Limassol, Cyprus – RESET together with Ablebook and YPARXO are launching their joint venture, Χάι Χούι, with the first inclusive summer camp in Cyprus, taking place June 20-22, 2025.

For many people, the thought of summer camp brings up a feeling of nostalgia and memories –  pine trees, bunk beds, team tournaments and bug repellent spray – it’s a familiar joy. But for some, these sort of experiences were always out of reach due to inaccessible spaces and programmes that were not designed with them in mind.

This June, Χάι Χούι (pronounced Hi Hoo-ee) is set to change that. Nestled in the village of Agros, Cyprus’s first fully accessible youth camp will make its debut, bringing together young people with and without physical disabilities. A shared initiative by RESET, YPARXO, and Ablebook, Χάι Χούι was born out of the shared belief that everyone deserves to feel welcome and included. Its aim is to create accessible experiences for all by bringing people of all abilities together to connect, learn and break down barriers. Each organisation brings a unique perspective to this mission, fusing their diverse expertise to create events where inclusion is not added on but built in.

In Cyprus, as well as the rest of Europe, accessibility remains an afterthought rather than a lived reality. While strides are being made to change this, barriers still remain in public spaces, schools, recreational venues and cultural institutions. In fact, a 2023 report by the Cyprus Confederation of Organisations of the Disabled (KYSOA) noted that many youth services remain inaccessible, or lack inclusive programming, effectively excluding children and teenagers with disabilities from fully participating in public life. Indeed, the idea of going on a school trip, attending a festival or signing up for a summer camp can often feel out of reach, causing them to miss out on experiences that are a rite of passage for any young person. This can create a social gap between non-disabled and disabled individuals, where the former have limited to no knowledge of the unmet needs and experiences of the latter, who are often faced with social isolation.

Χάι Χούι seeks to challenge this status quo and build a community where everyone is able to participate without barriers. While it may be the first of its kind in Cyprus, it follows in the footsteps of other successful initiatives across Europe, including the Perpato camp in Greece. By taking inspiration from other successful youth programmes, it aims to be part of a global call for accessibility to not be the exception but the standard, both in Cyprus and beyond.

In the context of the Χάι Χούι camp, accessibility goes beyond making spaces physically navigable. It’s about creating an environment where everyone, regardless of ability, can participate fully. To achieve this, the Χάι Χούι team has designed a programme that is truly open to all. Campers will be able to choose from a curated catalogue of parallel activities each day of the camp. This gives them the opportunity to pick activities that they are both interested and able to take part in. From interactive workshops to social events to sporting activities, the camp will have an enticing list of options to choose from including:

  • Yoga and meditation
  • Scuba diving
  • Theatre workshop
  • Sex and sexuality talk
  • Accessible campsite design lab
  • Nature walk
  • Sport tournament

The camp programme will also include a series of social events such as a swap party and a pub quiz – carefully crafted to bring campers together in ways that are natural, fun and community-centred.

Every activity will be guided by staff with experience in creating accessible environments, ensuring the comfort, safety, and dignity of all participants. The venue itself, Rodon Hotel, has been fully mapped and assessed by the Ablebook team, guaranteeing that both infrastructure and atmosphere are ready to welcome everyone equally. As a result, the camp will be fully accessible for individuals with any physical disabilities.

Final Thoughts

So why do initiatives like Χάι Χούι matter? Shared experiences such as this camp can lay an important foundation for understanding. When young people with different abilities and life experiences come together in spaces without boundaries, it nurtures empathy, dismantles stereotypes, and makes room for genuine connection.

Inaccessible environments, by contrast, reinforce isolation and difference. By giving every camper the opportunity to fully engage, rather than just observe or adapt, Χάι Χούι sets a powerful example: that inclusion doesn’t mean lowering expectations or separating people; it means designing with care, flexibility, and respect from the very beginning. The Χάι Χούι team does not seek to be unique or to offer a once-off experience, but rather hopes to act as a blueprint for how inclusive spaces can and should look everywhere. As such, spaces designed for all can benefit everyone and present an opportunity to learn, grow and reimagine shared experiences where no one is left behind.


Participate in the Χάι Χούι Camp

Date: 20-22 June 2025

Location: Rodon Hotel, Agros village

Registrations:
Registrations are open until the 11th June – apply through the website: https://xaixoui.com/

Follow along and get regular updates by following @xaixoui on Instagram!