Rocking Autism: a night of music, community and belonging
On Saturday 4 July, the block outside True Heart Café filled with hundreds of people, live music and a shared sense of purpose. Rocking Autism — a community-organised evening of fundraising and celebration — brought together families, friends, local businesses and supporters of the autism community for a night that was as much about belonging as it was about music.
The Andrey & Julia Dashin’s Foundation and Exinity were proud to stand behind the event as principal sponsors, supporting a cause close to both: the belief that every person deserves the chance to thrive, and a community strong enough to make that possible.
At the heart of the evening was True Heart Café, Cyprus’ first social enterprise of its kind, which creates meaningful employment for neurodivergent people. The funds raised went to Voice for Autism, the NGO behind the café — and behind the vision of its founder and president, Ellen Georgiou Pontikis, whose work has quietly changed what’s possible for young adults on the autism spectrum in Cyprus.
Headlining the night was Athens-based band Hermaphrodite’s Child, whose rock ‘n’ roll classics from the 50s and 60s had the crowd singing and dancing well into the evening. The event was organised in collaboration with Nicosia Municipality, Nostalgia Parties and Cloud10 Music Agency, with food and refreshments from True Heart Café, Moondogs and CoffeeHouse.
Reflecting on the night, Andrey Dashin, founder of the Foundation and Exinity, said,
“The real success of Rocking Autism wasn’t measured by the number of people who attended, but by the message it sent. When businesses, charities and the wider community come together around a shared purpose, they can create meaningful change.”
Rocking Autism was a reminder of what becomes possible individual efforts become a collective force, and a local cause becomes a shared one. That momentum matters, because the work of Voice for Autism does not end with a single evening. Building a more inclusive Cyprus — where neurodivergent people have a genuine place to belong and to thrive — is a longer undertaking, and one worth continuing to stand behind.