JUMPSTART the Peace
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Jumpstart Youth Peace Campaign in Cyprus is an EU-funded project approved as part of the EU’s initiative to strengthen Cypriot Civil Society. The project has been implemented from February 2009 to February 2011. The project aimed to promote dialogue and cooperation among Turkish-Cypriot and Greek-Cypriot, and in the long run contribute to the reconciliation process in Cyprus. Main applicant has been the Turkish –Cypriot organization Youth Center Union, which jointly implemented the project with Future Worlds Center. The Overall Coordinator for the project was Huseyin Kursat.
More specifically, the project aimed to:
- Increase confidence building between the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot youth 18-30 years
- Create opportunities for youth to actively engage in reconciliation activities
- Promote inter-cultural dialogue and its methods and language as a concept and as the means for envisioning a future Cyprus
- Enable Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot youth to challenge their own stereotypes and perceptions as well as to develop the capacity to challenge those of the community at large
‘Jumpstart Youth Peace Campaign in Cyprus’ offerred the opportunity to Turkish-Cypriot and Greek-Cypriot youth to participate together in capacity-building trainings and become actively involved in the organization and implementation of activities around youth- related issues, in the areas of Human Rights, Environment and Entertainment. The project culminated with the implementation of a “Jumpstart” Peace and Reconciliation bus tour with activities at different destinations
Activities
Implementation of a series of trainings for youth leaders
Young people, recruited in the project had the chance to participate in a series of trainings, expected to provide them with skills and knowledge on how to organize and implement small –scale projects around youth-related issues. Trainings focused on the following areas: a) Team-building and leadership, b) Conflict resolution, c) Campaigning and PR, d) Human Rights and advocacy, e) Intercultural learning
Community building activities
Three small-scale bi-communal projects have been implemented by the participating youth expected to help participants explore issues relating to Human Rights,Intercultural Learning, and Active Citizenship. These small scale-projects included: a) a panel discussion titled " Project stories" in which active youth leaders from Turkish-Cypriot and Greek Cypriot communities shared their experience and vision with the public regarding projects they have implemented, b) an interactive art workshop in which participants from different communities of the island communicated their perceptions on multiculturalism by means of painting on a big canvas, c) a visit to the archaeological site of Curium in Limassol during which participants from different communities explored narratives of culture relating to the site.
“Jumpstart” Peace and Reconciliation bus tour with activities at different destinations
A bus decorated with peace symbols created by the participants - travelled to different destinations all around the island, carrying youth who conducted and participated in various activities at different locations. The activities conducted have been proposed by participating youth leaders, and focused on the areas of Human Rights, Environment and Entertainment. The bus tour travelled during four consecutive weekends. Participants visited Famagusta, Lapithos/ Lapta area in the North, Limassol and Paphos areas in the South. In Famagusta and Limassol
During the visits to Famagusta and Limassol, participants from Greek Cypriot, Turkish Cypriot as well as other communities of the island, participants got acquainted with the cultural heritage of those particular areas, and explored issues of Human Rights and Multiculturalism.
During the visits to Lapithos/ Lapta and Paphos participants from Greek Cypriot, Turkish Cypriot communities explored the natural environment and discussed issues pertaining to environmental sustainability in the area. In Paphos participants had the unique opportunity to explore the environmenmtally protected area of Akamas together with experienced trainers from'Cyprus Environmental Studies Center'.
A youth symposium
A youth symposium has been implemented that brought together all participants, partners and community members to celebrate the success of the project and its Peace Bus Tour. Participants being involved at different stages of the project shared their experiences, celebrated their achievements and promised to follow-up with future initiatives.
Videos
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