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Guided tour for visually impaired people in Larnaka

An innovative initiative took place on Saturday 14/05 in Larnaka concerning a guided tour specifically for people with visual impairments, which was jointly organized by the Larnaka Tourism Development and Promotion Company, the Cyprus Youth Organization, and the Municipality of Larnaka together with the “Agios Varnavas” School for the Blind. The intention is that the action will act as a pilot program for guided tours for visually impaired tourists, while at the same time, the participants will give their suggestions to make Larnaka more accessible for these groups of people.

Youth Makerspace Larnaka of Cyprus Youth Organization’s pioneering action for this occasion was printing the replica of the head of the statue of Zeno of Kitias, on the 3D printers of Youth Makerspace Larnaka. The said copy was given to the participants to peruse while the tour guide informed them about the history of the Stoic philosopher.

The first tour was attended by 13 visually impaired people, including 6 blind and 7 visually impaired, as well as 6 companions.

The tour started with a visit to the Pieridis Museum – Cultural Foundation of the Bank of Cyprus, where the participants had the opportunity to touch authentic exhibits from different eras, the history of which was explained by the Director of the Museum, Mr. Peter Astzian. Also, they were allowed to discover ancient perfumes that were reproduced by the G. Lazarus Cultural Center based on archaeologists’ studies.

The group then toured the city’s points of interest with a tour guide, from Europe Square to the Medieval Castle of Larnaka. Along the route, the statues of the philosopher Zeno of Kition, Cimon of Athens, and Leo of Venice narrated their lives and how they are connected to the city of Larnaka, through the innovative application of Larnaka Storytelling Statues. This application is considered good practice for visually impaired people.

This was followed by an experiential visit to the Kyriazi Medical Museum, which is perhaps the only museum where the visitor can touch all the exhibits, explore them, and … use some of them under the guidance of Dr. Mario Kyriazis, owner of the Museum. The more daring did not hesitate to smell old medicines or taste the oil of salt which is a rare healing product.

Note: The tour is dedicated to the memory of Maria Kyriakou, who was Secretary General of the European Blind Association, Vice-President of the Board of Directors of the Pancypriot Organization of the Blind, President of the National Cypriot Committee of Blind Women and Special Educator of the Blind and Special Educator, as the thought of this initiative started by her in the context of the European Program meeting held by ETAP Larnaca in July 2021. Unfortunately, she passed away a few months later and did not have time to complete the action. However, her colleagues, friends, and partners continue Maria’s work, as her goal was to enable people with visual disabilities to enjoy their lives and have equal opportunities with the rest of their fellow citizens.

Cyprus e2STEAM Festival

The University of Nicosia and the Cyprus Youth Organization organize the “1st E2STEAM Cyprus Festival“, under the auspices of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth and the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy. The sponsors of the Festival are the Commissioner for the Environment and the Citizen Commissioner.

 

The Festival will include presentations, interactive workshops, an educational conference for teaching the E2STEAM subject, and exhibitions and competitions related to Environment and Sustainable Development, Entrepreneurship, Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (E2STEAM).

 

April 9 and 10, 2022

Enjoy 2 days full of E2STEAM activities by choosing the interactive E2STEAM Festival workshops you want to attend.

See the attachments, the programs of the Festival events, and register yourself or your children for participation. first come first served.

To register for workshops and free activities use the following link https://forms.office.com/r/xE4uydFfSy.

 

Please respond by March 31, 2022.

Tel.: +357 22 841 500 | Email: [email protected].

 

GIRLS IN STEAM ACADEMY 2021

Girls in STEAM Academy: Training program for girls of 14-16 years old

Girls in STEAM Academy is a new initiative that aims at bridging the gap of low female representation in the sectors of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths) and it announces its new training programs that aim to empower young girls and to encourage them to pursue a STEM career.

Starting with the program BridgeSTEAM, Girls in STEAM Academy will offer two weekend trainings, one at CUTing Edge of the Technological University of Cyprus in Limassol (4&5 December) and one at the Youth Makespace Larnaka (11&12 December).

The two-day program BridgeSTEAM aims to empower the participants on three levels: a) through educational trainings on robotics and artificial intelligence, b) through offering information on career opportunities in STEAM fields, and c) bringing them in contact with female role models from STEAM sectors in Cyprus. During the training program, an educational training on the UN Sustainable Development Goals will be offered.

Girls in STEAM Academy is an initiative of Be an Ally Foundation, and is co-organised by Youth Makerspace Larnaka (Youth Board of Cyprus). Girls in STEAM Academy is sponsored by PwC and the Centre for Social Innovation, and is supported by CUTing Edge (Technological University of Cyprus). The initiative is led by Panayiota Polykarpou and Anastasia Liopetriti.

