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.

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]

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 2^nd 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

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

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.