Inspired by their father’s legacy and family values, two brothers support Cypriot youth.
The Zamboglou family makes a lasting commitment to supporting excellence in education. Two brothers, Demetrios and George Zamboglou, decided to give back to society by creating a foundation and supporting talented, underprivileged young people who want to make their dream a reality.
For Dr Demetrios Zamboglou, the Zamboglou Family Foundation is a deeply personal commitment: honouring his family’s values and helping exceptional youngsters turn high achievement into opportunity, regardless of their financial circumstances.
How did the idea of creating a foundation come about?
The Foundation did not begin in a boardroom. It began at the family table, in long conversations between my father, Andreas Zamboglou, my brother George and me.
Those conversations were not about reputation or recognition. They were about responsibility. What do we owe to the place and the people that shaped us? What would our family’s story mean if it ended with our own comfort? Where could our contribution change the course of a life, rather than simply ease a moment?
Who initially proposed the creation of a foundation?
My father proposed the foundation in memory of his grandfather, Efstathios, who arrived in Cyprus from Mersin as a refugee in 1922.
War and persecution had taken his home, his possessions and many of the people he loved. Through skill and determination, he rebuilt his livelihood and re-established his factory business in Cyprus.
His story reminds us how suddenly circumstances can change, and how much ability can survive devastating loss. It is also an important lesson; a person’s financial position is not the exclusive measure of their potential.
What do you want to achieve by creating the Zamboglou Family Foundation?
A young person who has worked relentlessly for their future should not have to abandon it because their family cannot afford the next step.
Imagine achieving outstanding marks while carrying worries your classmates never see. Studying through uncertainty at home. Holding on to a goal because you believe that, if you work hard enough, a different future is possible. Then imagine earning your opportunity and discovering that you cannot afford to take it.
This is the status quo we intend to change.
Why did you decide to support the education of young students rather than something else?
We considered many causes, and each one mattered. But we wanted to act at a turning point, where support given at the right moment determines everything that follows. And we kept returning to education.
Not as one worthy cause among many, but as the most powerful tool of change we know. At school, college or university, a young person’s effort either finds its reward or is quietly wasted. We refuse to accept that talent, discipline and years of hard work should be decided by a bank balance.
It is ultimately our overarching view that ability earned through effort deserves the chance to advance.
Why education matters?
Education changes the choices available to a person for the rest of their life. It creates a path towards a profession, independence and the ability to support a family.
When proven ability goes unsupported, there is a real cost both to that specific person and the society as a whole losing that talent.
What is the story behind the surname Zamboglou?
What makes a family is not a surname or a shared address. It is what passes from one generation to the next: memory, values, loyalty and the stubborn will to begin again.
Ours is a family that has experienced extensive bereavement and grief. Over multiple generations, we’ve lost homes, land, livelihoods and loved ones to war and displacement. More than once, the life our ancestors built was taken from them, and more than once, they’ve had to start again from zero.
What survived through time was not property. It was character, including skill, faith in work, and a refusal to be defined by what had been taken. That is the true inheritance we received.
However, we are not a perfect family. No family is. We do not present ourselves as role models, but rather as a family that managed to succeed despite the roadblocks. Having fared better than some, we consider it a duty to reach out to those in need and help them overcome their own struggles.
What is the vision for the future of the Foundation?
The Zamboglou Family Foundation is not meant to belong to a single generation. We hope many members of our extended family will join this work, bringing their own experience and energy, and that the next generation will one day carry it forward and make it their own. A family name on a foundation should not be a monument. It should be a living commitment.
At the same time, we acknowledge that there are more deserving students than one family can support alone, so we will build relationships with educators, donors, professionals and institutions who share our belief in excellence and fairer access to education.
What are the values of the Zamboglou family that you want to pass on through the Foundation?
Our father, Andreas Zamboglou, believed that doing well came with a responsibility to remain mindful of those who were struggling. Our own comfort should never allow us to overlook the difficulties others face. Our family motto captures this belief: “Do more good than bad.”
