In Cyprus, native families with many children receive limited support, said Ioannikios Fakas, Public Relations Officer of the Pancyprian Organisation of Large Families. He warned that these policies may deeply impact the identity and cohesion of Cypriot society.
A family with eight young children in a fire-hit area reportedly lacks basic needs such as housing, childcare and equal opportunities. “Large families are not asking for privileges but equal treatment and support,” Fakas said.
There are around 21,000 large families in Cyprus, with only 3,681 receiving state aid in 2023. He noted a downward trend in native large families, reflecting broader social shifts. Past birth rates peaked in 1992 due to child benefits but have since dropped due to high living costs and lack of incentives.
Fakas stressed that policies do not adjust based on the number of children, with some families receiving the same housing grant regardless of size. Many young people delay marriage or family due to economic pressure, not a change in values.
He cited Eurostat data showing Cyprus ranks last in EU social spending for families. “Real support requires bold measures—financial aid, childcare, education access. Instead, the state opts for importing labour,” he said.
He warned of rising social alienation if native families remain unsupported, adding that the main threat to birth rates in Cyprus is not technology but the absence of meaningful state aid.
Public services are often unfriendly to large families, he noted, and support for education is inadequate. Middle-income families often fall through the cracks due to general eligibility criteria.
The organisation is aware of many cases where children of large families abandon their studies to help financially, often losing access to state benefits. Students sometimes drop out without seeking help due to shame or despair.
Fakas called for a fairer, more flexible framework for supporting large families and their children in education. “Without serious policy change, the future of Cypriot society is at risk,” he concluded.
Source: CNA
Feature photo source: Larnaca Online
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