Applications for participation are open until 23 November through the following link https://forms.gle/RgnXL9LtCzeY6S5TA or on the project’s website https://steamacademycy.org/bridgesteam/

WHY STEAM?
Though girls tend to be more advanced than boys when it comes to digital literacy, only 17% of ICT graduates and professionals are women in the EU, and only 36% of the total number of STEM graduates in the EU. This might be attributed to gender stereotypes that keep girls from developing their full potentials. Girls in STEAM Academy aims to break these boundaries and stereotypes that hold girls back from developing an interest in pursuing a career in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics.

“Sciences provide an understanding of a universal experience. Arts are a universal understanding of a personal experience… they are both a part of us and a manifestation of the same thing… the arts and sciences are avatars of human creativity”.

Mae Jemison, an American engineer, physician and former NASA astronaut is the first Afro-American woman to travel to space.

Website: https://steamacademycy.org/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/steamacademycy

Instagram: @steamacademycy

Contact: [email protected]

Webinars for Makers 2021 – November

Webinars for Makers 2021

Youth Makerspace Larnaka is running the Webinars for Makers for a second consecutive year, offering special training on using the technological equipment which is available at its premises. The workshops are run by our inhouse trainers and are geared for beginners and advanced users.

The aim of the webinars is to train participants and raise awareness on the ways that new technologies may contribute to the creation of innovative ideas. As every year, participants have a unique opportunity to network with other participants and trainers, enriching the community of Youth Makerspace Larnaka.

Webinars Schedule – November 2021

  1. 04/12/21 – 10:00-11:30 – Learning Photoshop – Part 2
  2. 11/12/21 – 10:00-11:30 – Introduction to Microprocessors – Arduino and C Programming in the Arduino IDE – Part 3

Registration Form: https://docs.google.com/forms

In order to attend the webinars, you should fill in the above registration form. Then you will receive your zoom code via email.

Important information:
You are allowed to attend all the webinars.
The webinars will be held in Greek.
No relevant knowledge is required for the webinars for beginners.
Participation is free of charge.
There are limited spaces available.
A participation certificate will be given upon request.

For more information Tel 24 201777

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://makerspace.onek.org.cy

Facebook & Instagram: @makerspacelarnaka

MAKERsHOUSE 2021 – «ξόρκια / incantations»

The MAKERsHOUSE Residency Programme of Youth Makerspace Larnaka is actively engaged in empowering the artistic community, supporting artistic production and promoting research and innovation through offering its premises, equipment and services.

The second resident artist of 2021, Artemis Evlogimenou, in cooperation with her mentor Klitsa Antoniou, presents “incarnations” project, which examines the relation between magic and science. It studies proverbs, traditions, rituals and legends of certain cultures, while it researches on brain neuroplasticity and on how our thoughts may control our physical and mental condition. The artist has conducted research on herbal medicine, alternative medicine and she examines individuals’ physician surroundings, as well as their lifestyle. After a deep data analysis that focuses on the similarities of the two discourses, new rituals have been created.

Through this project, the artist aims to encourage spectators to reexamine their habits and customs, and to create a connecting bridge between science and the occult. These two discourses derive from different eras, yet they both try to explain the way our body works, as well as the world around us.

We invite you to participate in the incantation on honesty through an interactive installation at Youth Makerspace Larnaka on 29 and 30 October, 4 and 5 November.

The participants (in pairs) may book a 30-min slot for a unique experience at our 2nd MAKERsHOUSE Residency 2021 “ξόρκια/incantations”.

For bookings, please contact 24201777 or email us at [email protected]

Exhibition Opening: 29 October, 19:30-21:00
Exhibition Duration, 29-30 October and 4-5 November, 19:30-21:30

Directions for the Public:
Google maps directions (https://goo.gl/maps/Vsy22Qqu2iKUtRjE9) will lead you to the back entrance of Youth Makerspace Larnaka. The main entrance is at 1 Griva Digeni Avenue, next to the bust stop. Follow the private road on your right (if you are coming from Nicosia, or on your left if you are coming from Larnaka Municipal Theatre).

You are required to present a SAFEPASS in one of the following forms:
– Vaccination certificate of at least one dose received three weeks before
– Certificate of COVID-19 illness in the last 6 months
– Negative PCR or rapid test (72 hours)

The use of mask is mandatory in the exhibition area. All health and safety measures apply.

