Cyprus Friendship Program

Newsletter

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What a Year!

We did it. We hosted all 30 pairs of teens selected by the coordinators in Cyprus.

We also came up with the funds with generous contributions by many of you and from the parents of each of the teens an additional $120 enabled us to buy the airline tickets by the deadline.

Thank you.

On Saturday October 8, 2011, CFP held the 2011 graduation celebration at the American Academy in Larnaca, Cyprus. All sixty teens were present, as were their families, to celebrate their cross-community friendships and to mark a commitment by the teens to work together for at least another year promoting friendship and peace between the two communities. More than 400 were there. It was quite an experience.

Six Americans flew over to attend the celebrations and to experience the gratitude that the Cypriots have for those of us in the US helping them to overcome their divisions.

More than one speaker said that Cyprus has never before experienced an event like the graduation.

After the ceremony the teen pairs and their families lined up for photographs and then most went off to dinner together. It was a wonderful sight to see.

Ahmet Aslim, Yiannos Ix, and families with

host “mom” Cassie Cleverly at the CFP Graduation

CFP is expanding to Atlanta, GA in 2012

In 2011 CFP spread to New Hampshire, Connecticut, Maryland/DC, Northern Virginia, and Portland, OR. In order to be in an area, the program requires that there be an area coordinator, that there be host families for between five and twelve pairs of Cypriot teens, and that there be group activities (including community service, conflict resolution/team building, and environmental service).

Therefore, while the program is open to operating anywhere in the US, it seeks host families only in those locations where it is set up to operate.

We are very pleased that Jeanie Cook has agreed to bring the program to Atlanta, GA, by serving as the CFP coordinator there. So, if you are in the Atlanta area or know someone there who might be a good host family, please let Jeanie know (jeaniec@cyprusfriendship.org or 404-351-7818).

Please Consider the Cyprus Friendship Program for a

Year-end Donation

Please make a tax-deductible contribution toward the airfares and travel insurance for Greek-speaking/Turkish-speaking pairs of teens to come to the US in July seeking to pursue friendships with a future leader from the “other side”.

Checks should be made out to: Cyprus Friendship Program

and mail to: Warren Muir

Executive Director 2931 South Columbus St. – B1

Arlington, VA 22206-1440

Cassie Cleverly to be Executive Director in 2012

Cassie Cleverly, CFP’s NH Coordinator will take over as executive director on January 1. She can be reached at cassiec@cyprusfriendship.org or +1-603-563-7046.

Fall 2011

www.cyprusfriendship.org

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CFP in Cyprus

To give you a small window on the many activities of the teens in Cyprus after their return home from the US, we provide one of the many emails sent to the teens by the Cypriot coordinators. “November 8, 2011

Hello dear Cyprus Friendship Programme friends,

First let me wish happy Bayram to our Turkish speaking Cypriot teens and their families!

After your graduation last month your coordinators have been busy setting up opportunities for media and other presentations. This is the main theme of this message. There are more that are being planned - we'll be letting you know as soon as we finalise the details.

There are many other matters I would like to share with you like the significance of your graduation, to acknowledge some valuable work you have done already and inform you of some exciting opportunities for new activities. The current message is focused on media possibilities we need to deal with urgently and it would be too long if I would write more. I hope to cover the other issues in the next message. In our meeting in the Grammar School, when we asked how many of you might be interested to speak about your peace building experiences to the media, 16 pairs responded positively. So, in this message there are some great opportunities.

• Please read on, choose where you can help and write back as soon as possible. The invitation is open to all of you (in case you were not at the Grammar School meeting).

As peace builders, we need to be bold and fearless in sharing with others the treasure of our friendships. We have a story to tell. With humility (don't think, 'this is my time of glory') and wisdom.

CFP for 30 minutes in CyBC TV: Tomorrow Wednesday, 9th of November, at 10:30 pm

The programme was filmed a couple of weeks ago and it features the friendship of Baris and Stefanos. The producers wanted to emphasise not only the way CFP brings together teens but also their

families and this is why it was filmed in a house rather than the studio. They were impressed that our work is taking place all the year round and that the friendships created are strong and long lasting.

The programme is called "Under the same sky", it will be from 10:30 till 11:30 in the evening and one of its sections will be our 30 minute piece (I don't know which part of the hour our piece will be shown). We learned that such pieces are usually 15-20 minutes but our material was very good and worth the longer 30 minutes treatment!

We have provided many of your photos to the producers and I believe that most, if not all of you, will appear at some stage on the TV screens.

A trailer for the CFP piece has been prepared and is already showing today and also tomorrow many times on CyBC TV.

The programme languages will be Greek (with Turkish subtitles) and Turkish (with Greek subtitles).

Once shown the programme will be available online for about a week - I will send you the link.

The CFP piece will be shown again in CyBC TV, next week as part of the "BIZ/Emeis" programme, most probably on Wednesday the 16th, at 7:10 pm. Will let you know as soon it is confirmed.

