ATHENS – [photos by CIT]
The Children’s Institute of Technology (CIT) announced that it has been honored with a Gold Award at the Education Leaders Awards 2026 for its international educational initiative, “Innovation Bridges: Connecting Ancient Greece with the Greek Diaspora”.
The award was presented in the category Digital Platforms and Tools for Greek Language Learning during the 11th annual Education Leaders Awards ceremony, held on 2 July 2026 at the Conference Center of the Ancient Olive Grove Campus of the University of West Attica in Athens, Greece.
The Education Leaders Awards recognize outstanding educational initiatives that promote innovation, excellence and meaningful impact in education, celebrating organizations and institutions that contribute to the advancement of learning in the digital era.
At a time when education is called upon to address the challenges of globalization, digital transformation and the development of 21st-century skills, “Innovation Bridges: Connecting Ancient Greece with the Greek Diaspora” introduced an innovative educational model that reimagines Greek language and cultural education through interdisciplinary STEAM learning.
The programme brought together schools with Greek educational and cultural interest across five continents, creating a single global learning community. By combining Ancient Greek science, mythology and cultural heritage with robotics, engineering, coding, design and creative problem-solving, students became young researchers, engineers and innovators, collaborating on authentic STEAM challenges while developing critical thinking, creativity, communication and teamwork.
Through live online collaboration, students from Greece, the United States, Japan, Australia, Egypt and the Democratic Republic of the Congo learned, designed and created together, demonstrating how technology can strengthen cultural identity while connecting young people across borders.
The programme was offered free of charge to all participating schools. Each school received high-quality STEAM kits and specialised technological equipment, alongside continuous pedagogical guidance, teacher mentoring, interactive online meetings and shared educational resources. This approach ensured equal learning opportunities regardless of geographical location, technological infrastructure or financial capacity, promoting educational inclusion and reducing inequalities.
The programme was led by Mariliza Pontikou-Lignos, Educator and Founder & CEO of the Children’s Institute of Technology (CIT), with Dr Penny Kalakou serving as Scientific Supervisor and Martina Papaioannou as Technology Director.
Receiving this national distinction highlights the growing international impact of collaborative STEAM education and reinforces CIT’s commitment to building meaningful educational partnerships that connect Greek communities around the world through innovation, technology and culture.
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