For many years, there has been a shortage of care workers in Cyprus qualified to work with persons with disabilities at home. For people with severe mobility disabilities caused by spinal injuries, including paraplegia and tetraplegia, this often means having to depend on family for help or employing unskilled workers from other countries.

Now, however, with help from EU funding, the Cyprus Paraplegic Organisation has designed a project that trains unemployed people to become home care workers for people with disabilities, and even reimburses them as they learn.

The project offers unemployed people the opportunity to take a certified foundation course, which fully qualifies them for a care role, followed by 25 hours of practical work experience, which can include home visits to individuals. To be eligible for the training, applicants need to show that they understand the scope of the role and are enthusiastic about becoming a home care worker or personal care assistant in the longer term.