Cyprus opens its first registered social enterprise, True Heart Cafe

The True Heart Cafe has officially opened in downtown Nicosia, becoming the first registered social enterprise for inclusion in Cyprus. Inaugurated by Deputy Minister of Social Welfare Clea Papaellina under the auspices of President Nikos Christodoulides, the project aims to integrate people with disabilities into the workforce. The initiative is a result of a long-term vision supported by successive deputy ministers, including Anastasia Anthousi and Marilena Evangelou. While initial reports mention 15 individuals with autism working at the cafe, other sources note that 18 individuals with support needs completed training for the team. The cafe is an initiative of the NGO Voice for Autism and operates as a business where five shareholders are individuals with autism. The Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Kypros Protopapas, announced that registered social enterprises can apply for a one-time grant of 10,000 euros. Profits from the cafe will be reinvested into expanding training programs and creating new employment opportunities.