On Friday, 24 October, the first Junior Achievement Cyprus Bi-communal Innovation Camp took place at the University of Nicosia (UNIC). The Innovation Camp aimed at encouraging young people to use their skills in enterprising and innovative ways, ultimately increasing their employability and entrepreneurial flair.
The competition was attended by 98 Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot students, aged 15-18, from private high schools from all over Cyprus, accompanied by their teachers. In groups of 4-5 persons (total of 20 teams), the students were asked to find the answer to a business challenge unveiled to them on the same day. The challenge, which focused on social entrepreneurship, required the students to suggest a product, service or solution that would address a specific social issue in Cyprus and create a positive impact on society.
Students had only a few hours to learn to work as a team with other students they had not met before, and to collectively shape their ideas in order to propose an innovative solution that would impress the jury. At the end of the day, all teams presented their solutions (products/ services/ innovations) in front of a panel of experts. The presentations and jury questions which followed were in English.
In addition to receiving prizes offered by Bionic, the winning team will take part in a Junior Achievement Young Enterprise Europe event that will take place in Sweden in 2015.
The event was attended by the US Ambassador to Cyprus, H.E. Mr. John Koenig.
The event was supported by the US Embassy, the University of Nicosia and BIONIC.
The winners of the first Bi-Communal Innovation Camp are:
1st prize: “Exporting Dried Lemons to Foster Economic and Social Prosperity among Both Communities”
The team consisted of: Maria Christina Andreou (Pascal English School Nicosia), Miriam Marancos, (English School Kyrenia), Kaan Ibrahim (English School Kyrenia), Andreas Damianou (Pascal Greek School Limassol), Elpida Phithak (Foley’s School).
2nd prize: “NovaNova: Glow-in-the-dark Paint for Road Lines and Signs”
The team consisted of: Sine Ozkarasahin (English School Kyrenia), Yaz Artuner (American Academy Nicosia), Mehmet Goksu (Cyprus Friendship Programme), Eftychia Hadjichristou (American Academy Larnaca), Alexandros Groutides (Pascal English School Limassol)
3rd prize: “UNICO: A Cultural Hub to Bridge the Gap between the Two Communities”
The team consisted of: Yaren Fadiloglulari (Cyprus Friendship Programme), Dimay Kagcan (English School Kyrenia), Chryso Matthaiou (American Academy Larnaca), Yiannis Kellas (American Academy Limassol), Yusuf Ziya Ilerici (Eastern Mediterranean Doga College)
JA Cyprus (www.jacyprus.org.cy) is a member of Junior Achievement-Young Enterprise Worldwide (JA-YE), a global non-profit organization specializing in youth entrepreneurship education, that aims in equipping young people with entrepreneurial, financial literacy and employability skills.
