a ROTARY club: support the creation and maintenance of municipal or school pollinator plots
As a school: make pollinator gardens part of your biology curriculum
As a municipality: initiate, set up, and sustain community pollinator gardens or pollinator parks
What is pollination and why is it important?
Pollination is an essential part of plant reproduction and is required for the continuation of a species. Some plants are able to pollinate themselves. A large majority of plants (85%) require pollination by an animal. Pollinators provide pollination services to over 180 000 different plant species and more than 1 200 crops. One out of every three bites of food you eat is there because of pollinators. Pollinators support healthy ecosystems. Pollinators are threatened by climate change and pollution.
What are the main pollinator species?
Pollinator animal species include (main species in bold): Ants, Bats, Bees, Beetles, Birds, Butterflies, Flies
What are the threats to pollinators and how can we protect them?
Cyprus, similar to other parts of the Mediterranean is undergoing rapid and intense changes in climate. Rising temperatures and decreasing rainfall add to the desertification of the island. One of the consequences of desertification is a steady decline in the diversity of plant and animal species, including pollinators. In addition, the extensive use of agrochemicals and pollution from various sources reduce the habitats of pollinator species. What to do? Raise awareness on the value of pollinator species. Protect and maintain pollinator habitats. Create pollinator gardens and parks.
In Cyprus, a number of wild bee species are particularly important for pollination. Some 11 species are only found on the island.
Plants that help pollination.
For more information, please contact
Manfred A. Lange, RC Nicosia Aspelia
Email: m.a.lange@cyi.ac.cy
Phone: +35799052416
DDG 2020-21 Caterina Kalavas, RC Nicosia Aspelia
Email: catherine@cytanet.com.cy
Phone: +35796605208
Picture credits:
Lower left: Photo by J. Hoffman; National Wildlife Photo Contest; http://www.ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=20089
Lower right: Photo by A. Varnava; Varnava et al., 2020
Upper right: Source: https://www.reviewjournal.com/homes/advertising-features/summerlin-supports-school-pollinator-gardens-1979809/
Projects 2010-2011
Below you can find all of our latest projects and associated documentation.
Community Environmental Projects:
“Clean Cyprus” – Let’s make Cyprus a Cleaner, Greener Place
Project details and media coverage.
Community Projects:
“Drive Left”
‘Drive Left’ is a road safety project initiated by Rotary Club of Nicosia-Aspelia in collaboration with the Traffic Dept of the Cyprus Police.
Project details and media coverage.
Scholarships
The Rotary Club of Nicosia – Aspelia
Scholarship Foundation
Project details and media coverage.
“Follow Goran”
Fund raising project for the Alzheimer Day Care Centre
For project details and media coverage please visit: http://followgoran.blogspot.com/
Vocational Projects:
Community Youth Projects:
“Secret Santa”
International Projects:
Click below for more information on each project:
Clean Cyprus
“Clean Cyprus” – Let’s make Cyprus a Cleaner, Greener Place
“Clean Cyprus” Environmental Project. In addition to directly reaching thousands of people through our informational leaflets and collaboration with municipalities and schools, our Clean Cyprus campaign gained extensive press coverage, thus amplifying impact and outreach. This included articles in one of the country’s leading daily newspapers, Politis, and on the SIGMA national television channel, reaching an estimated 54,000 people. In addition, information from the campaign was posted on the Cyprus Commissioner for the Environment’s website for one month, reaching an estimated 1,200 people, and the information was also circulated to the Commissioner’s database of 1,500 contacts.
Partners: Green Dot Cyprus Ltd
Beneficiaries: unlimited schools municipalities and the public in general
Funding: Gala dinner. Lunch at Elena Tanou’s house
Sponsors: CEI Recycling – Michalis Argyrou, Marfin Capital Partners, Hania and Farid Ekhtesadi, Hilton Hotel, Fidardos Windery, Epotechniki
Press coverage:
– PRESS – Philelftheros
– PRESS – District magazine 418 p1
Drive Left
“Drive Left”
‘Drive Left’ is a road safety project initiated by Rotary Club of Nicosia-Aspelia in collaboration with the Traffic Dept of the Cyprus Police.
Partners: Cyprus Traffic Police
Beneficiaries: Visitors and foreign residents
Funding: Lunch at PP Sotos Demetriou house. Keti Chrisostomou’s birthday donation.
Sponsors: Cyprus Police Traffic department
Press coverage:
– PRESS CLIPPING – Phileleftheros
– PRESS CLIPPING – Phileleftheros #2
Internet coverage:
TV coverage:
Dyslexia
“Dyslexia Bi-Communal Project”
The political division of Cyprus into the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities is a constant fixture in the national discourse and an issue of concern to a majority of Cypriots on both sides of the island. In the Rotary spirit of building bridges across geographic boundaries, our club felt compelled to address issues of common concern to both communities through a bi-communal approach that encourages collaboration and trust-building.