What you can do:

• Watch the programme! • Inform by Facebook, phone, text

messages etc as many of your friends as possible, especially those who may be applying for the 2012 group. It is important to emphasise that their families must also watch it (often teens want to apply but their parents don't let them).

• Ask your parents to support our work by informing families they know who might be interested to apply next summer.

Two more media presentations NEXT WEEK on radio and TV - TEEN VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

(1) Radio Mais, Wednesday 16th of November, 4:00 - 5:00 pm

The programme host will be our very own CFP 2011 teen Baris Varoglu. He would like 6 teens to be in the studio with him,

ideally pairs, but not necessarily. It will be for a Turkish speaking youth audience. Greek speaking Cypriots will be speaking in English and Baris will be translating to Turkish.

• If you are interested to take part talk with your pair first and see if she/he can also make it.

• If your pair cannot you can still come to the programme. We need 3 from each community.

• Send me an e-mail as soon as possible to confirm that you are interested to participate.

(2) Genc TV, Thursday 17th of November, 3:00 - 4:00 pm

Two of your coordinators (one from each community) and one pair of teens are invited for one hour in the TV studio. The programme will be in Turkish, the Greek speaking guests will be speaking in English and your coordinator Cise Sakalli will be translating into Turkish.

• We need one pair to join us. • Send me an e-mail as soon as

possible if you are interested to take part

Two more TV programmes on CyBC, dates not finalised, but TEEN VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FROM NOW!

(1) A programme inside the studio with two teens and two coordinators

This will take place most probably in January. The Greek and Turkish languages will be used.

• Send me an e-mail if you are interested to take part with your pair.

(2) A programme about one CFP pair and how they introduce their friends to each other

In tomorrow night's programme the emphasis will be on one pair and their families. The CyBC would like to do a piece about the friendship of another pair with additional emphasis on another aspect of the CFP project: the fact that we encourage you to visit each other and introduce your friends to your pair from the other community. This means that in addition to you and your pair, your friends will also be in the programme. The filming

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will be done in the places where you live, not in the studio.

• Talk to your pair and see if he/she is interested.

• Talk to your friends (from both communities) to see if they would like to take part in such a programme.

• After having positive responses to the two points above send me an e-mail that you are interested to take part.

• Phone or e-mail me if you need to clarify anything about this.

Once we have the pair and their friends who are interested, we'll get together with the CyBC producers and find the best date for all concerned to do the filming.

Presentation in Magem youth club in Famagusta: Friday 2nd of December, 6:00 - 8:00 pm

This has been arranged from an initiative of the 2011 teen Hasan Kobat with the organisational support of your coordinator Cise Sakalli.

So, Famagusta CFP teens:

• We are expecting all of you to be there!

• Start informing your friends interested to apply next year and their families.

• Let your parents know about this so that they can inform families they know who might want to apply.

CFP teens from other towns:

• We need some of you to be there, especially Greek speaking Cypriots!

• If you would like to be there (you don't necessarily need to take part in the presentation) send a message to your coordinator Cise Sakalli <cisesakalli@gmail.com>. We'll do the transport arrangements once we know who is coming.

Nicos Anastasiou CFP Principal Coordinator

2011 Virginia/DC/Maryland CFP Teens

Fixing and Packing Bicycles for “Bikes for the World”

With the Support of HasNa,

the Cyprus Friendship Program is being

Incorporated as an Independent Tax-exempt

Organization

With the unanimous support of the board of directors of HasNa, Inc., Cyprus Friendship Program, Inc. has been incorporated and has filed for tax-exemption with the Internal Revenue Service.

Once the tax-exemption determination has been received (hopefully within the next few weeks), Cyprus Friendship Program, Inc. will take over operating CFP from HasNa.

HasNa has pledged $30,000 for CFP for 2012 in addition to the carryover funds that it has for the program.

The board of directors of CFP, Inc. had its first meeting on October 9, 2011, the day after the graduation in Cyprus and reaffirmed the exisitng policies and practices of CFP.

During the transition, tax-deductible contibutions can be made to support CFP by making them to “Cyprus Friendship Program” and sending them to Warren Muir. Until CFP, Inc. receives its tax-exempt status, such donations will be deposited into the CFP account of HasNa.

So, the transition should be transparent to hosts and donors.

Reflections

This year has been amazing. CFP has grown dramatically and has a high profile in Cyprus. It is not only affecting the teen participants and their families, but they are modeling friendships to others across the island. Some of this is through the teens introducing their CFP cross-community friends to those in their schools or neighborhoods. In other cases, it is the result of CFP group presentations on the radio, TV, in schools, and in youth clubs across the island. One remarkable way was the production and release of a documentary produced by the Elders that featured two 2009 CFP pairs with Archbishop Desmond Tutu, former president Jimmy Carter, and UN peace negotiator Lakhdar Brahimi. (The documentary was shown on TV across Cyprus, has been given to schools across the island, and is on the Internet.) But, another major way in which CFP friendships are modeled is through Facebook, where the 800 (average) number of friends of each of the teens get to witness the friendships of the CFP teens in a non-threatening setting. CFP is making a difference in Cyprus and we have barely started.

