A first for Cyprus: social enterprise operated by people with autism

The cafe will be run by a group of young people on the spectrum who are ready to go to work

July marks a significant milestone in the journey towards inclusivity for people with autism as a pioneering social enterprise officially kicks off and a team of community leaders ready to stand up for social integration.

Five young people, residents of The Voice for Autism group home in Nicosia, are shareholders in the planned café in Aglandjia that promotes social integration and celebrates diversity. It is a first for Cyprus and is a model for other such initiatives on the island. An additional five people with autism are ready to go to work and are beginning training programmes.

The idea of a café/community hub is the brainchild of Nicosia lawyer Artemis Artemiou of Artemiou, Pieri & Associates LLC. He has pulled together a team to develop the project that creates meaningful employment opportunities and fosters an environment that supports social integration.

The team includes Nicosia municipality that fully supports the project; the former Aglandjia municipality, that donated a green space; the Architecture Department of the University of Cyprus that  designed the building; the NGO Voice for Autism that advocates for meaningful, connected lives for young people with autism; and The Alkinoos Artemiou Foundation that supports children with oncological and hematological diseases.

The Andrey & Julia Dashin Foundation has made a generous donation to support the start-up costs for the café.

“Huge thanks to Charalambos Proutzos, mayor of Nicosia, and deputy mayor of Aglandjia Andreas Constantinou,” says Artemis Artemiou. “They both understand the importance of such a project and are the first local officials to stand up for true social integration. Huge thanks also to professor Aimilios Michael and his team at the University of Cyprus who have a designed a beautiful and sensitive building and recognising the importance of this initiative.

“I had a vision for a project that could help people integrate or reintegrate into society and it wasn’t until I saw the amazing work Voice for Autism does, and of their own plans to create a business owned and run by its community, that it clicked for me,” she said.

Voice for Autism has a team ready to work in the café. A tailored job training scheme is being developed and each individual’s strengths will be highlighted. This approach benefits all employees and enriches the workplace with diverse talents and perspectives. 

“We very excited about this project,” says Voice for Autism president Ellen Georgiou Pontikis. “This is true social innovation and we are breaking down barriers that often prevent people with disabilities to access the workforce. It is a beautification project for Aglandjia in that it is in an unused area and the building is amazing. It is also a beautiful project in that it will be a dynamic business that celebrates our community and will foster a more inclusive society.”

The project comprises of a 115 square-metre community hub with café in a small park in Aglandjia.

Applications have been submitted to the Commissioner for Social Enterprises for approval, as well as to the Department for Social Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities to finance part of the initial cost of the business and to support the autism community in the workplace. 

The project is the first social enterprise in Cyprus run by people with autism. The social enterprise model stands out from traditional business models in that it places emphasis on creating social and environmental value in addition to economic value.  Unlike conventional nonprofit organisations, social enterprises are self-sustaining. They prioritise social impact over financial returns and reinvest profits back into the mission.