Working closely with the Cyprus Dyslexia Association and studying the immediate needs of the children and parents on the subject, we planned and implemented a learning disability-related bi-communal campaign on dyslexia 1st on awareness by printing a booklet for parents and teachers in Greek and Turkish 2nd on the vocational aspect by training parents and teachers on early detection of Dyslexia.
1st – Awareness Booklet
The campaign also reached thousands more through our press outreach activities. It was covered by Politis newspaper, reaching about 16,000 people, and in three Turkish Cypriot newspapers (Avrica, Halkin Sesi, and Volkan). The joint campaign was announced through five TV spots on CyBC1 and five radio spots. RIK1 TV channel hosted our club President and a representative of the Cyprus Dyslexia Association on the “7-10 TV Live” program. Interviews were also given on the “Biz-Emeis” CyBC2 TV program and the RIK1 radio program. The extensive media coverage contributed to enhancing public awareness of dyslexia in Cyprus and contributed to trust-building between the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot communities through the joint activities.
Partners: RC Nicosia Sarayionou, Cyprus Dyslexia Association, Turkish Cypriot Dyslexia Association
Beneficiaries: Unlimited 2000 greek copies plus 3000 Turkish Cypriot copies of the booklet and hundreds of children who were correctly diagnosed and received assistance in reaching their learning potential as a result.
Funding: Presidents party.
Sponsors: District Simplified Grant. Kemanes Digital Printing.
Press coverage:
– PRESS – Volkan – Turkish Cypriot press
– PRESS – AFRICA turkish Cypriot press
– PRESS – Halkin Sesi Turkish Cypriot press
TV / Radio coverage:
2nd – “Train The Trainer”
Our bicommunal dyslexia campaign directly reached 107 parents and teachers that participated in the training-of-trainers program that will continue training other parents and teachers. In addition 2000 greek copies plus 3000 Turkish Cypriot copies of the booklet and hundreds of children who were correctly diagnosed and received assistance in reaching their learning potential as a result. The campaign reached thousands more through our press outreach activities. It was covered by Politis newspaper, reaching about 16,000 people, and in three Turkish Cypriot newspapers (Avrica, Halkin Sesi, and Volkan). The joint campaign was announced through five TV spots on CyBC1 and five radio spots. RIK1 TV channel hosted our club President and a representative of the Cyprus Dyslexia Association on the “7-10 TV Live” program. Interviews were also given on the “Biz-Emeis” CyBC2 TV program and the RIK1 radio program. The extensive media coverage contributed to enhancing public awareness of dyslexia in Cyprus and contributed to trust-building between the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot communities through the joint activities.
Partners: RC Nicosia Sarayionou, Cyprus Dyslexia Association, Turkish Cypriot Dyslexia Association
Beneficiaries: unlimited
Funding: The small grant from the Action for Cooperation and Trust (ACT) program of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), which supports bi-communal initiatives amounted to Euro 7000 and was split between the 2 Dyslexia Associations thus the Nicosia Aspelia Rotary club and the Cyprus Dyslexia association received an amount of Euro 3500.
Press coverage:
– PRESS – Volkan – Turkish Cypriot press
– PRESS – AFRICA turkish Cypriot press
– PRESS – Halkin Sesi Turkish Cypriot press
TV / Radio coverage:
International Emergency Funds
“International Emergency Funds”
Related documents:
Painting Pediki Stegi
“Painting Pediki Stegi”
Related documents:
Secret Santa
“Secret Santa”
Related documents:
Projects 2012-2013
Vocational: Entrepreneurship addressed to all ages
Community: Educational programmes in the museum and Music workshops for young children between 2 and 7 years old, at Pediki Stegi and in collaboration with Aglantzia Municipality
International: Peace and Conflict Resolution in collaboration with the Rotaractors we are organising a RYLA
Environmental: Tree planting. Every Drop Counts.
Entrepreneurship flyer 6 October 2012
Entrepreneurship Project Rotary Aspelia- Agenda 6 October 2012
RC Aspelia_Environment Program_January 2013
Scholarship
Application-Form 2022-2023
You can download the application for our 2022-2023 Scholarship foundation here; Scholar-Application-Form 2022-2023
Deadline for applications: November 30, 2022
Please fill it out and send it to the following address:
Rotary Club of Nicosia – Aspelia Scholarship Foundation
P.O.Box 16240 CY-2087 Nicosia