Awards Ceremony: NGOs Competion – "17 Goals: Actions for a Future"
On Wednesday, 17 December 2025, the award ceremony for the Sustainable Development Awards for Non-Governmental Organisations, titled “17 Goals – Actions for a Future”, took place at the Presidential Palace.
The competition was the culmination of a collaboration between the Directorate-General for Growth of the Ministry of Finance, the Office of the Commissioner for the Citizen, the Office of the Commissioner for the Environment and Animal Welfare, the Pancyprian Coordinating Council for Volunteerism, and the Cyprus Network for Corporate Sustainability and Responsibility – CSR Cyprus. It aimed to recognise and reward good practices and initiatives implemented between January 2023 and February 2025 by NGOs that substantially contribute to the achievement of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
In his address, delivered on behalf of the President of the Republic, the Minister of the Interior, Mr. Constantinos Ioannou, underlined the importance of every effort and initiative that promotes, highlights, and advances the 17 SDGs, which raise awareness and inspire societies.
Short greetings were also delivered on behalf of the co-organisers by the Head of the Office of the Commissioner for the Citizen, Mrs Eleonora Papademetriou; the Commissioner for the Environment and Animal Welfare, Ms. Antonia Theodosiou; Ms. Lida Skordelli, representing the Director-General of the Directorate-General for Growth of the Ministry of Finance; the President of the Pancyprian Coordinating Council for Volunteerism, Mr. Elias Dimitriou; and the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Cyprus Network for Corporate Sustainability and Responsibility, CSR Cyprus, Dr. Marinos Voukkis.
A common theme across all greetings was the need for active citizens and volunteers — individuals who strive and work for wellbeing, equality, environmental protection, development, health, education, biodiversity, innovation, the energy transition, equal opportunities for all, and, more broadly, the sustainable development of the planet. Speakers also emphasized that sustainable development must be a collective endeavour, where actions and initiatives build bridges of cooperation for a better future.
Awarded Organisations
First Prize was awarded to the Panagia Humanitarian Aid Organisation for the establishment and operation of the “Evangelismos” Health Centre (CENTRE DE SANTÉ ORTHODOXE «L’ANNONCIATION») in Toliara, Madagascar.
Second Prize was awarded to the Nicosia Multipurpose Centre for the practice “Solidarity Network Nicosia in Action, NicInAct”.
Third Prize was awarded to the Environmental & Social Network Together Cyprus for the initiative "Let’s Do It! Cyprus".
Awards of €1000
- Akti Project and Research Centre– “Tiganokinisi”
- BirdLife Cyprus – “Shepherd / Vulture Guardians: Building bridges to save Vultures”
- Ena Emeis – “Beyond Limits: Disability, Accessibility & Inclusion”
- Enalia Physis Environmental Research Centre – “Environmental awareness for the sea through creative arts”
- HFC “Hope for Children” CRC Policy Center – “From Court to the Children’s House: Innovation for Children’s Rights”
- Youth Employment Training Foundation – “Creating Inclusive Workplaces in Europe”
- Laona Foundation – “The PyrAnakampsi Project”
- Financial Wellbeing Institute – “Combating Financial Illiteracy in Cyprus to promote economic empowerment and financial wellbeing of Cypriot citizens”
- KyklOIKOdromio – “Circular Economy Actions for All”: Cyprus’ first Library of Things and online platform “Circular for All”
- Cyprus Sustainable Tourism Initiative – “Plastic-Free Beaches”
- Cyprus Food Museum – “Flavors of Cyprus”
Commendations
- Cyprus Society for Education through the Arts – “Margarita 2024–2030”
- Archangelos Action Initiative – “Tree planting and public awareness for Magli Lake”
- “Take Me Home” – for the initiative of the same name
