Learning refuge moves to new home complete with stunning chapel

The Learning Refuge in Paphos is moving to a new house to operate from, which includes a stunning, contemporary chapel, which they will care for.

“We have been fortunate to find a new larger place; a lovely traditional building with more rooms for arts and fun-learning and more areas to store donations. There is also a huge garden space and a wonderful bonus is that we have inherited the care of a famous, beautiful little chapel,” Learning Refuge volunteer and renowned artist, Mary Chojnowski told the Sunday Mail this week.

The Learning Refuge in Paphos was set up and run by volunteers and is integral in helping to improve the lives of refugee families in Cyprus.

Supported by Caritas, the initiative helps the poor and disadvantaged, of any religious beliefs, in the local community. They are currently feeding dozens of refugee families in the town, who without their help would go without food.

Chojnowski, as well as volunteering, is an internationally acclaimed mosaic artist and specialises in icons.

“If the owners of the Chapel let me place a few icons on stands inside, I would be happy to do so. We are very fortunate to have such a wonderful building to look after,” she said.

The Greek Orthodox chapel commemorates Apostle Peter and St Helen the Martyr and is situated in the St Theodoros area of Paphos. The founding stone was placed by the Bishop of Paphos, Georgios, on December 7, 2013.The project was completed on Sunday 19th July 19, 2015.

According to the architect, Michail Georgiou, the chapel’s style it that of double-aisle vaulted orthodox temples. The building includes a narthex, a nave, a side aisle, a sanctuary and a prothesis.

It is inspired by the local orthodox ecclesiastical architecture, however, through a series of innovative building methods and materials, it presents a contemporary example, he noted. The entire chapel is formed by extruding a section along a lengthways axis which results in a “lightweight and welcoming form.”

According to Georgiou, material and construction techniques for the project were used for the first time in Cyprus, combining traditional and modern construction methods.

Ferro-cement allows greater precision and flexibility in adapting to the free form shape, at a much lower construction cost.

And, it seems the new tenants are also carrying on the heritage of the house, as, many years ago it was a school house of a well-known English teacher, Chojnowski noted and said, “it is almost as if we are carrying on the tradition.”

“We are very excited about our new house and as it has a garden, there is plenty of space for the children to play and learn outside,” Chojnowski said.

However, the Learning Refuge are desperate for funds or a sponsor to step forward and help with fencing the area as it borders a main road. They are aiming to open for classes from April, restrictions permitting.

“We need community help to develop the outdoor space. Our first aim is to construct safe fencing and gates to protect our children as we are near a busy road. We would be grateful for any donated funds to help us do this quickly, so that we can begin our classes safely, or if anyone knows a sponsor or a developer with a generous heart who would step up and get this work done for the benefit of children refugees of Paphos, we would love them to help us start a new chapter of the Learning Refuge,” she said.

The initiative offers all sorts of groups that refugees and their families may attend, and are currently helping many different nationalities, including families and children from Iraq, Iran, Syria, Jordan, Egypt and African countries such as Cameroon.

As well as a food delivery programme, they also offer homework help, casual language help, all sorts of art classes, and all are undertaken by a small team of volunteers.

The volunteers also plan to create growing zones in the garden where the children will learn and care for plants which will then be able to be used in cooking, she said. They also hope to create some sort of shade in the garden for the children.

“As well as furniture suitable for a learning centre, we always need food donations as well as supplies for expectant mothers and other toiletries,” she said.

The Learning Refuge can be contacted on their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/learningrefuge/