A presentation of the “Youth Connect: Student Meeting of Communities in Limassol” initiative, co-organised by The Island Charitable Foundation and the Palodia, Apesia and Alassa community councils, took place successfully on December 5, 2023, at the premises of Palodia’s Island School.

“Youth Connect” marks an ambitious effort to bring together pupils of all nationalities attending schools in Limassol’s semi-mountainous region, via a sports, cultural and social activities programme.

At the presentation, Island School Founder Alexander Shkuratov and Head of School Deborah Economou gave a brief review of the School’s mode of operation and educational character, offering three different types of learning via the Waldorf, Montessory and Baccalaureate frameworks.

In her own welcome address, a representative of Education Minister Athena Michaelidou, under whose auspices the initiative was established, praised the School’s contribution to education, as well as the positive culture of its multinational students who, under their experienced teachers’ guidance, have assimilated the educational methodologies offered to them without difficulty. Also in attendance was former Republic of Cyprus president Nicos Anastasiades, president and members of the parliamentary education committee, MPs, mayors and community leaders.

Thereafter, teacher Iacovos Menelaou presented the sports, cultural and social activities entailed in the Foundation’s “Youth Connect” programme.

MP Nicos Nouris presented the objectives and activities of The Island Charitable Foundation, whose aim is to support talented children living in Cyprus who, due to insufficient finances, are deprived of a quality education. He described “Youth Connect” as an initiative complementing the Foundation’s activities, providing children from all participating schools with a chance to interact and learn about each other’s culture and national customs.

The “Youth Connect” programme begins on Saturday, December 9, 2023 and will run until the end of the current academic year, concluding on May 29, 2023.

The programme will feature a series of football, padel and archery matches to be held on rotation at all participating communities, accompanied by other events such as traditional Christmas activities, clean-ups and tree-planting efforts, visits to local cultural and religious sites and landmarks, and recreational events.

Sponsors of “Youth Connect” for the academic year are the Charalambides Christis dairy company and Petros Savva construction and development company.