To me, it means helping without keeping score and without expecting anything in return. Give your time, share your knowledge, and offer guidance where it can make a difference—the Foundation allows us to practise that principle with greater purpose and continuity.
What does it mean to you that you have your brother by your side in this effort?
My brother George and I share a similar upbringing. We both remember our father, the conversations that shaped this idea, and the values he taught us—often more through his example than his words.
At its core, our Foundation rests on trust. There is something grounding about working alongside someone who knew you long before your titles and public responsibilities. A brother reminds you where you began and which values you promised to preserve.
Building this together also means being accountable to each other. We ask difficult questions, bring different perspectives and challenge whether our decisions truly serve our overarching purpose.
However, this is not only a commitment between two brothers. Those closest to us stand behind it, and their support gives it strength. The foundation belongs to our whole family, and that shared ownership is what will allow it to endure.
What do you hope to gain from this endeavour?
For me, the answer is simple: knowing that someone was able to keep going when they were close to giving up; that years of hard work could lead to an opportunity they had earned; that a family might feel a little less alone.
There is meaning, too, in building this foundation with George, and in seeing our father’s values become part of something that can endure beyond our own lives.
Our father is no longer here to sit with us and talk about what comes next. I wish he were. Instead, we carry that responsibility ourselves, guided by the principle he taught us: when you can help, you have a responsibility to try.
That promise is at the heart of our Foundation.
And to the exceptional student whose ambition extends beyond their financial means: you have worked hard to earn your next opportunity. We want to help make that opportunity possible.
How important is commitment to excellence?
Our mission is to support young people who excel in the fields of science and the arts and face genuine financial hardship.
We look for exceptional achievement, sustained commitment, and a genuine dedication to learning. Achievement demonstrates what a student has already accomplished; discipline reflects the responsibility that comes with opportunity; and ambition provides insight into how they intend to build on their education and what they hope to achieve in the future.
We also want to understand the circumstances behind those achievements. Outstanding results earned while facing bereavement, instability or financial pressure reveal remarkable perseverance.
The Foundation cannot supply that determination. It cannot study on anyone’s behalf. What we can do is remove financial barriers for students who have already shown that they are ready for their next challenge.
What should someone interested in receiving support from your Foundation do?
To any student considering applying, my message is simple: show us your achievement, your commitment and your need. Bring your school reports and academic results. Explain what you want to learn, why you have chosen that path and how you’ve prepared. Help us understand your financial circumstances and the difference support would make.
You should never feel ashamed of needing assistance. Our support is also intended for students who can demonstrate outstanding performance and sustained effort. Please note that an application cannot guarantee funding, and selection must be rigorous and fair.
But if you’ve been proactive, worked hard, achieved exceptional results, and still face a financial barrier, don’t rule yourself out before giving us the chance to consider you.
Those interested can contact us from now on. An official announcement regarding the application process will be made in due course. You can keep up to date with all the latest news and announcements via the Foundation’s website, zamboglou.org.
A few words about Dr Demetrios Zamboglou
Dr Demetrios Zamboglou has held senior executive positions in multinational companies based in Cyprus, the UK and the United Arab Emirates, and has many years of experience in international financial markets. In recent years, he has been living and working abroad, playing a significant role, amongst other things, in promoting business relations between Cyprus and the United Arab Emirates. In fact, following an open online vote, he received the 2026 Cyprus Diaspora (CYDIA) Award in the ‘Finance and Commerce’ category – an honourable distinction recognising the Cypriot entrepreneur’s contribution to outstanding achievements, leadership and innovation in his field.
In April 2026, Dr Zamboglou was appointed CEO of BitDelta Group, a multinational fintech company based in Dubai. Just a few months later, he appeared on the cover of the renowned magazine Arabian Business, outlining his vision for the company and the future of the financial markets.
He is also the author of the bestseller ‘Become Your Own Leader’, which has been published in Cyprus and Greece and has been translated into English, available in both print and digital editions via Amazon.
