KidIT Co-Founder presents innovative FamilyTech project supported by Cyprus-based IT companies

For KidIT Co-Founder Yulia Tarasova, it was a combination of her professional background and personal life that promoted the inspiration behind the the free, FamilyTech project which enjoys the support of top IT companies based in Cyprus.

KidIT Cyprus - www.kidit.pro offers tech education to children aged between five and 13 through completely free classes in cooperation with, and on the premises, of select IT-companies around Cyprus.

As noted by KidIt Cyprus, its mission is to empower children by guiding them through the process of creating their own IT products, such as games, and showcasing them at international IT conferences. The programme is designed to develop both hard and soft skills, preparing children for a successful future in the digital age with the classes taking place within the offices of actual IT companies around Cyprus.

Recently speaking to CBN, Tarasova shared more about KidIT’s aims to give all children access to quality tech education as well as its exciting plans for the future, including an expansion to Paphos in the wake of successsful programmes in Nicosia, Limassol and Larnaca.

How did the idea for KidIT Cyprus first come about, and what was your inspiration?

I truly believe that the best ideas come from our own needs.

The idea for KidIT Cyprus was born from a mix of the personal side of being a mom of two boys and professional gamedev and event business background. As a mother I experienced exactly the same challenge most modern “digital immigrants” - parents are facing: seeing their digital native kids fully in gadgets but having no idea how to direct them to use tech productively, staying safe and keeping strong bonds with family and real life. Also being a global citizen living in different countries I wanted to overcome local limitations and develop in kids a global mindset, making it possible to reach the international level and being able to present what they can create worldwide.

Several factors were motivating to act:

1. Observing the lack of comprehensive tech education, where basic programming courses were the only programmes offered which I found not enough to help kids truly progress further despite the industry they choose to be a part of.
2. Fruitful several years in Silicon Valley with access to the most innovative decisions of how technology could be integrated into early education starting from kindergarten
3. Entrepreneurial mind which sees an opportunity where there is a gap.

Combining all elements the idea of KidIT was created with laying the bases of product mindset, immersive learning inside IT-companies, kids showcases on the biggest events and forming a strong supportive parents network.

Six years ago, when I moved to Cyprus, KidIT Cyprus evolved into a free, innovative, inclusive FamilyTech project, supported by IT companies to make high-quality tech education accessible to all families on the island.

Have you been happy with the public’s response so far?

Absolutely, the response has been overwhelming. We observed parents appreciating the unique approach we take—combining education with real-world experiences inside IT companies, hackathons, and international conferences. It’s been an interesting journey, especially in Cyprus. On one side the project grew very quickly opening the new locations across the island, on the other it took us almost 5 years to see that the initial demography of mostly Eastern European families is enriched with the participation of a big number of local families.

Now, we’re thrilled to see our community of parents becoming a vibrant multicultural and multilingual network. It’s not just a parent group—it’s more like an ideal business club, brought together through a shared value of family development, bonding and progressive education. We warmly invite everyone to join this community!

You recently announced an expansion to Paphos. Can you reveal any more future plans for the company?

Yes, we’re thrilled about our expansion to Paphos, growing also our Limassol, Nicosia and Larnaca presence with possibilities to more families. We have rocket plans for this year, going deeper into creating more partnerships with schools, universities and companies with expert workshops for kids, students and teachers.

We also focus now more on inclusivity, developing programmes that cater specifically to neurodiverse kids and those with special needs.

Additionally, we’re working on launching a Teens Business Accelerator to provide older kids with the skills and mindset needed to navigate the future of work, whether as entrepreneurs or in other professional roles.

Beyond that we’re excited about the prospect of sharing our impact-driven model abroad, having an interest from countries like Denmark and Saudi Arabia creating a global network of tech genius.

Can you tell us more about the companies you cooperate with to offer the programmes? For example, is there special criteria you seek in your partner companies?

We partner mainly with IT companies because our classes are held inside these offices to provide an immersive learning experience for the kids and their families.

Our partners are more than just sponsors—they are active participants in the educational process, opening their doors for classes, workshops and tours.

We have been fortunate to work for this 5 years with some of the most innovative IT companies and spaces in Cyprus, including TechIsland, Exness, payabl., Space307, Beon Active Office, GDEV, Wargaming, Servers.com, TheSoul Publishing.

As for the criteria, it’s quite straightforward.

First, alignment with the vision and values of what we’re doing at KidIT Cyprus: fostering creativity, supporting social initiatives and making true impact by changing Cyprus for better place in terms of family tech education.

Second, they need to have an office space suitable for hosting our classes (it’s important for us to immerse kids from early age in the world and walls of real IT).

And third, having employees with kids in the age range of our programme can be an additional internal benefit for companies employees, that can join the programme as within their workspace.

Can you tell us more about the decision to offer the programme for free? Is this something that will continue?

Offering KidIT Cyprus as a free programme has been one of our core principles from the start of being in Cyprus. We believe that financial barriers should never prevent a child from accessing quality tech education. Thanks to the incredible support of our partner companies, we’ve been able to keep our classes free and accessible, reaching several hundreds of families each year. As we continue to grow, maintaining the programme as a free offering remains a priority, and we’re actively seeking additional support and grant opportunities to ensure that we can sustain this model for years to come.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I’d like to express my gratitude to everyone who has been a part of KidIT Cyprus—our Partners, parents, Ninjas-educators and, most importantly, the children. Their enthusiasm and creativity drive us every day. I also want to invite any companies or individuals interested in supporting innovative education to join us on this journey. Together, we can make a significant impact on the future of tech education, not just in Cyprus but globally. Thank you for being part of our story, and we look forward to what’s next!