Brought together by a shared commitment to their village, past and current residents of Katokopia/Zumrutkoy celebrated the successful implementation of the first phase of a community improvement initiative on January 21, 2011. With a small grant from the USAID-funded Supporting Activities that Value the Environment (SAVE) project, the Katokopia Cultural Heritage Association teamed up with the local sports club and a local restoration architect to stabilize the historic Katokopia elementary school building, built around 1850. Of great symbolic value to former students from several of the surrounding villages, the building was in danger of irreparable damage and imminent collapse. The group also refurbished the community cinema so that it can better serve as a venue for events and social activities for the village's youth. The January 21 event included several local school children who participated in an art exhibit focused on "Scenes from Our Village". In his remarks, USAID Representative Alan Davis congratulated those involved for finding ways to make a practical difference for their community. In addition to continuing to work together for their community, he challenged them to find ways to inspire other communities to follow their bold example. Like all USAID-funded programs in Cyprus, SAVE is aimed at facilitating reunification of the island, including by supporting collaboration that serves to protect the island’s cultural resources.