In the heart of Nicosia, a small café is writing its own story — and it’s a story worth hearing. True Heart Café, an initiative by the NGO Voice for Autism, has become Cyprus’s first social enterprise where the core staff are people on the autism spectrum.
The idea was born from a simple but painful observation: after turning 18, these individuals had nowhere to go. School ended, and with it every opportunity for social life. Helen Georgiou Pontiki, president of the organisation, explains: “We noticed that after 18 there’s a huge void. There was nothing.”
Today, 18 employees work at the café — preparing drinks, serving customers, and maintaining the space. Among them is Stella, a cycling champion at the Special Olympics, who spent 12 years unable to find employment. “I wanted to work because everyone works except me,” she says. Konstantinos feels “very proud,” while Alex simply describes it: “I feel like I belong somewhere.”
Each employee is assessed before starting, finds the role that suits them best, and receives support throughout the day from specialised job coaches. An upstairs room provides a retreat when noise becomes overwhelming, while a small stage with musical instruments gives music lovers a chance to express themselves.
Parents are noticing clear changes. “He’s happy because he feels he can contribute. Here they don’t treat him as something different,” says Konstantinos’s mother.
Serious backing stands behind the venture — the Department of Social Integration, the Andrey & Julia Dashin Foundation, and companies such as Eccombx, Dynamec, Wolt, and Cablenet. Five of the employees are shareholders in the business. “Integration isn’t just giving someone a job. It’s changing the dialogue,” says Ms Pontiki. True Heart Café is located at 10B Yannou Kranidioti Street, Nicosia.
