Students from an English class of B’ Lyceum are among the winners of the International Competition organized by the Economist Educational Foundation and Rolex. Under the guidance of their teacher, Ms. Gisela Iosif, the students submitted an ambitious proposal titled “PIERCEing the Silence: From Fear to Digital Kindness,” aiming to raise awareness among the school’s students and combat cyberbullying.

The prize includes £1,000 from Rolex and three meetings with a mentor from The Economist. The class will be represented in these meetings by the students Anastasia Gaitani, Melina Kalogeropoulou, and Ariadni Kokkinaki.

The students’ project seeks to reveal how online behavior, the spread of rumors, and cancel culture affect adolescents’ emotional well-being and how knowledge can lead to change. In the age of social media, a person’s public image can easily impact their everyday life. A single post or screenshot can go viral, leaving deep and long-lasting marks on one’s psychology.

The Pierce students’ proposal aims to help eliminate this phenomenon by combining empathy, education, and expertise in cybersecurity, guided by the school’s motto “Non ministrari, sed ministrare,” meaning “To serve, not to be served.”