Gümülcine Municipality and Orfeas Prevention Centre join forces to promote psychosocial health

Gümülcine Municipality and the Orfeas Prevention Centre in Rhodope (Rodopi) have discussed plans for joint initiatives to strengthen addiction prevention, promote psychosocial health and support children, adolescents, families and the educational community.

The meeting brought together representatives of the municipality’s Directorate of Social Policies, Education, Sports, Youth and Culture and the Orfeas Centre for Addiction Prevention and Psychosocial Health Promotion, which operates in cooperation with the National Organisation for the Prevention and Treatment of Addictions (EOPAE).

According to an announcement by the Orfeas Centre, the meeting aimed to strengthen cooperation and networking between local institutions, exchange views on priorities and objectives, and explore opportunities for future joint activities.

FOCUS ON CHILDREN, FAMILIES AND EDUCATION

Discussions highlighted the importance of coordinating local services to strengthen prevention initiatives, raise public awareness and promote psychosocial well-being across the community.

Particular emphasis was placed on developing activities tailored to local needs, with a focus on children and adolescents, families, schools and the wider public. Participants also discussed how closer coordination and the exchange of expertise between institutions could help establish a stronger local network for prevention and support.

The Orfeas Centre stressed that prevention requires a collective effort based on sustained cooperation, shared objectives and active participation by institutional and social stakeholders.

LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES ATTEND MEETING

Those attending included Ioannis Kyriazis, Deputy Mayor for Social Solidarity, Equality Policies, and Combating Discrimination and Gender-Based Violence; Athanasios Tsohatzis, head of the municipality’s Directorate of Social Policies, Education, Sports, Youth and Culture; social worker Georgia Karageorgiou; Sibel Mustafa Oglou, president of the Orfeas Prevention Centre; and Garo Esayan, the centre’s scientific director.

In its announcement, the centre thanked the municipal directorate for the meeting and the constructive exchange of views, expressing hope that the discussions would pave the way for new partnerships and joint initiatives benefiting the local community.

The participants shared a common goal of strengthening prevention, cooperation and social cohesion, the announcement said.

The meeting forms part of broader efforts to build stronger links between local institutions and promote the community’s psychological and social well-being.