Cemetary Clean Up - Report

erolz · Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2005 3:22 pm Post subject: Cemetary Clean Up - Report

This will just be a brief report of the cemetery clean up effort. I will try and write a more comprehensive one later. Right now I have to go and get some sleep - only had about 2 hours last night !

Around 15-20 people turned up. A good mix. Turkish Cypriot. Greek Cypriot. Expats. Some 'students' form the 'Turtle Project' in the north. Overall a real bi-communal effort. Thank you to everyone who turned up.

A quick before piccie

and after

A piccie of the bags of 'waste' removed

And finally for now a picture of a Greek Cypriot gentleman who had come with his family (for the first time since 74) to visit the grave of his 5 1/2 year old daughter that had died in 71 in tragic circumstances. It is bordering on the 'miraculous' as far as I am concerned that they came on this day of all days and that the grave concerned was the very first one we had started to clear up around, of all the graves there. This really made it feel like the effort had been worthwhile.

All in all then I think a successful if somewhat tentative start. There remains much work to do however. We tackled maybe 1/6th of the total area that needs work. I hope that future efforts (the next one will be the second sunday of next month - October) will see an increase in people coming to contribute their time and energy. With 2-3 times more people we can have the entire cemetery cleaned up and restored in 2-3 more session. Then we can move on to the next one :)

A very very big thank you to everyone who so generously gave of their time to help with this effort. I think we 'did good' and hope we will continue to do so in the future. Thank you all.

cannedmoose · Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2005 3:53 pm Post subject:

Amazing effort by all concerned... the change is remarkable!

I hope Mr. Hajixristos appreciated your efforts, it's small steps like this that change attitudes. I hope to join one of your cemetary crusades one day.

Dhavlos · Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2005 3:57 pm Post subject:

Well done Erol, i hope this really gets going....maybe other people will take the initiative, and start some in other places around the island.

When i next go to cyprus(which might be a while Sad

) I would like to help!

Mete · Deputy Joined: 16 Aug 2005 Posts: 1150 Location: Boston

Yiannis · Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2005 7:07 pm Post subject:

Good job Erolz and everyone that helped you in this project. Its acts like this one that give us hopes for a better future.

erolz · Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2005 11:44 am Post subject:

A couple more piccies

Before

After

brother · Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2005 12:42 pm Post subject:

That was wonderful work Erol and co. which bought a tear to my eye, keep up the good work and well done again.

cannedmoose · Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2005 4:07 pm Post subject:

brother · Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2005 4:09 pm Post subject:

cannedmoose · Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2005 4:12 pm Post subject:

Birkibrisli · Deputy Joined: 29 Aug 2005 Posts: 1404 Location: Australia

A small step for the cemetery,maybe,but a giant leap for Cypriot humanity. Keep up the good work,everyone.Well,done.
ps Erol,did you take any pictures of the participants? Any reason why you can't post some of those?cheers.

Bananiot · Deputy Joined: 13 Aug 2005 Posts: 1214 Location: Nicosia

I agree, Erol, you should publish a picture with some of the participants on the job!

cannedmoose · Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2005 11:10 pm Post subject:

Crash Test Dummy · Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2005 11:12 pm Post subject:

legends. true legends

magikthrill · Mukhtar/is Joined: 14 Aug 2005 Posts: 630 Location: NYC

awesome