The winners of the Yianis Christodoulou Foundation’s LOVE CYPRUS 2023 competition were awarded on Monday evening, in a glorious awards ceremony that celebrated Cypriot tradition, at Limassol’s Monte Caputo.
The eight winning schools were picked by a judging committee, comprised of businessman Yianis Christodoulou, acclaimed Cypriot singer Anna Vissi, Marianna Latsi and Christian Moore.
The judges had their work cut out as they were asked to choose among hundreds of submissions. Eventually, the winning schools were handed prizes totalling €180,000.
The entertainment menu for the 1,500 guests at Monte Caputo was headlined by popular Greek singer Konstantinos Argyros, while pupils from the winning schools performed traditional dances.
The winners of the LOVE CYPRUS competition:
First Prize in Dance Performance (€50,000) – Kokkinotrimithia Regional Gymnasium
Second Prize in Dance Performance (€25,000) – Laniteio Lyceum
Third Prize in Dance Performance (€10,000) – TESEK Famagusta – Avgorou
Fourth Prize in Dance Performance (€5,000) – Argaka Primary School
First Prize in Photography (€50,000) – Primary School of Achna “Fotis Pittas”
Second Prize in Photography (€25,000) – Ayia Paraskevi Yeroskipou Gymnasium
Third Prize in Photography (€10,000) – Polis Chrysochous Gymnasium
Fourth Prize in Photography (€10,000) – Athienou Primary School
95-year-old sensation on stage
The photography submission of Ayia Paraskevi Yeroskipou Gymnasium caused a sensation. The picture shows a 95-year-old woman wearing a headscarf, with two children dressed in traditional Cypriot clothes standing next to her, while a smiling pupil with an immigrant background, wears a blouse with the “I Love Cyprus” logo. The picture highlights the value of diversity and takes a stance against xenophobia and prejudice.
According to the competition’s rules, the school was asked to reproduce the photo on stage. The 95-year-old woman managed to accompany the pupils in the ceremony and even sang a “tsiattisto” expressing her love for Anna Vissi.
Read more:
Sparkling awards ceremony by “Yianis Christodoulou Foundation”
