Cyprus Friendship Programme - TEEN FAMILY HANDBOOK - Creating Friendships for Peace
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Cyprus Friendship Programme
TEEN FAMILY HANDBOOK
People UNITED in a country divided
Cyprus Friendship Programme, an organization of volunteers cooperating from both the north and south sides of Cyprus,
and Creating Friendships for Peace, Inc. (CFP), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in the United States, share the mission
to promote peace and understanding in Cyprus by bringing together teenagers from both sides of the divide with future
leadership potential, encouraging lifelong friendships among them, and extending these friendships to their friends and
families.
1
Welcome to the Cyprus Friendship Programme (CFP)!
This document will provide the information The Cyprus Friendship Programme is a major
you need to know about the Cyprus commitment of time, involving meetings and
Friendship Programme before completing the workshops on the weekends, radio and
application form. We hope it will be very television interviews, presentations in schools
clear that CFP is not a travel agency! We are and community centers, and special peace
an all-volunteer peace building and leadership opportunities that arise each year.
training programme for teenagers, promoting
bi-communal friendships and activities for The Cyprus Friendship Programme is also a
them and their families and friends. Through wonderful opportunity for teenagers to learn
these friendships and activities, fear is about the other community and about
replaced by trust and mutual respect. Teens themselves. Through CFP activities, as well as
applying to the programme should want to Euroscola, CFP teens learn new skills and try
meet and become friends with members of new challenges. They begin to consider things
the other community. Teens accepted to the from different perspectives and focus on what
programme promise to spend a year, and unites Cypriots rather than what divides
hopefully more, working on bi-communal them. They realize that each one of us can
efforts through CFP. In year 2020 this make a difference and that together we can
programme will become a two year accomplish much.
programme. The first year is being a
participant in the Peace Camp in Cyprus and TO QUALIFY, A TEEN MUST:
then in year two, those that participated in ➢ BE AGE 15 BY JULY 1 TO AGE 18
the camp the prior year, will be eligible for the ➢ HAVE ONE MORE YEAR IN SCHOOL
US Camp/Host Experience. ➢ HAVE ONE CYPRIOT PARENT
Background:
From Catholic and Protestant youth to Turkish speaking and Greek speaking Cypriot youth
The CFP is modeled after the Children’s a small U.S. non-profit organization called
Friendship Project for Northern Ireland HasNa in cooperation with a Cypriot team of
(CFPNI), a U.S. based all-volunteer peace and coordinators. In 2011, the U.S. non-profit
friendship building programme that organization of Cyprus Friendship Program,
successfully brought more than 2,000 Inc. (CFP Inc.) was formed to guide the entire
Protestant and Catholic teens in Northern programme and manage the programme in
Ireland, as well as their families and friends, the U.S. In 2018 the USA organization
together throughout its 21 year existence. changed its name to Creating Friendships for
CFPNI came to its successful completion in Peace as a way to recognize its growth to
2007. become a global peace building organization.
We are integrating other divided committees
The bi-communal Cyprus Friendship into the program in the USA. The programme
Programme started in 2009 as an initiative of in Cyprus is managed by a bi-communal team
2of Cypriot coordinators. The two all-volunteer driven by the same passion to promote a
groups cooperate harmoniously and are culture of peaceful coexistence.
CFP in Cyprus
The CFP programme in Cyprus is now bonds with them is the foundation of this
becoming a two year-long programme programme.
starting in 2020 and includes many meetings,
workshops, activities and opportunities to Each teen’s family makes a financial
speak about and for peace in Cyprus. All contribution to cover some of the costs of
teens accepted to the programme participate their child’s expenses.
in these events. In addition, there are two bi-
communal living experiences offered in July – CYPRUS CAMP
one in Cyprus and one in the United States.
Each teen selected for the programme will be CFP has run a bi-communal camp since 2003.
offered one of these experiences. In 2019 we Prior camps have been held in the small
will continue to offer the opportunity for village of Ayios Nicolaos on the south side of
teens who have not had the chance to be a the Troodos Mountains. Located 15 minutes
part of the Cyprus Peace camp to apply for down from Platres and 40 minutes up from
the camp or the US program. However, in Limassol, its inhabitants were Turkish Cypriots
2020 the only teens eligible to apply for the before 1974.
