| Posted: May 17
2010,06:07 |
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Postal address of
organization/institution |
P.O.Box 21428, Nicosia, Cyprus 1508 |
E-mail address of
organization/institution |
cyprus@peaceplayersintl.org |
Website address of
organization/institution |
www.peaceplayersintl.org |
Telephone of
organization/institution |
+359-99-301586 |
PRIORITIES: All of the
organization's domains of culture of peace activity |
EDUCATION FOR PEACE
UNDERSTANDING, TOLERANCE AND
SOLIDARITY
|
TOP PRIORITY: The
organization's most important culture of peace activity |
EDUCATION FOR PEACE |
PARTNERSHIPS AND NETWORKS:
What partnerships and networks does your organization participate
in, thus strengthening the global movement for a culture of peace?
|
PeacePlayers-Cyprus is part of the global network of
PeacePlayers programs with operations in Northern Ireland, South
Africa and the Middle East using the moto that children who can play
together can learn to live together. We are also part of the
Anna Lindh Foundation network promoting intercultural dialogue and
understanding as well as the Cyprus Youth Development Network
promoting collaborations among Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot
NGOs. PPI-CY has also been receiving the support of the
Laureus Sport for Good Foundation that promotes the use of sport for
personal development and growth among youth. |
ACTIONS: What activities have
been undertaken by your organization to promote a culture of peace
and nonviolence during the ten years of the Decade? If you already
made a report in 2005, your information from 2005 will be included
in the 2010 report. |
Since 2006, when PPI-CY started its operations in
Cyprus, it has worked with more than 1,500 children from the two
main communities in Cyprus, the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish
Cypriot community, bringing them together in intercommunal events,
twinnings, tournaments or summer camps using sport to promote
understanding and tolerance. Currently, PPI-CY works
systematically with over 100 children in bi-weekly
practices/meetings in their own communities and once every month the
children travel to meet another PeacePlayers team from the other
community and share the court. Basketball is only the means
used to make these encounters happen, our meetings are not
competitive but fun and inclusive with the goal of helping the
children overcome their fears, prejudices and taboos.
 |
PROGRESS: Has your
organization seen progress toward a culture of peace and nonviolence
in your domain of action and in your constituency during the second
half of the Decade? |
We
have definitely seen a lot of progress with the children over the
last few years. Most children had negative views about
children and adults from the other community before starting with
the program as children from the two communities have no
opportunities for interaction and dialogue - they live in a
physically divided island where only controlled and limited movement
is allowed from one side to the other. They also live in a
heavily militarised island and the presence of military is very
apparent all over the island. Moreover, unlike their
grandparents they have never lived in a city or a village with
someone from the other community. The PPI-CY has enabled these
children to overcome many of their fears and prejudices and see the
children of the other community as persons, as children like them
who want to live in peace. |
OBSTACLES: Has your
organization faced any obstacles to implementing the culture of
peace and nonviolence? If so, what were they? |
We are
faced with multiple obstacles in our work - some stemming from
certain authorities who do not want to encourage interaction between
the two communities, others from adults who do not value what we do
and see us as naive or traitors, and also many times from parents
who do not let their children cross to the other community to attend
bicommunal tournaments or other events. Another big obstacle
unfortunately is lack of local funds to support our work on the
ground. |
PLANS: What new engagements
are planned by your organization in the short, medium and long term
to promote a culture of peace and nonviolence? |
We
will continue our operations with the 10 teams of children we have
across the island and also plan as many bi-communal encounters as
possible. With a generous grant from the Anna Lindh Foundation
we plan to undertake a training for our coaches on peace education
techniques using sport to transmit the message of peace to them.
|
GLOBAL MOVEMENT: How do you
think the culture of peace and nonviolence could be strengthened and
supported at the world level?? |
A lot
more support on behalf of the UN needs to come towards NGOs working
to promote peaceful coexistence, both political as well as in terms
of resources. There is not enough pressure towards governments
to support these efforts within their own countries. |
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