For more information Tel 24 201777

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://makerspace.onek.org.cy

Facebook & Instagram: @makerspacelarnaka

MAKERsHOUSE 2021 – «There is nothing wrong with loving something you can’t hold in your hand»

The MAKERsHOUSE Residency Programme of Youth Makerspace Larnaka is back for a 3rd consecutive year, aiming to empower the artistic community, to support artistic production and promote research and innovation through offering its premises, equipment and services.

Our first resident artist in 2021 Michalis Charalambous, in cooperation with his mentor Kyriakos Kosta, discovers how technology and artificial intelligence have been embedded in our daily life in various ways, either in the form of smart technology or through videogames and coding.

The exhibition “There is nothing wrong with loving something you can’t hold in your hand” was inspired by N. Kathrine Hayles’ book “How we became Post Humans/Virtual Bodies in Cybernetics” (1999). The exhibition illustrates how the perceptions of the notion of human have been fundamentally transformed in the last quarter of the 20th century, and presents the significant material and virtual concepts in the modern technological and scientific contexts.

The fear of postmortem existence reappears through the angle of technology and digital practices. Michalis Charalambous reexamines the boundaries between physical and digital environments, and the problematic practices which derive from human history. On this narrative, he creates a visual installation of printed digital photographs, ceramics and 3D prints.

Exhibition Opening: 8/10, 18:00-20:30
Exhibition Duration: 8-16/10
Opening Hours: Weekdays 8:00-17:00, Saturdays 9:00-14:00

Directions for the Public:
Google maps directions (https://goo.gl/maps/Vsy22Qqu2iKUtRjE9) will lead you to the back entrance of Youth Makerspace Larnaka. The main entrance is at 1 Griva Digeni Avenue, next to the bust stop. Follow the private road on your right (if you are coming from Nicosia, or on your left if you are coming from Larnaka Municipal Theatre).

You are required to present a SAFEPASS in one of the following forms:
– Vaccination certificate of at least one dose received three weeks before
– Certificate of COVID-19 illness in the last 6 months
– Negative PCR or rapid test (72 hours)

The use of mask is mandatory in the exhibition area. All health and safety measures apply.

For more information Tel 24 201777

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://makerspace.onek.org.cy

Facebook & Instagram: @makerspacelarnaka

Webinars for Makers 2021 – November

Webinars for Makers 2021

Youth Makerspace Larnaka is running the Webinars for Makers for a second consecutive year, offering special training on using the technological equipment which is available at its premises. The workshops are run by our inhouse trainers and are geared for beginners and advanced users.

The aim of the webinars is to train participants and raise awareness on the ways that new technologies may contribute to the creation of innovative ideas. As every year, participants have a unique opportunity to network with other participants and trainers, enriching the community of Youth Makerspace Larnaka.

Webinars Schedule – November 2021

  1. 06/11/21 – 10:00 – 11:30  – Rhino 3D – 3D Printer
  2. 13/11/21 – 10:00-11:30 – Learning Photoshop – Part 1
  3. 20/11/21 – 10:00-11:30 – Introduction in Illustrator
  4. 27/11/21 – 10:00-11:30 – Rhino 3D – Laser Cutter

Registration Form: https://forms.gle/KGjqVzaGDWoZZVfL6

In order to attend the webinars, you should fill in the above registration form. Then you will receive your zoom code via email.

Important information:
You are allowed to attend all the webinars.
The webinars will be held in Greek.
No relevant knowledge is required for the webinars for beginners.
Participation is free of charge.
There are limited spaces available.
A participation certificate will be given upon request.

For more information Tel 24 201777

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://makerspace.onek.org.cy

Facebook & Instagram: @makerspacelarnaka

Webinars for Makers 2021 – October

Webinars for Makers 2021

Youth Makerspace Larnaka is running the Webinars for Makers for a second consecutive year, offering special training on using the technological equipment which is available at its premises. The workshops are run by our inhouse trainers and are geared for beginners and advanced users.

The aim of the webinars is to train participants and raise awareness on the ways that new technologies may contribute to the creation of innovative ideas. As every year, participants have a unique opportunity to network with other participants and trainers, enriching the community of Youth Makerspace Larnaka.

Webinars Schedule – October 2021

  1. 9/10/21 – 10:00-11:30 – Introduction to Arduino Microprocessors – Part 1
  2. 16/10/21 – 10:00-11:30 – Rhino in 2D & 3D – Part 1
  3. 23/10/21 – 10:00-11:30 – Scratch for kids 9-15 y.o. – Part 1
  4. 30/10/21 – 10:00-11:30 – Introduction to Arduino Microprocessors and C Programming on Arduino IDE – Part 2

Registration Form: https: //forms.gle/KGjqVzaGDWoZZVfL6

In order to attend the webinars, you should fill in the above registration form. Then you will receive your zoom code via email.

