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The municipality of Neapolis-Sykeon in Thessaloniki, Greece in collaboration with the Model Experimental High School of the University of Macedonia and the Federation of Cypriot Organizations in Greece, organized a ceremony to commemorate the  liberation struggle of Cyprus which started on April 1, 1955.

The organizers invited Eleni Foka, a brave Cypriot teacher from the Karpass Peninsula, northeastern Cyprus, to attend the event and to share the experiences that marked her life and the history of Cyprus. Eleni Foka, dedicated her entire life offering a high level of pedagogy. Despite the Turkish occupation she fought for her beliefs and managed to educate many generations of Greek-Cypriots.

“Occupation can’t be described. What we lived during that period was inhuman,” said the teacher while the attendees were watching  photographs of  dead bodies, orphaned children, damaged schools and houses, desecrated churches and graves. Foka along her students and their families had saved photographs and other documents that show the atrocities they experienced during occupation.

The mayor of Neapolis-Sykeon, Simos Daniilides, expressed his admiration for the brave teacher, saying that her life should be a shining example for all citizens. The mayor praised Fokas’ heroic spirit and her decision not to abandon her homeland despite difficulties.

The event was attended by several members of Thessalonikis’ political scene and teachers.

Greek Reporter

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