AR 2015/President Statement: Difference between revisions

2015 was also a year of many audits. The Financial Unit has been  overloaded with work in completing more than 12 new audits. All audits have been successful resulting in virtually zero ineligible amounts for [[Future Worlds Center]]. Unfortunately, some expenses of partners were found ineligible. The difficulty in recovering them, especially in cases where audits were for projects that took place 5-6 years ago and/or the partner is not loner in operation, results in some losses.

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The [[Futures Design Unit]] has launched one of the most significant projects, the [[Reinventing Democracy in the Digital Era]] global project, funded by the [[United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF)|United Nations Democracy Fund]]. The activities of the project can be viewed at its page as well as on the website of the project at [http://www.ReinventDemocracy.info www.ReinventDemocracy.info].

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The [[New Media Lab]] had major successes. It secured two new contracts in [[Cyber Crime]]: The [[Cyprus Cyber Crime Center of Excellence for Training, Research and Education]] with partners the [[OCECPR - Office of the Commissioner of Electronic Communications and Postal Regulation]], the [[European University Cyprus]], [[ADITESS]] and the [[Cyprus Police Office for Combating Cybercrime]], and the [[Engaging Users in Preventing and Fighting Cyber Crime - UINFC2]] led by the [[Center for Security Studies (KEMEA)]] in Greece and including the [[University of Piraeus]], [[ADITESS]], [[Mezza Group]], and [[CENTRIC]]. The fact that [[Future Worlds Center]] won 2 out of a very small pan-European Cyber Crime grants is a sign of excellence. The participation of  [[OCECPR - Office of the Commissioner of Electronic Communications and Postal Regulation| OCECPR]] is notable, as well as the engagement of [[EUROPOL]], many policy and Hotlines' representatives in the [[UINFC2 Requirements Workshop 10 Dec 2014|The Requirements Workshop]]. The  [[New Media Lab]] has also won [[SENIOR-TV]], an [[Ambient Assisted Living]] project with a score of 5 out of 5, an exceptionally rare circumstance. Finally, it continues its island-wide safer Internet campaign, [[Cyberethics: Cyprus Safer Internet Center|CyberEthics]], engaging schools, media and all local authorities.

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The [[Humanitarian Affairs Unit]] has been the one that has grown the most. With more than 13 full time people, it is not considered as the most important national player in supporting refugees from all over but also especially from Syria. It has continued to provide services to asylum seekers and refuges through [[Strengthening Asylum for Refugees And Asylum Seekers in Cyprus, 2014|Strengthening Asylum for Refugees And Asylum Seekers in Cyprus]] and operated the [[Unit for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture]]. The [[Humanitarian Affairs Unit]] is now implementing additional projects, including [[Improvement of the Situation of Asylum Seekers in Cyprus]] and [[Unit for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture (URVT) V]].

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The [[Global Education Unit]] has closed the [[ Civil Society Acts Beyond Borders]] and launched new projects: [[Youth of the world!]]; [[The World From Our Doorstep]]. It has also won two new contracts each of values over 1 m euros: [[Map Your Meal]] and [[Fair Super Brands]].

I invite you to read our Annual Report and come back to us with suggestions and ideas.  This short introduction could not cover all our projects, which are described in more detail in the following pages. We are proud to have you as a friend and affiliate and we look forward to strengthening our relations, communication and collaboration within our network and with new partners.