Important information:
You are allowed to attend all the webinars.
The webinars will be held in Greek.
No relevant knowledge is required for the webinars for beginners.
Participation is free of charge.
There are limited spaces available.
A participation certificate will be given upon request.

For more information Tel 24 201777

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://makerspace.onek.org.cy

Facebook & Instagram: @makerspacelarnaka

PULSE – Public Speaking VR App

PULSE – Public Speaking VR App

Do you get nervous when you need to give a presentation at school, university or at work?

Do you feel that you can’t deal with public speaking because you get stressed in front of an audience?

Would you like to improve your presentation skills?

If your answer is yes, you should definitely look into this innovative project of the Youth Makerspace Larnaka and the Youth Board of Cyprus, in cooperation with the Department of Psychology of the University of Cyprus and Silversky3D.

We have created PULSE, a public speaking VR app which aims to help young people enhance their public speaking skills, boosting their confidence and minimising their stress. The App operates with VR equipment, which allows the participant to go through the experience of public speaking in front of a virtual audience. Participants feel that they are speaking in front of an audience, they can move in the virtual space and interact with virtual objects, feeling that they are giving a real public presentation. Through regular and gradual exposure to this virtual environment, anxiety, fear and all psychosomatic symptoms that are often associated with public speaking will be controlled and eventually overcome.

Youth Makerspace is actively involved in the implementation of PULSE project that aims to show that technology may contribute to solving modern social issues and challenges with innovative solutions. This app aims to help people cope with a personal challenge like fear of public speaking. This project is yet another piece of evidence that technology, combined with other scientific fields such as psychology, may breed new solutions to current personal problems.

Youth Makerspace Larnaka invites everyone to test the app and provide their feedback, thus contributing to the development of the final product. The pilot phase will run through July and August every Wednesday 15:00-18:00 and Saturday 10:00-13:00 at Youth Makerspace Larnaka following an arranged appointment.

For more information you can visit our website www.makerspace.onek.org.cy.
You may contact us on 24 201777 and at [email protected] or find us on Facebook and Instagram.

Open Call for Artist-in-Residence Programme “Making Womanhood”

 

Open Call for Artist-in-Residence Programme “Making Womanhood”

The Youth Makerspace Larnaka, in collaboration with Media What, announces an open call for the artist-in-residence programme Making Womanhood. The aim of the residence programme will be to examine what it means to be a woman in Cyprus in 2021 and it is part of the Mediatized Portraits of Women Speaker series, implemented in the framework of the POWER project (Portraits Of Women Empowered Representations), which is funded by the US Embassy in Cyprus.

We invite artists from the fields of media and multimedia, art, design, interactive technology, education and social entrepreneurship who are interested in developing and promoting ideas and products through the use of technology. The theme of the invitation focuses on the ways in which we understand and make womanhood within the Cypriot society. The proposals may examine the political, religious and social structures of Cypriot society in the context of the economic crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic or, more generally, the experiences of women in Cyprus and the ways in which their lives have changed in the last decade.

The selected artists will be able to use the Youth Makerspace workshop and equipment with special guidance and mentoring.  The programme will end with a public presentation/exhibition of the outcomes.

Click here to download the proposal form.

Deadline for submission of proposals: June 21, 2021.

GENERAL INFORMATION AND CRITERIA FOR PARTICIPATION

Each selected proposal will be supported with the amount of 500 euros. In case equipment needs to be purchased for the proposal’s implementation, the purchase must first be approved by Media What and Youth Makerspace. This equipment will remain at the site of Youth Makerspace Larnaka after the completion of the residency. The proposal (1) that will score highest will be selected for a residency that will range from two weeks to two months.

If necessary, candidates may be invited for an interview to discuss their proposal further.

Media What and Youth Makerspace Larnaka reserve the right to use the artist’s final material for future exhibitions and presentations.

The cost of the exhibition / presentation of each residency (photographer, music) will be borne by Youth Makerspace Larnaka. If there is a need for specialised services/equipment (luminaire, sound engineer, etc.), their cost shall be borne by the creator. The final exhibition/presentation will be open to the public for free.

The event will be organized in consultation with the artist, Media What, Youth Makerspace Larnaka and YBC.

The call is addressed to young creators from the fields of media and multimedia, art, design, interactive technology, education and social entrepreneurship.

Acceptance of the general terms and conditions of participation in this residency programme, as well as the contract regarding the use of the space and equipment of Youth Makerspace Larnaka, are necessary conditions for this residency.

