On Sunday, to mark the first day of this year’s event, the Presidential Palace opened its doors to children with disabilites and special needs, as part of the many functions that will take place during the 3 day fund-raising charity event for these children. The children had the opportunity to talk and lunch with President Demetris Christofias and his wife Elsi, and seemed to completely enjoy the organised events which included dancing, singing, games and magic tricks.

In her welcoming speech, Mrs. Christofias said ‘’This year Radiomarathon celebrates 20 years of existence. While 20 years ago, this institution was trying to make people aware of the problems of people with special needs, today it is fighting for their full integration into society. Radiomarathon is now an all encompassing social institution which has been embraced with love by the whole of society. The people of Cyprus supported the event through all these years, giving generously’’.

The Radiomarathon will be holding special fund-raising events around Cyprus on Monday and Tuesday. There will be 53 kiosks operating in every town for donations, as well as 14 piggy-bank cars which will be on tour to collect money from villages.  During event there will also be marches, sport and other charity functions around Cyprus.

Both new plans are set out over the next four years, with the first plan being directed at helping to open up jobs in Cyprus for people with disabilities, and a budget of €1 million has been approved for the period 1st August, 2009 to 30th September, 2013.

Private companies and local authorities will receive grants of up to 75 per cent of the disabled individuals’ annual salaries for a period of 24 months, in an effort to encourage hiring disabled people. In addition, employers would also be subsidised for any costs involved in adapting working conditions or hiring costs of support staff employed to assist with the integration of disabled people into the workplace.

The second plan is directed at vulnerable social groups including people who had been out of work for six months or more, early school leavers, older people, single-parent recipients of financial benefits, former drug users and youths under the Social Welfare Services’ legal guardianship.

Labour Minister Sotiroulla Charalambous will be announcing further details regarding the two plans at a later date.