US program will be those that have previously
participated in the Cyprus Peace camp. The camp programme combines great fun,
Starting in 2019 the teens coming to the US valuable learning experiences and the
will be in a week long camp in the Washington creation of a strong spirit of community
D.C. area as an entire group. The camp will among all campers. Previous programmes
be a complementary experience to the Cyprus have included:
Camp and will include leadership activities,
team and trust building workshops, ● Mixed gender and mixed community
presentation skills and many more enriching teams competing in volleyball and
opportunities to learn and grow as peace basketball throughout the week. If
builders. At the end of that week they will you don’t want to play it’s OK.
be transported to their assigned regions to ● A professional karate instructor
begin their host family experience for an teaching karate for peace!
estimated 3 weeks. This host family stay will ● Workshops on history and the
conclude with a return trip to Washington different ways it is taught in the two
D.C. area for a 3 day closing retreat before main communities in Cyprus.
returning home to Cyprus. In each of the ● Watching documentaries related to
regions the teens will have planned group peace building.
activities that will be an extension of their ● Professional basketball coaches from
camp curriculum which will be planned and the famous Peace Players
managed by their Area Coordinator(s). Rest International group teaching campers
assured teens will have ample time to spend to play basketball and learning how it
with their pair and host family as building can be used to promote peace.
3● Oral history workshops combined support and guidance of professional
with the guidance of Turkish speaking language teachers.
Cypriots who grew up in the village ● Workshops to decide how we can
and a nature walk to the nearby continue the peace building work
Tzelefos bridge. after the camp, discussing if and how
● Excursion for dinner at Platres. the campers' families might get
● Learning origami, the Japanese art of involved, how we can connect with
paper folding, to create the universal other peace building groups to
symbol for peace – the peace cranes. promote a peace culture in Cyprus
● Drama/theatre workshops. and so on.
● Campers are encouraged to bring ● A talent show on the last evening with
their guitars or other musical music, theatre and dancing. Prizes
instruments as well as CDs with the are given to the winners of the team
music they like. and individual competitions.
● Campers teaching in pairs Greek or
Turkish throughout the week with the
CFP in U.S.
CFP creates bonds of friendship and trust who believe in the mission and goals of the
among the youth of the communities of programme and individuals. There is also a
Cyprus. For the U.S. programme, each teen contribution from the family of each Cypriot
from one community is 'paired' with another teen who takes part in the programme. The
of the same gender from the other organizers believe that no teenager should be
community. Each pair is in the US for 4 weeks. excluded from the programme because of
The first week is the previously described family financial difficulties. The Cyprus
Camp and the remaining three weeks are with Friendship Programme does not get any
your host family. The US experience will financial support nor is it dependent on any
conclude in Washington D.C. area with a 3 day political party. It does not receive any funding
retreat before returning to Cyprus.. from governments directly related to the
Cyprus problem (Greece, Turkey, U.S., UK
All the coordinators of the programme in etc.).
Cyprus and the U.S., as well as the board
members of CFP Inc., offer their services on a
purely voluntary basis. No one gets paid for HOW THE U.S. PROGRAMME IS OPERATED
the time they committ to this programme.
This also applies to the host families in the The Board of CFP Inc. elects a CFP Executive
U.S. who cover most of the expenses of Director who, for two years, coordinates the
operations of the U.S. programme. The
hosting the two teenagers.
current Executive Director is Tammy Haas,
The most important costs of the programme who has served our programme previously as
are the airline tickets and a health insurance the Area Coordinator in Oregon/SW
package during their stay in the U.S. These Washington region and she and her husband
costs are covered from donations from non- have also hosted teens in 2012. Each region
governmental organizations (e.g. the Rotary) has an Area Coordinator who recruits the host
4families and organizes the group activities. In information for the Cypriot teens and their
the past, we have had teens stay in Atlanta parents. At this point, the American hosts and
(Georgia), Connecticut, Maryland, New the Cypriot teens and parents can start
Hampshire, Northern Virginia, Oregon/SW communicating by e-mail, telephone,
Washington and San Francisco (California and Facebook, and Skype.
