It was a day of joy, curiosity, discoveries and learning at the Youth Tech Fest Cyprus 2023, where over 1,000 visitors, including children, parents, educators, business executives and policy makers gathered for an unforgettable experience. This event, co-organized by the University of Nicosia and supported by numerous partners from various industries, stood out for its focus on children's enjoyment and educational enrichment.

Visitors were treated to a wide array of events, shows and workshops, curated to ignite curiosity and a love for learning in young minds. The event, refreshingly, was not about sales pitches but about enlightenment and fun. One attendee summed it up perfectly: “What a great day out with my children! It was packed with different engaging events and activities which were exciting and educational not just for kids but also for the parents.”

The event included an EdTech Summit which was opened by Mr. Panagiotis Zimaridis, Inspector for Design and Technology at the Ministry of Education on behalf of the Minister, Dr. Athena Michaelidou. 

Leading international and local thought leaders, practitioners and executives from the likes of European Commission, Oracle, Shell, and Microsoft shared insights on topics of the latest educational trends, methods and best practices, cybersecurity, technology utilization, digital education, the most demanding competencies required by businesses, AI, diversity and inclusion. The TEDx-style format ensured the delivery of the thought provoking content and facilitated lively interaction between the speakers and the audience.

Another significant part of the event was The Cubing League Final 2023, where 47 Rubik’s Cube enthusiasts and speedcubers from 8 countries, Cyprus, Greece, Romania, Poland, Lebanon, USA, Czech Republic, South Korea and Russia competed in four different age stages. The champion of the entire 2022-2023 season was a 21 year-old Cypriot Michael Eleftheriades. 

“This was the best final yet with the participants’ family members cheering on and over 100 visitors coming to enjoy and learn about the puzzle. Big congratulations to our champion Michael! In the world of speedcubing age is no barrier - our youngest winner was just 9 years old and the most experienced participant was 61 years young” - said Shamil Magomedov, the founder of the Cyprus Cubing Community. 

A pivotal highlight of the festival was the display of over 60 unique projects created by more than 500 children from private and public schools and educational centers across the island. These projects, which were part of the Awards at the Youth Tech Fest Cyprus 2023, showcased the creativity and technological prowess of the young participants. A special note of appreciation was extended to the dedicated educators and parents, whose commitment to preparing children for the future is truly commendable.

FastForward and the Digital Tree Media group, as proud media sponsors, are thrilled to have played a role in bringing the vibrancy and innovation of this event to a wider audience, amplifying its impact and reach.

The festival was also marked by an exciting moment for Dimitri Rusev, the lucky winner of the iPhone15 Raffle. The award was presented by none other than Benyamin Ahmed, a young programming prodigy and NFT sensation, who holds the distinction of being the youngest lecturer at Pembroke College, Oxford University. The joy and surprise on Dimitri's face were a sight to behold, encapsulating the spirit of wonder and discovery that the festival aimed to foster.

“Seeing smiles, hearing wows, observing kids and their parents getting fully engaged in hands-on activities and watching teenagers mastering technologies like XR was just incredible. The compliments from the educators regarding the quality of the Summit’s speakers and content shared was highly appreciated. Importantly, we succeeded in organizing an event that celebrated the diversity of cultures within our community and creating collective moments and lasting memories. We look forward to the next event which is being planned for early May 2024”, - summarized Sean Alimov, the founder of the Youth Tech Fest. 

The Youth Tech Fest Cyprus 2023 was not just an event; it was a celebration of the potential and promise of the next generation. As we look forward to more such events, we remain inspired by the boundless possibilities that lie in the fusion of technology, education, and youthful creativity.