Nicosia technical school wins €50,000 in anti-bullying video contest

The Macarios III Technical School in Nicosia took first place in the all-Cyprus student video competition “Together, Let’s Stop Bullying,” receiving the top prize of €50,000 for school needs. The winners were announced at a ceremonial event on 8 June at the Nicosia Municipal Theatre. The jury highly praised the school’s three-minute video titled “I See You” for its emotional power and metaphorical nature: the psychological burden of bullying was conveyed through white stones, which classmates arrange into a supportive message in the final scene, highlighting the important role of silent witnesses to bullying.

The competition, organized by Cyprus’s Ministry of Education together with the Yianis Christodoulou Foundation and the MHV Group, brought together more than a thousand participants from across the island, and its total prize fund amounted to €100,000. Second place and €20,000 went to Terra Santa Primary School, while four more prizes of €7,500 each were awarded to Ayios Ermoyenis Gymnasium in Episkopi, Cheri B Primary School, Linopetra Lyceum and Aradippou Gymnasium. The idea for the project is closely linked to the personal experience of the foundation’s founder, entrepreneur John Christodoulou, who as a child himself faced bullying after being forced to move to the United Kingdom. The businessman called on parents to build trusting relationships with their children so that they would not be afraid to speak openly about their problems.