Maui, Hawaii). The U.S. Coordinators are
always looking for new areas to add to the While the Cypriot teens are in the U.S., hosts
programme. While some areas are rural and are requested to treat the teenagers as family
others are cities, regardless of where the members, not as tourists on holiday. Teens
teens go, the general programme of each area will take part in their hosts’ normal family
is the same and the host families share an summer activities. Each pair’s experience will
interest in world peace. vary according to the host with whom they
are placed. Teens need to remember that the
To be considered, host families must be able primary mission of the programme is to
to provide: experience living with a fellow youth leader
from the opposite side of the divide. To be
● A politically and religiously neutral home sure, the hosts will want to show them special
● A safe home with daylong adult aspects of where they live, but the purpose of
supervision the programme is for peace building and
● A bedroom for the teens to share leadership training, not a month of
entertainment.
There is an application process for all
American hosts consisting of an informational While in the U.S., the hosts cover most
interview, a written application, a criminal everyday living expenses of the Cypriot
background check, and a home visit. Both the teenagers. There will be times when teens will
Area Coordinator and the Executive Director have to pay for their own activities, e.g., a
screen and approve the hosts before they are movie they attend, extra food they may want,
accepted. American host profiles are sent by optional group trips or shopping. Host
the Executive Director to the Cypriot families, like everyone else in the U.S., do not
Coordinators who then match each pair of the get paid for their participation in CFP and
Cypriot teens with a host family in the U.S. teens should not make demands.
The matching is done by the Cypriot
Coordinators using criteria like gender of the Cypriot teens will form relationships with
pairs, common interests and hobbies, comfort their partner, but they will also form a bond
levels with pets, etc. with their hosts. This requires a willingness to
commit to learning a new culture for four
Once a match is made between the pair and weeks. Their hosts have opened their homes
an American host(s), the Cypriot families will for a variety of reasons – to participate in a
receive contact information from the Area global peace process, to support teen
Coordinator, the Cypriot pair’s American host, leadership, and to learn about Cypriot
and the Executive Director. Both the families culture. The families are not signing up to be
in Cyprus and the teens, while in the U.S., tour guides or to offer a vacation to teens
must keep these contact details with them in who simply want to visit the U.S. To be sure,
case any problem arises. Similarly, the families will want to expose the Cypriot teens
American hosts will receive contact to highlights of their region, but in general,
5the teens should be prepared to fit into the become leaders in peace building, how to be
families’ daily lives and adjust to the hosts’ sensitive and help others less fortunate than
routines and rules. This may involve us, how to be responsible citizens of the
household chores or participating in family world and care for the environment. Group
activities. It should be noted that, just as activities include team building, conflict
every Cypriot family is a bit different, so it is resolution workshops, community service,
with the U.S. hosts. and environmental awareness projects.
TRAVELING TO AND FROM THE U.S. IMPORTANT CFP RULES AND WHY
All the teens travel with experienced A CFP teen is an ambassador for all of us in
chaperones who are usually Cypriot and CFP and for the programme. The host families
American CFP Coordinators. The great team are informed about all the rules and expect
of volunteers in the U.S. includes our two the Cypriot teens to follow them. In the
transportation coordinators, Kim Bell and American culture, rules are taken very
Dianna Cook. During the long journeys to the seriously and host families would find it very
U.S. and back to Cyprus the chaperones are in difficult to understand if their Cypriot guests
contact with Kim and Dianna who are break the rules. The host families make a
available on a 24 hour basis taking turns to massive commitment to CFP by opening their
ensure that they are available to help in case home for nearly a full month to a pair from a
any problem arises. Messages are sent to the far-away land, cover most of the costs of their
coordinators in Cyprus who, in turn, inform by stay, take them to special places, treat them
e-mail the Cypriot parents continuously from like members of their own family so that they
take-off from Larnaca till the final landing in will have a great time and make a
the U.S. and all the stops in between! The contribution to peace in Cyprus. So, if the
same monitoring and messages are done for teens break the few but important rules they
the teens’ return flights from the U.S. back to have agreed to follow, they are reflecting
Cyprus. poorly on themselves, their country, those
who have donated to support this programme
ACTIVITIES DURING THE U.S. RESIDENTIAL and the CFP Programme as a whole. The
conditions of participation in CFP are designed
In each of the areas where the teens go, the so that everyone involved has a wonderful
Area Coordinator plans a number of group experience. Host families and U.S. and Cypriot
activities. In addition to the connection Coordinators do not want to have the
between the pairs and their host families additional role of policing the enforcement of
there is also the opportunity for strong group or negotiating the nuances of these rules. To
connections to be formed between all the be clear, breaking of the rules will result in
teens who go in each area. On average one consequences up to and including returning
time a week the group of teens in the same home from the U.S. at the expense of the
area meet for activities that are meaningful, Cypriot family and removal from the Cyprus
educational and also great fun! Starting in Friendship Programme.
