The 2nd Celebration Event of the Net Zero for Youth (NZ4Y) educational programme took place with great success on Monday, 15 June, at the Headquarters of the Electricity Authority of Cyprus in Nicosia. The event marked the culmination of a school year full of experiential learning, creativity, collaboration and active youth participation.
Under the theme “Building a Better Future”, this year’s celebration highlighted the philosophy of NZ4Y: a programme that goes beyond environmental awareness and helps young people develop knowledge, skills, character and appreciation for the world around them. The event was held under the auspices of the Commissioner for the Environment and Animal Welfare, Ms Antonia Theodosiou.
This year, the programme reached more than 40 schools and over 1,000 students through quizzes, questionnaires, workshops, creative challenges and activities that connected environmental knowledge with everyday life. This participation confirms that young people respond strongly when learning becomes action, experience and personal discovery.
During the 2025–2026 school year, students took part in activities including the Music Challenge, the Emotional Intelligence Workshop, the “Magical World of Cultivation”, cooking and woodworking workshops, and participation in the 4th Youth Tech Festival. Educators also had the opportunity to attend a workshop on the use of Artificial Intelligence tools in education.
A special part of the year was the “Magical World of Cultivation”, a five-month activity through which students cared for approximately 1,000 pots and more than 6,000 seeds. Through weekly photo uploads and interaction on the digital platform, cultivation became a lesson in responsibility, patience, consistency and connection with nature.
During the event, students, educators and schools were recognised for their consistency, creativity and overall participation. The awards included individual student distinctions, school awards and the interactive “Quiz of the Day”, which gave the event a lively and participatory character. Additional prizes were also provided by Gear Education, Global Communication and the Kateryna Biloruska Foundation.
NZ4Y is implemented with the Youth Board of Cyprus as Institutional Supporter and with the support of the programme’s sponsors and partners: Island Oil Holdings, Electricity Authority of Cyprus, CYTA, Evagoras & Kathleen Lanitis Foundation, Eurobank, KPMG Cyprus, Alion, Celestyal Cruises, Grant Thornton and Pyrgou Vakis Law Firm. Institutional partners are CYMEPA and the Biology Inspectorate of the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth.
The 2nd NZ4Y Celebration Event closed with a simple but meaningful message: to look around us, to care, and to leave the world a little better than we found it.
About Net Zero for Youth
Net Zero for Youth (NZ4Y) is a Cypriot educational initiative that helps young people understand, create, care and act for a more sustainable future, connecting environmental education with life skills and everyday choices. More information: www.nz4y.org
