Two young Greek sisters from the Hellenic diaspora in South Africa have achieved international acclaim, winning a prestigious global competition with an innovative project that harnesses the power of Artificial Intelligence to protect one of Greece’s greatest treasures: the Parthenon.
Mila Papanicolaou (12, Grade 6) and Alexandra Papanicolaou (13, Grade 8), students at the SAHETI School in Johannesburg, recently secured First Place and Gold at MindHack 2025: The Ancient Revival, held in Bangkok, Thailand on November 22, 2025.
Greek girls use a fusion of code and culture
The sisters’ winning entry, “CultureDNA – Parthenon Heritage Preservation,” is a sophisticated, AI-powered platform designed to safeguard the iconic monument.
“It was a natural choice for us,” said Alexandra, speaking about their focus. “The Parthenon isn’t just a structure; it’s the DNA of our Hellenic heritage. We wanted to use modern technology to fight for its future.”
Using real-world data, the platform’s algorithm can identify potential environmental and structural threats to the Parthenon, providing critical, proactive insights for preservationists. The project stood out among international competitors for its technical depth, rigorous research, and profound dedication to protecting Greek cultural heritage.
Keeping the Hellenic flame alive
The MindHack competition, organized by ScopeIT in partnership with CIY, challenged students globally to use technology to protect and promote cultural heritage. For the Papanicolaou sisters, the win is a beautiful demonstration of how the Greek diaspora keeps the flame of Hellenic civilization alive across continents.
SAHETI School (the South African Hellenic Educational and Technical Institute), founded by the Greek community in Johannesburg, celebrates the girls’ achievement as a testament to its long-standing tradition of fostering excellence while maintaining deep ties to Greek identity.
Excellence beyond engineering
The international honors don’t stop there for the gifted siblings. Just prior to the AI competition, younger sister Mila Papanicolaou also represented South Africa with distinction at the Commonwealth Chess Tournament in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
She placed an impressive 6th out of 28 competitors, finishing as the top South African and the highest-placed African participant in the tournament.
The Papanicolaou sisters have not only brought honor to their school and South Africa but have also given Greece a powerful new tool in the ongoing global effort to preserve its most sacred monument. Their inspiring success marks them as true champions of both innovation and heritage.
Related: The Turbulent Story of Greeks in South Africa