2019 the teens will be engaging with teens
from another country or countries who are Money matters
part of the US organization. Typically, the
activities aim to inspire our teens how to
6Each teen can only bring to the U.S. a in Cyprus to have news from their children. To
maximum of $500 (U.S. dollars). This amount keep a balance between these two objectives
has been enough in the past for CFP teens to some things are allowed and some are not.
purchase gifts for family members and extras
for themselves. This rule must be strictly What IS allowed:
observed to give monetary equality to all
participants. Problems will be created if a ● As soon as the teens arrive in the host
teen brings a much larger amount than his or family's home they can make one
her pair or if a Cypriot has more spending short phone call back to Cyprus to tell
money than the children of the host family. their parents they arrived, they are
Needless to say, credit/debit or gift or tired and will go to sleep. One more
prepaid cash cards are not allowed. The telephone call can be made at any
teens will have the opportunity to shop at time during the four weeks after
malls, but this is not the reason they are in permission from the host family.
the U.S. If teens were allowed to bring large ● A couple of days after their arrival
amounts of money for shopping, the host when the jet lag is over and they
families would think they were not here for begin to settle, the teens can use
peace building and were taking advantage of Skype to talk to their families in
the host family’s time and generosity. This Cyprus so they will all feel more
could reflect poorly on CFP by making comfortable and relieved from
Americans not wish to host. This would be anxiety. Three more Skype
especially true when some hosts have made communications will be allowed after
personal sacrifices to be able to host the this point – usually at the weekend or
Cypriot teens. So, Cypriot teens are not whenever it is convenient for all
allowed to buy for themselves, or for their involved. So, a total of four Skype
friends, electronic devices or other expensive calls, about once a week, can take
presents they may have been asked to bring place.
back to Cyprus! ● The CFP organizers strongly
recommend that any two of the four
Finally, a great advantage of this expectation Skype calls described above are done
is that the teens will develop the life skill of at a time when the two families in
making and managing a budget for a month. Cyprus can meet and have a meal
together – one in one community and
Communications with Cypriot family/friends one in the other.
● The use of YouTube may be allowed
The main reason for the teens going to the but only as a social event between
U.S. is to connect with their pair, their host the Cypriot teens and the host family
family, and the bigger group of Cypriot teens and only with permission from host
who will be in the same area and to enjoy the family. The teens can participate in
uniqueness of peaceful coexistence which is on-line activities according to the host
so rare in Cyprus. For this reason it is family rules. For example, if host
important to put some reasonable limits with family teens watch YouTube videos,
communication back in Cyprus and the use of then so can the Cypriot teens. Often
the internet. At the same time the CFP team times, the host families and Cypriot
respects the right and concern of the families teens sit down together and Google
7maps of different places or current pods, tablets, android devices, mp-
events as part of their players and so on).
conversations. The crucial factor in ● If any such devices are found, they will
this use of technology is that it is part be confiscated. Other consequences,
of a social event with the host family depending on the severity of
(not a social connection with misbehavior may follow, including not
friends/family in Cyprus). awarding the CFP graduation
● If families in Cyprus are at any time certificate.
concerned and need more news, they
can communicate directly with the These rules may initially seem hard for
host family by e-mail or other means. teenagers (and their families). But once in the
U.S., they will be happily busy with all the
What is NOT allowed: activities of their group and with their host
families that they will not miss any of these
● Mobile phones are strictly not devices. The teens who have already been
allowed. through the programme will testify to this
● Use of Facebook and other social truth. Furthermore, parents who are worried
media. that, while in Cyprus, their children spend too
● The teenager is not permitted to bring much time on Facebook and the mobile
or use mobile phones and any other phone may appreciate that this would be a
electronic devices whether it can be very healthy break and that the teens will be
connected to the internet or not (i- busy with all kinds of meaningful and also fun
experiences.
