Paphos promotes access to city with weekend festival

This weekend, Paphos will be transformed into a ground of open workshops with activities for all ages as the Access City Festival takes place. On Saturday in Kato Paphos and Sunday at the Town Hall Square, a wide range of workshops and events will take place as organised by the newly-established Evasma Foundation.

Starting Saturday’s agenda (4pm-7pm) is a Human Library, an event at which visitors will not find actual books but people’s stories. Selected individuals will pose as ‘books’ who have a story to tell that addresses prejudice, racism or marginalisation. Visitors will have the chance to ‘read’ 13 human books at the Mediteranneo of the Annabelle Hotel.

At the same time, a storytelling session for kids will take place with the award-winning author Sante Antoniou while art activities with artist Elena Tsigaridou get children feeling crafty and creative. The start-up innovative platform Ablebook will also be around presenting its mission and offering the chance for the public to experience it. Ablebook is an online platform that provides services and information for people with disabilities and vulnerable groups around accessibility in all areas.

Finally, Ladies Circle 5 Paphos will offer experiential activities for young and old, to perceive first-hand the barriers created for People with Disabilities. A wheelchair route, obstacle course with closed eyes and similar activities will take place.

On Sunday, from 10.30am to 2pm the Town Hall Square will be transformed into a sports workshop and will host sports, street sports, music and dance for young and old. A bike ride will set off at 10.30am, open to the public and free of charge. Hand cyclists are invited to participate so that participants can experience first-hand the cycling experience of a Person with Disabilities. From 11am to 2pm, the Town Hall Square will host archery and wheelchair basketball games. With the support of the Paphos Archery Club and the 3A Archery Club, the public will have the opportunity to meet the blind archer, with European successes, Christos Misos and other disabled archers and compete against them.

Para-tennis, wheelchair throwing and blind people’s speedway will also take place while the Paphos Rollin’ Hood will show skating secrets and demonstrate basketball tricks with skates. Adding to the event will be a performance by the Studio 6 School of Dance and the School of Fine Arts. Two days full of events which include all and aim to raise awareness will fill Paphos, and all for free.

Access City Festival

Two-day festival. May 6. Next to the Alykes beach, Kato Paphos. 4pm-7pm. May 7. Town Hall Square, Paphos. 10.30am-2pm. Free. www.enavsma.com