The John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation, aiming at the development of skills and an entrepreneurial mindset across all levels of education, continued its collaboration with the educational non-profit organisation Junior Achievement Greece, supporting for the third consecutive school year the implementation of the “Company Junior” programme for students aged 11-15 (5th grade of Primary School to 3rd grade of Junior High School). At the same time, during the school year 2023-2024, the innovative entrepreneurship training programme “V-Company” was implemented for the second time, with the support of the Foundation. The Programme is addressed to adult students of Vocational High Schools and Apprentice Vocational Schools, as well as Vocational Training Institutes of the Greek Public Employment Service.

Through the two Programmes, students, guided by mentors-volunteers, have the opportunity to develop original ideas for the design and presentation of a business plan, developing skills such as teamwork, active citizenship, problem-solving, and effective time management through the principles of experiential learning. At the core of the “virtual enterprises” lies the goal of solving a social and/or environmental problem within their community, combining a wide range of objectives, such as Information Technology, New Technologies, and Sustainable Development.

• During the school year 2023-2024, the “Company Junior” programme was implemented in 87 school units in Greece and abroad, with the participation of 3,050 students and 109 teachers.
• 1,240 students aged 15-25 years old and 169 teachers from 75 school units of Vocational Education participated in the «V Company» programme.
• 23 Apprentice Vocational Schools of the Greek Public Employment Service participated in the “V Company” programme with the involvement of 651 students and 32 instructors.
• The “Let’s Go” team from the Special Junior High School and Lyceum for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing of Thessaloniki was named the top student virtual company in the 19th National Student Competition 2024, a historic distinction, as it marks the first time a special education school has won the 1st Prize.

“We are all equal! We are all human, and if we have the right environment, we can achieve anything! Our win, with our original LEGO brick accessories and the board game TriGo, is an example of what can be accomplished when people from different backgrounds come together to serve a common purpose. Through the TriGo board game, we not only showcased our team’s inventiveness and creativity but also demonstrated the tremendous potential of inclusive collaboration.”

Christos Ganatsas

3rd grade Lyceum student, Special High School and Lyceum for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing of Thessaloniki

General Manager, “Let’s Go” student company

1st Prize “Odysseas Kyriakopoulos”, 19th National Student Competition “Best Company Junior 2024”