Cyprus’ first social enterprise dedicated to the inclusion of persons with disabilities was inaugurated on Thursday in Nicosia, with officials describing the opening of True Heart Café as a landmark moment for the country.
The café was officially inaugurated by Deputy Minister of Social Welfare Clea Hadjistephanou Papaellina, at a ceremony held under the auspices of President Nikos Christodoulides. The event was attended by Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou, Minister of Labour and Social Insurance Marinos Moushouttas, Nicosia Mayor Charalambos Prountzos and senior representatives of the business community.
In her address, the Deputy Minister said the opening marked “an important milestone on the path toward a fairer, more humane, and more inclusive society”. She said 15 people with autism, supported by two job coaches, were beginning a new chapter in their lives, while also sending a wider message about equal participation in society.
Papaellina said True Heart Café was not simply a dining venue, but a place of “dignity, creativity, and equal participation”.
The initiative is being presented as the first social enterprise in Cyprus with a clear focus on the labour and social inclusion of people with disabilities, aiming to create opportunities for meaningful employment and visibility in everyday community life.
Source: CNA
