Young people working to create a better future

By Karen Taylor

Youth is the most active and vital force in any society; the hopes of a country and the future of a nation lie in the hands of its young generation. This was emphasised by Chinese President Xi Jinping recently, who has long emphasised the vital role of youth in China’s modernisation efforts. “A nation will prosper only when its young people thrive,” he said.

Growing up with the internet, the new generation has not only been profoundly shaped by it, but has also influenced the internet. It has become their ‘sixth sense’ and a vital part of their lives.

This is true for the young people not only of China, but of Cyprus too, two countries that share a time-honoured friendship, underlined by the creation in 2021 of the China-Cyprus Youth Forum.

“Today, human civilization has once again entered a crucial period with both opportunities and challenges. The responses, choices and actions of young people matter greatly to humanity’s future,” said former Chinese ambassador to Cyprus Liu Yantao.

Youth who participate in the forum exchange views on mutual learning between civilizations, digital transformation and green development. “These three areas seem to be different, but they are all related to the same questions – where is humanity headed for? where will civilizations evolve?” Liu said. “Youth bring vast hopes, and young people create a better future”.

This is a future that on the island now sees research and innovation as central to its economic model, according to Chief Scientist Demetris Skourides. Progress, he added, has seen “measurable excellence” coupled with a more outward-looking innovation policy.

Meanwhile, Sir Stelios Hadji-ioannou, of the easy group, runs a competition each year to boost young entrepreneurs by giving them €200,000 in prize money. “The young generation of Cyprus possesses the power, creativity and courage to innovateand transform the country’s entrepreneurial landscape for the better,” he said.

These words are reflected in the actions of young people on both sides of the world. Here is how some of them have made a difference.

Gaming

Feng Ji and his team turned Black Myth: Wukong from a game into an immersive arena of Eastern culture and Chinese aesthetics. Global players came for the challenge only to be enchanted by the beauty of the Chinese setting, which then found its way into millions of homes.

Millions of other homes ventured into the Ludus: Merge Arena, developed by the Cyprus-based Top App Games Ltd, a highlight of the island’s growing role in the international gaming industry. “Reaching eight million installs worldwide is a milestone that reflects the hard work of our team and the passion of our community,” said CEO Vladimir Markov.

Going to extremes

Diving to a depth of 9,000m, Du Mengran explores the unknown of the deep sea. Aboard multiple submersibles, she has discovered unknown ecosystems at the deepest point of the earth. While the world focuses on AI and space, she chose to head down to explore life’s origin and expand new frontiers for human knowledge.

Expanding her horizons in the exact opposite direction, Cyprus’ Eleni Charitonos is currently an operations engineer at New Zealand’s Rocket Lab, from where she launches rockets into space. She has previously completed two internships at NASA and is Cyprus’ first female analog astronaut.

AI advancements

Breaking storage bottle necks for AI has seen Liu Chunsen lead a team to develop the world’s first chip that combines 2D materials with conventional silicon circuitry, creating the fastest semiconductor charge storage to date. It can be achieved with desktop size equipment, taking high-end chip tech out of giant monopolies and enabling more innovators to participate in AI tech breakthroughs.

AI is the focus for the latest winner of the Stelios Awards for Young Entrepreneurs in Cyprus, George Chrysostomides for his Shopify website creation company Shrine, which specialises in the development of digital technology solutions for e-commerce, connecting businesses and brands with innovative online experiences. He said he has built the company to revolutionise how businesses operate online with cutting-edge solutions.

The appliance of science

1990s-born college graduate Wang Lingli defied expectations and turned her back on urban opportunities to return to her rural hometown in southwest China as a farm manager. Introducing advanced machinery and smart farming techniques, she also transformed productivity. Yields surged, farmers’ incomes jumped, and soon, she was overseeing multiple cooperatives

Taking science in a different direction is Dr Kyriaki Michaelidou of the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, who was recently awarded the UNESCO-Al Fozan International Prize for young STEM scientists, one of five recognised worldwide.

She received the award for her research into breast cancer genetics and for developing and applying biostatistical methods that have advanced scientific knowledge and medical research. “The award is an important recognition of my efforts in the field of science, but also of the value of research and innovation for the common good,” she said.

About Mirror of Culture

Mirror of Culture is a joint initiative of the Cyprus Mail and the Chinese embassy. It highlights the parallels between Cypriot and Chinese culture to set an example of acceptance, respect and

understanding among the various cultural communities on the island, recognising the fundamental importance of culture.

Culture is the universal language that transcends many barriers, including language and geography. The aim is to work with diverse cultural communities in Cyprus to share and promote our vibrant cultures to further bolster the bonds among all the people of Cyprus and celebrate the diversity of cultures in the world.

Furthermore, the initiative understands the importance of cultural preservation, which is an important way for us to transmit traditions and practices of the past to future generations.