The Bridge Builder: Our Founder Dipak Kumar Wins the Bharat–Cyprus Setu Award for Community Service

We at Indians in Cyprus and Help2Live family, are absolutely thrilled and proud to share with all of you that our founder Mr. Dipak Kumar has been honourned with the Bharat–Cyprus Setu Award for Community Service.

The award was presented by India's High Commissioner to Cyprus, Mr Manish, at Namaste Cyprus 2026, the High Commission's Indian cultural festival held in Limassol on 20 September.

Dipak Kumar (right) in the front row with guests at Namaste Cyprus 2026, at the Marios Tokas Municipal Amphitheatre in Limassol.

A new award, and a first recipient

This was the first year of the Setu Awards. The High Commission of India in Nicosia created them to honour people and organisations who help bring India and Cyprus closer together.

The name says it well. In Sanskrit, setu means bridge.

The inaugural awards were given in three areas: business leadership, cultural excellence and community service. Mr. Dipak's award is in the third, and for anyone who has seen his work up close, it's hard to think of a better fit.

Why he has been recognised

The High Commission recognised Mr. Dipak for years of on-the-ground support to Indians living in Cyprus. That includes long-term residents and new arrivals, professionals and migrant workers alike. It also cited his efforts to improve community welfare and help people settle into life on the island.

The plaque itself reads that the award is given "in recognition of his dedicated social work and valuable service to the community."

The Bharat–Cyprus Setu Award for Community Service, presented to Mr Dipak Kumar of Help2Live.

The work behind the award

Much of what Mr. Dipak Kumar does happens quietly. Some of it happens in front of a few hundred people.

Through Help2Live, he has backed a string of community events in Limassol over the past year. In May 2026, the foundation supported the Gujarati Samaj in hosting Cyprus's first large-scale Gujarat Statehood Day celebration, which drew more than 150 guests. In November 2025, Help2Live partnered with HSS Cyprus to mark 150 years of Vande Mataram, bringing together over 130 members of the Indian community. And at last year's Diwali celebration at Parklane, he joined the High Commissioner as a guest of honour.

Events are only one part of it. The reason this award reads "community service" and not "cultural events" is the help that never makes it onto a stage: newcomers finding their feet, workers who need someone to call, families looking for a sense of home far from India.

What this means for us

Indians in Cyprus started with a simple idea. The Indian community here should have a place to share its news, its people and its stories.

Seeing the person who started that idea recognised as a bridge between two countries means a great deal to everyone involved with this site. We'd like to thank the High Commission of India, Nicosia, for creating these awards, and we congratulate all of this year's recipients.

Mr. Dipak Kumar, from all of us: CONGRATULATIONS! Well deserved! Keep doing the great work you are doing! We are so proud of you!

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