The residency may be adapted to the guidelines and regulations of the Ministry of Health against Covid-19. During the residency, all measures against the pandemic will apply as defined by the respective health protocols and relevant decrees.

Virtual Larnaka – The digital evolution of tourism in Larnaka region

A series of innovative virtual projects for Larnaka region were presented on Thursday, October 21, 2021, at an event held by Larnaka Tourism Board (LTB) and the Youth Board of Cyprus (ONEK), with the support of Larnaka Municipality and the Cyprus Deputy Ministry of Tourism (DMT). The ‘Virtual Larnaka’ event took place at the premises of Youth Makerspace Larnaka under the auspices of the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Mr Savvas Perdios, in the presence of distinguished guests.

LTB and ONEK joined forces to implement a multifaceted project to promote their common innovation; specifically, four interconnected, complementing virtual experiences that offer both locals and visitors interactive technological applications to enjoy the region’s attractions. Combining modern technology with landmarks, historical and cultural attractions, Larnaka’s tourist offering has been given a new dimension, with information given in a more engaging and immersive way.

Statues that speak; a 3D reconstruction of the Ancient Port of Kition; a virtual underwater navigation of Larnaka’s seabed, and interactive tours of museums that present exhibits with additional, enriched information and media all come together to offer a complete virtual experience of the region.

The pioneering Larnaka Storytelling Statues incorporates QR codes on various statues, monuments and busts across the region. Visitors simply scan the code from a mobile device with internet connection to receive a call-back from the monument recounting their unique story. The number of talking statues in Larnaka city has increased with the latest addition of the statue of Leo the Wise at St. Lazarus church; the Armenian Genocide Memorial; the bust of poet Tefkros Anthias and the Fanfare of Peace statue in the Municipal Gardens, as well as Makarios and Sister Sophie Chambon. Further afield in Pervolia village, a statue of Kallipateira has been included. There are also talking statues on display at various museums, such as the Cruciform Figurine at the Pierides Museum and a bust of Hippocrates at Kyriazis Medical Museum.

For the first time in Cyprus, an ancient archaeological site has been virtually restored to show historical accuracy in a 3D reconstruction. Utilizing virtual reality technology, the user can discover what the Ancient Port of Kition looked like 2,500 thousand years ago. A team guided by a French archaeologist leading the site’s archaeological expedition worked on the project, and it is worth noting that the video has already won the ‘Phoenicians’ Route – Iter Vitis Awards’ of the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe.

An important element of Larnaka’s touristic product is its wealth of diving sites and as such, the forthcoming Larnaka Underwater Diving Routes projects was presented, showcasing the Zenobia, Elpida, and LEF1 wrecks as well as reefs in Xylofagou’s Watchtower area and Voroklini’s Dorida. The routes will include all the details for each diving spot and present them in a virtual, 360° format.

The fourth pillar of Virtual Larnaka is an interactive 360° tour of Larnaka region museums with information and enriched content for selected exhibits. The first phase includes the museums: Municipal Museum of Historic Archives of Larnaka, Pierides Museum – Bank of Cyprus Cultural Foundation, Kallinikeio Municipal Museum of Athienou, Livadia Craft of Caning Museum, Kyriazis Medical Museum, and the Environmental Information Centre of Larnaka Mountainous Area.

Through the innovative platform, the museums can be virtually toured by viewers at home, or at the museums for a hybrid experience that accesses bonus material, including 3D representations of spaces and exhibits, and audio-visual content.

During his welcome address, the President of LTB, Mr. Dinos Lefkaritis, stressed the need for tourism destinations to adapt to the trends of the modern era in order to survive, and that this is the driving force of the joint initiative and the innovative projects of Virtual Larnaka.

The President of ONEK, Mr. Kleanthis Koutsoftas, stressed the need to utilize modern technology and the professional knowhow of young scientists in order to review and revamp the way that history is presented and attract the interest of the younger, tech-savvy generation.

The Deputy Minister of Tourism, Mr. Savvas Perdios, said of the project: “The Deputy Ministry – in the context of its ‘National Tourism Strategy 2030’ – supports such innovative efforts to digitize and enhance the visitor experience through modern, technological means, and it is with great satisfaction that we see the commendable efforts of Larnaka Tourism Board in this direction.”

During the event, Larnaka mayor, Mr. Andreas Vyras, stated that these projects – combining modern technologies – greatly contribute to the creation of an open and accessible city where both residents and visitors are entertained and educated on Larnaka’s history in a pioneering way.

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Vyzantiou Avenue, Larnaca 6030

Telephone

24201777

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