Students from TRNC schools were among the finalists in an island-wide innovation competition this month.
Ninety teenagers, aged 15 to 18, were divided into 20 teams to work on entrepreneurial and collaborative projects in the second Junior Achievement (JA) Cyprus event, backed by the US Embassy and University of Nicosia.
Six teams were chosen for the finals, each of which included students from The English School of Kyrenia (ESK), as well as youngsters from Eastern Mediterranean Doğa College and TED.
ESK student Tolga Atun and Diyar Mousa of Eastern Mediterranean Doğa College were part of the winning team with its BICY: Explore the Island with Us project, alongside pupils from the South’s English School and Grammar School.
The winners will take part in a professional development programme next summer run by the global Olympism for Humanity Alliance.
Second was the Leisure Hunt Bus Tour devised by ESK’s Kayra Şadi, Ayhan Gazioğlu of Eastern Mediterranean Doğa College, Sevgen Izel of TED Northern Cyprus College and collaborators from the American Academy, Larnaca and IMS Limassol.
Third was Top-to-Toe Cyprus, involving ESK’s Daniel Todd and Yusuf Ziya Ilerici of Eastern Mediterranean Doğa College, with pupils from Limassol’s Pascal English School and Foley’s School, and South Nicosia’s English School.
Kayra Şadi, a finalist last year before achieving second place this time, said: “It was the best day ever! I learned a lot, had fun and made friends. It was a tough day but certainly worth it.
“Next year I aim to be first! Never give up!”
