11th Junior Achievement Cyprus Company Programme Trade Fair

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Young entrepreneurs showcase their ideas

More than 300 students aged 15-18 participated in the 11th Trade Fair of Junior Achievement Cyprus, which took place on April 3rd and 4th, 2024 at the Mall of Cyprus. The young entrepreneurs representing 44 student companies from 30 schools across Cyprus, presented and offered their innovative products and services to the public. The event was greeted on behalf of the Ministry of Education, Dr. Marina Ioannou Hasapi and on the 2nd day by Mrs. Jannet Hadjiosif. The Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Dr. Maria Panayiotou honoured the Trade Fair with her presence, as she had a walkthrough to see the teams’ ideas.

A panel of industry experts evaluated the students’ entrepreneurial ideas by visiting the companies’ booths. The jury committee consisted of Sotiris Themistocleous (CSI), Maria Lavithi (Heroes Made), Sotiris Neofytou (Metlife), Maria Evgeniou (IDEA),  John Mavris (PHAETHON, UCY), Michalis Stavrides (PwC), Avramis Despotis (MOEC), Petros Olympios (Bank of Cyprus), Michalis Michael (ECOMMBX), Vicky Tsangaridou (Ministry of Energy, Commerce and Industry), Zena Vardaki (Mall of Cyprus) and Margarita Kyprianou (Cyprus Seeds).

During the fair, the Best Exhibition Stand award was presented to the teams with the most innovative and creative presence – one award for each of the two days. The first day, the award was won by team ΑΨΕ ΣΒΗΣΕ. The team consisted of students Alexandros Prodromou, Ioanna Giovanni, Anna Lofa, Stephanie Maria Charalambous, Georgia Karamani, Nikoletta Kakouri, Chistodoulos Lazarou, Yiangos Hadjiyiangou, Christos Georgiou and their responsible teacher Stelios Andrianos. Aψe Svise is an ecological fire starter made out of olive oil wax and 100% cotton, that offers a sustainable and healthier alternative for lighting BBQ fires or fireplaces. The Best Exhibition Stand for the 2nd day was awarded to team S.T.C. (Students to Care) with the members: Nikolas Kourounas, Dionysis Smilas, Pavlos Katsourides, Nikolas Politides, Katerina Christoforou, Eutixia Pastellidou, Maria Aidinidou and their teachers Maria Vryoni and Anna Georgiadi. S.T.C. is a student social enterprise that offers diamond painting panels and allocates 80% of the of its profits to support the Pediatric Oncology Unit of the Makarios Hospital.

Moreover, the Team Spirit Award was offered by JA Alumni Cyprus. The members of the association visited the stands of the contestants, evaluated their teamwork, and selected team Tinted Bliss as the award’s winner with team members Dorothea Panagiotou, Antriana Charalambous, Anna Loizou, Ourania Nikki Shiaka, Mary Isabelle Tanousis, Maria Christophi , Andrea Evangelidou and Lilly Rose Papanastasiou, under the guidance of their responsible teacher Stelios Andrianos.

The following ten highest-scoring teams will present their entrepreneurial ideas live in the Finale and Awards’ Ceremony of the Company of the Year Competition 2024 on the 26th of April 2024 at the Royal Hall Nicosia. The 10 teams are listed in alphabetical order:

  1. AΨE SVISE
  2. BioShine
  3. BioThyme
  4. DentalHiJean
  5. Encased
  6. FUECO
  7. miguard
  8. PARKING FOR ALL
  9. SilvAlert
  10. WOOD N COASTERS HANDMADE

The winning team which will be decided in the Finals on the 26th of April, will represent Cyprus at the European Competition Gen-E, which will be held in Catania, Sicily in July 2024.

 

The Company Programme is supported by the following:

 

  • Strategic Sponsor: PwC Κύπρου
  • Partners: MetLife, ECOMMBX
  • Supporters: The University of Nicosia, Ministry of Energy, Commerce and Industry, Research & Innovation Foundation
  • Institutional Partner: Ministry of Education, Sports, and Youth
  • Media Sponsor: Mix FM

 

Thanks also to the Mall of Cyprus, for the kind hosting of the Trade Fair

The student companies were created within the «Company Programme» implemented in Public and Private High Schools of Cyprus. This initiative provides students with hands-on experience in the workings of a business, enabling them to develop and implement their own innovative ideas, from initial conception to the creation of a fully-fledged enterprise.

 

JA Cyprus (www.jacyprus.org) is a member of Junior Achievement Worldwide, the world’s largest non-profit organisation dedicated to educating students on entrepreneurship, work readiness, and financial literacy skills through experiential, hands-on programmes.

For more information visit the JA Cyprus website at www.jacyprus.org   or contact Marios Kakouris at 99203701 or via email at  info@jacyprus.org .