Androulla Vassiliou is a lawyer by profession, but her experience goes far beyond practicing law.

Androulla was elected Member of the Cyprus House of Representatives for two consecutive terms (1996-2006), serving on various parliamentary committees. She was a member of the Joint Parliamentary Committee of the EU and Cyprus, President of the World Federation of United Nations Associations (1991-1995), President of the Cyprus Federation of Business and Professional Women (1996-2001), Vice President of the European Liberal Party and Chair of the European Liberal Women’s Network (2001-2006), and President of the Bank of Cyprus Oncology Centre (2002-2008 and 2015- 2019). She was the European Commissioner for Health (2008-2010) and Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth (2010-2014).

Androulla is currently the Vice President of Europa Nostra, Co-Chair of the Bi Communal Technical Committee on Culture in Cyprus, and a member of the Board of Trustees of the European think-tank The Friends of Europe. She has received honours from the French, Spanish, and Greek governments, and many Cypriot organizations and Institutions.

Here’s why Androulla supports cultural heritage and community engagement.

On the importance of preserving cultural heritage:

It is important to preserve cultural heritage because it provides the link between the past, the present and the future. It allows us to understand previous generations and the history of where we come from. We help new generations to enjoy their history far into the future and at the same time we ensure that heritage monuments and sites become a vibrant and beneficial part of the present.

On the ability of cultural heritage to change lives:

It provides a sense of unity and belonging within a group and gives people a connection to certain social values, beliefs, religions and customs. Moreover, restoration projects in the various regions make an impact to the local communities that is immediately felt and become the stepping – stones to sustainable development.

On the importance of engaging civil society in cultural heritage projects:

It is important to sensitize local communities and involve them in projects because in this way we connect them with their past history and traditions. This is important for both tangible and intangible heritage. A number of stories have been packed into historical and traditional buildings and sites and unveiling these stories and preserving these buildings makes heritage conservation very rewarding. Moreover, the understanding that a site or a monument is worth saving for its cultural value is deepened when we involve local communities in their preservation.

The community in Apos is integral to Global Heritage Fund’s work in the Carpathian Villages, Transylvania, where we are protecting historic architecture by revitalizing crafts such as traditional tilemaking, pictured above.

On the importance of women leadership in heritage:

Without underestimating the role of men, I can say that women greatly appreciate the importance of preserving something irreplaceable. They are concerned over the diminishing traditional city and village scape and architecture. Women can show the resilience needed to plan but also to see that projects are completed.

As regards intangible heritage, a major part of the society’s collective memory is women’s cultural heritage: women’s collections of family papers, oral histories and artefacts. The songs they sing to their children or the traditional dishes they prepare for them, pass from generation to generation and give us a sense of belonging. It is therefore important to encourage them to do so for the sake of future generations.

Global Heritage Fund is engaging local people to protect the threatened vernacular architecture and cultural landscape in the heart of the Transylvanian Alps. Photo: Vincent Michael / Global Heritage Fund

On her support for Global Heritage Fund:

Protecting, preserving, restoring cultural heritage is an arduous job that needs the support of many. You need as many partners as possible: Governments, both local and national, NGOs, local communities as well as individuals who believe in the importance but also the power of cultural heritage. This applies not only to GHF but to all organizations working in this field. In my present capacity as a Vice President of Europa Nostra, I am very happy that we have set up the ‘European Heritage Alliance 3.3’, back in 2011, a platform of 49 European and international networks who have decided to join forces in their advocacy for cultural heritage. I am also very happy that Europa Nostra and GHF have joined forces through a transformational partnership whereby they will pool their efforts, networks and resources together to develop high-impact projects aimed at protecting cultural heritage and supporting community empowerment.

The Monumental Arch of Palmyra, one of many endangered cultural sites around the world.

On a GHF project that stands out to her:

It would be both difficult and unfair to single out my favourite project of GHF. Each one is vital and important for the respective country and local community. Each project has its special story and significance. However I will dare to single out one which has a wider and special significance to all. That is AMAL in Heritage, GHF’s new tool for cultural heritage risk mitigation and emergency preparedness.

We all know how natural disasters as well devastating conflicts and neglect threaten historic sites around the world. Professionals and communities require tools for managing their endangered heritage assets and that is exactly what AMAL in Heritage intends to do: to remedy heritage crises through preventative measures and emergency preparedness.