How the Programme Works
● Teenagers from both communities, ● At the end of the workshops, each
age 15 by July 1 to 18 years old, teen chooses one person from the
having one more year in school, apply ‘other side’ of the same gender with
to join the programme after whom he/she feels comfortable.
presentations are made in schools ● The relationships of friendship and
and youth clubs in both sides of the trust created between the teenagers
divided island. are typically very strong. They begin
● Interviews are conducted and the to be formed before boarding the
selected applicants are accepted into plane in July since the selection
the programme in equal numbers process is completed by March. It is
from the two communities. strengthened during their month
● A series of meetings (half in the North abroad and continues after their
and half in the South), with facilitated return to Cyprus.
workshop activities, take place that ● The families of each 'pair' also get
focus on leadership, communication, connected with equally strong bonds.
reconciliation and peace building It is only normal that the parents of
skills. each teenager would be interested to
meet the young person from the
8other community that their child has settings as watching a movie together
chosen to be a roommate for one or when teens are casually talking in
month. It is equally normal to have their room prior to falling asleep.
the wish to meet the family of this ● Another important aim of the
child. Very often the circle becomes residential is to further advance
bigger with grandparents, uncles and leadership and peace building skills
aunts. There are typically many which had been promoted during the
meetings of the two families in Cyprus programme activities that occurred in
even during the month when their Cyprus. This is done through four
children are in the U.S. formal programme activities during
● In the summer, each pair of teenagers the residential (team building, conflict
lives with a host family (it is possible resolution training, community
the family consists of a single man or service, and environmental
woman with or without children as awareness).
well as a married couple with or ● The Cypriot coordinators of the
without children) in the United States, programme organize activities and
sharing a bedroom to themselves for projects for the members all year
a three-week residential stay. round. The aim of the Cyprus
● It also allows them to experience a Friendship Programme is to spread
country where many differing cultures the message that reconciliation is
and religions live together in peace. possible and that these young people
● Typically strong bonds of friendship are living examples of this truth.
also build between the teens and ● In October a CFP Graduation occurs.
their host family that last well beyond After graduating, each participant is
the summer residential. Most often, required to continue to participate in
that bonding occurs in such informal the CFP bi-communal activities.
9Contact Information
Cypriot Coordinators
Phone No. E-mail Address
Simge 05428564828 6 Aksekiz Apt, D2, Sht Murat
SimgeK@cyprusfriendship.org
Kahvecioglu 2270525 İlhan Str, Kumsal, Nicosia
14 Promitheos Street
Maria 00357
MariaA@cyprusfriendship.org Plati
Asvesta 99521888
Aglangia, Nicosia 2113
61 İzem Apt.2, D1, Sht
Cise 05338635183
CiseS@cyprusfriendship.org Mehmet Kemal Str,
Sakalli 2275077
K.Kaymakli, Nicosia
Ioanna
ioannas@cyprusfriendship.org
Skordi
George
georgek@cyprusfriendship.org
Koumandaris
U.S. Coordinators
Tammy Haas Executive Director haas@friendships4peace.org
Wendy Acosta Maui Area Coordinator wendya@friendships4peace.org
Kim Bell Transportation Coordinator kimb@friendships4peace.org
Dianna Cook Transportation Coordinator diannac@friendships4peace.org
Bo Dean New Hampshire Area Coordinator bod@friendships4peace.org
Oregon/SW Washington Area
Melody Stone melodys@friendships4peace.org
Coordinator
Tom McCarthy Maryland Area Coordinator tomm@friendships4peace.org
Becky Stirn San Francisco Area Coordinator beckys@friendships4peace.org
10You can also read