I think that more amazing than the above is the fact that this was accomplished with the support of a group of Americans with no stake in Cyprus—wonderful people willing to contribute personally to help promote friendship and peace in a land that they have never even visited. (I’m not aware of a single coordinator or host who had been to Cyprus before 2008.) You are an amazing group of people making a real difference.

In Cyprus, we have an wonderful group of extremely dedicated coordinators working with us, risking the wrath of the extremists, and guiding the teens. As they work with the 2009, 2010, and 2011 teens, they are tightening the selection process to assure that the teens selected for 2012 have applied to the program for the right reasons.

We have only started, but we have just begun. THANK YOU! It is such an honor to be associated with you.

Warren

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Department of Public Information Cartographic Section

The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations.

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Why Cyprus? • The conflict between the two

communities (Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot) has its roots in the 1950's and 1960's. In 1974, a war brought about a geographical partition with UN Peacekeepers still separating two deeply divided communities,.

• Most Cypriots younger than 36 years old have grown up without contact with anyone from the other side.

• Each community has its own version of history and “the demons” are the people on the other side of the divide.

• Both communities are filled with wonderful people who have much in common culturally, but the long years of separation have made most unaware of this fact.

• There are adults willing to volunteer enormous efforts to help promote friendships between the two communities and teens in both communities seeking to become friends with members of the other.

• Only since 2003 has it been possible for Cypriots to cross the divide through a few checkpoints. But, there are significant restrictions (e.g., they can visit, but cannot live in the 'other side'.)

• English is the common (second) language for both of the communities.

• The island is small enough that a program of CFP’s size can make a difference.

• Cypriot society is becoming increasingly polarized and extremist groups are often harassing and threatening CFP coordinators and CFP teenagers. Despite these problems not one of the members of the CFP family in Cyprus suggested to give up the struggle. On the contrary, the work of CFP continues to grow.

• We know of no other youth programs that are as effective as CFP in bringing together Cypriot youth and their families from across the divide.

• Cyprus is one of the more densely militarized places on the planet. Citizen peace building work that replaces fear with trust is a necessary component for

any political agreement leading to the demilitarization of the island.

• Hatred and prejudice against the other community is common amongst the youth of the island and cases of peaceful coexistence are very rare. CFP teenagers are a living example that peace is possible and have already inspired and given hope to many thousand Cypriots.

• Cyprus is a key interface between the Christian and Islamic worlds.

• The division in Cyprus is a major impediment for Turkey to be admitted to the European Union.

• Peace in Cyprus could offer a model elsewhere in the Middle East.

• Families hosting Cypriot teens in their homes in the US show the goodwill, caring, and generosity of Americans.

• The strong relationships that develop between the host families and teens result in bonds between Americans and two communities in the Middle East.

• Those in Cyprus seeking friendship between the two communities greatly appreciate the involvement of Americans without a political agenda and who treat both communities, their cultures, and their beliefs with equal respect. (See below for what the CFP teens are saying in their presentations to schools and youth clubs across Cyprus about the role of the Americans in the program.)

2011 CFP Teens in Portland

CFP Coordinators in the US

Kim Bell Transportation Coordinator kimb@cyprusfriendship.org +1-610-678-3182

Cheron Calder Portland, OR Coordinator cheronc@cyprusfriendship.org +1-503-224-1853

Cassie Cleverly New Hampshire Coordinator cassiec@cyprusfriendship.org +1-603-563-7046

Jeanie Cook Atlanta, GA Coordinator jeaniec@cyrusfriendship.org 404-351-7818

Don Guziewicz Transportation Coordinator dong@cyprusfriendship.org +1-570-421-8930

Priyanka Komala Webmaster priyankak@cyprusfriendship.org +1-202-334-1634

Tom McCarthy Maryland Coordinator tomm@cyprusfriendship.org +1-301-774-7069

Mike Messinger Northern Virginia Coordinator mikem@cyprusfriendship.org +1-703-536-5230

Liz Swenson Connecticut Coordinator lizs@cyprusfriendship.org +1-860-388-2503

From the Teen Surveys What people will gain from the program: “peace, love, new friendships, amazing experiences, independence, learning a lot. You can be the one that makes the difference.”

“(We should) make them realize that it wasn't only a program for (a ) trip to (the) USA. It was our trip for peace, the thing that our country needs now. (We should) make them realize that the friendships will -last forever, and, if they (are) selected, tell them that they (are) selected for ((to be)) peacemakers. Because we deserve to come here, we deserve to change something. ... Learning new cultures and learning new things about lifestyles changes the person in a good way.”

“I know that I will use the things that I learned here, from (those) special people, for the rest of my life.”

“(It was the ) best experience of my life--with the greatest partner ever.”

“We are the best partners ever. He is not my friend. He is my brother.” ....and from his partner independently: “My partner and I got along extremely well!! Going back to Cyprus I know I have a new brother.”