Hellenic marks quarter-century of support for Eco-Schools

Hellenic Bank celebrated 25 years of support for Eco-Schools, which integrates environmental awareness into education, while also presenting the new Net Zero for Youth (ΝΖ4Υ) scheme. The Eco-Schools international programme is run in Cyprus under the national management of the Cyprus Marine Environment Protection Association (CYMEPA), with the support and cooperation of the Education Ministry, and the Bank as its strategic sponsor.

Hellenic CEO Oliver Gatzke noted the Bank had proudly supported the Eco-Schools programme since 1998, aiming to maximise environmental awareness among students. Most importantly, he said, the initiative is not limited to education alone, but also takes real steps towards securing a better future.

“For us at Hellenic Bank, the future is green, we aspire to drive the transition to a Green Economy and believe that a green investment is a true investment,” said CEO Gatzke.

“We stand by society with a comprehensive ESG programme, which focuses on enhancing our environmental culture and reducing our environmental impact,” he added. “Our priority is to invest in sustainable practices and support initiatives and businesses that reduce their environmental footprint.”

The aim of the ΝΖ4Υ pilot programme is to ensure young people have the necessary knowledge to perceive the effect each of our actions has on the environment, particularly as it concerns energy consumption, the use of water and other natural resources, as well as waste management.

“By gaining this knowledge, our youth will be able to decide whether they want to change what they are doing, or offset what they do through other environmentally positive actions,” explained Hellenic Bank Commercial Banking chief Andreas Papadopoulos.

“At Hellenic Bank, we believe young people are the future, and what we invest in them today will be returned to us many times over in the future,” he continued. “We want to lead the way and contribute in the best way possible, especially when this investment also relates to environmental protection.”

Both Dr. Panayiota Mylona, Secondary Education Inspector, on behalf of the Education Ministry, and Dr. Michael Ierides, on behalf of CYMEPA, thanked Hellenic Bank, the Commissioner for the Environment and all organisations involved, for their aid and support of the Eco-Schools initiative, as part of a wider mission to change the island’s environmental culture.

The event ended on a pleasant note, with the songs and excitement of children from Felicita Kindergarten filling the venue with a sense of hope.