The PwC Foundation on Tuesday detailed the various initiatives under its youth entrepreneurship pillar, aimed at bolstering young entrepreneurial talents and supporting community projects across Cyprus.
These efforts include continuing their partnership with Junior Achievement Cyprus to deliver the “Our Community” programme to 3rd-grade students across Cyprus.
Now in its fourth year, the programme, offered free of charge in both public and private schools, teaches students about the dynamics of community operations and the benefits of contributing to societal success.
Throughout the year, 27 PwC mentors engaged with 381 students across 15 primary schools, delivering five 45-minute modules in an interactive classroom setting supported by teachers.
At the same time, the PwC Foundation has marked a decade of fostering entrepreneurial skills among the youth through its “Company Programme”.
This initiative guides participants aged 15 to 18 through the process of turning innovative ideas into viable business ventures.
This year, 18 PwC mentors shepherded five teams to the finals, where they could showcase their ideas at a special trade fair held at the organisation’s premises in Nicosia, preparing them for the larger 2-day JA Trade Fair.
The initiative culminates in the “Company of the Year” competition, with this year’s winner, Miguard from Mitsis-Lemythou Commercial School, going on to represent Cyprus at the European level in Catania, Sicily, in July 2024.
The foundation also supports the “Girls Go Circular” programme in collaboration with EIT Raw Materials and JA Europe, which focuses on instilling digital and entrepreneurial skills in young women through the lens of the circular economy.
This year’s participants were invited to PwC’s Experience Center to brainstorm ideas for an artificial intelligence tool aimed at mitigating gender inequalities in various sectors.
Further illustrating its commitment to educational support, the PwC Foundation has continued to offer scholarships, this year providing financial aid to 14 deserving first-year students from the Cyprus University of Technology (Tepak) and the University of Cyprus.
The scholarships are awarded based on a combination of academic performance and socioeconomic needs.
Moreover, in an ongoing collaboration with the Sophia for Children Foundation, PwC has adopted a collector elephant to aid the “Cook and Offer” programme, which supports underprivileged students in Cyprus and children in poverty-stricken areas of Kenya.
This initiative is a vivid demonstration of the foundation’s dedication to both local and international causes, reinforcing its role as a pillar of support in nurturing future leaders and advancing the common good in society.
Philippos Soseilos, CEO of PwC Cyprus and Chairman of the PwC Foundation, highlighted the foundation’s ethos.
“Giving and volunteering are integral parts of the PwC Foundation’s actions, and we take every opportunity to further strengthen our contribution to Cypriot society,” Soseilos said.
“We believe that every student deserves at least one practical business experience before leaving compulsory education,” he added.
“We are pleased that through these targeted actions, we contribute in our own way to the development and growth of young people, helping them achieve their dreams and ambitions.”, the PwC Cyprus CEO concluded.
