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Cyprus Background

PeacePlayers International established a program in Cyprus (PPI-CY) in October 2006 that is using the game of basketball to facilitate positive dialogue and interaction between Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot youth, with the ultimate goal being improved relations between the Greek and Turkish communities in Cyprus. The project is led by a group of 3 PeacePlayers International-Cyprus directors and 16 local coaches who direct activities that bring 10-12 year old Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot youth together to play the sport in an inclusive, fun environment.

The program was launched in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Working with the UNDP and other local partners, PeacePlayers International-Cyprus has the following objectives:

  • Bring thousands of Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot children (aged 10-12) together to play basketball in a fun, inclusive environment
  • Train and employ local young adlits from both communities to work together as coaches, leaders and role models
  • Develop links between Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot sports clubs and other community organizations
  • Build community involvement and investment

Program Activity

From February-June 2007, PPI-Cyprus has engaged in:

  • Over 100 internal management meetings (involving our Managing Director, 2 Program Directors, 2 area coordinators, and key stakeholders).
  • Over 28 community meetings with potential advisors, school officials, partners, and authorities to discuss program, funding, basketball activities, life skills, and bi-communal staff trainings
  • Development of life skills and Twinning curriculum
  • Film produced for internal training purposes and fundraising
  • PPI-Cyprus took part in an international conference to share best practices and bring PPI programs together 4-11 April 2007
  • Development of a men’s bi-communal team (Cyprus Island Basket) that has participated in informal matches on both sides. Team has been invited to attend the Queen’s Invitational Basketball tournament (Belfast September 2007).
  • PPI-Cyprus was a standout in the 3-5 May 2007 Civil Society Fair and generated interest amongst other CSO’s. The fair was a great opportunity for our organization and Education initiatives that promote multiculturalism and dialogue

Program activities include:

  • Single Identity Coaching – Weekly sessions in which Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot children are coached basketball in school, after school, and during weekends at local sports clubs.
  • PeacePlayers International Coaches Program– Mentoring designed to build community capacity and interaction through the training and employment of local youth (ages 18-25) from both communities as Playing for Peace coaches.
  • Sports Club Twinnings – Weekly sessions throughout the year in which children from basketball clubs in both communities play basketball together in an integrated, inclusive environment at various sites on the island.
  • Life Skills Clinics – Monthly mixed group events that combine fundamental basketball instruction with life skills workshops that are facilitated by local partners.
  • Tournaments – Biannual events that bring together hundreds of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot children to play on mixed teams in a festive atmosphere.
  • School Twinnings – Ultimately, it is the hope of PPI-CY to work beyond the sports clubs and involve schools in cooperative “twinnings.” School twinnings, like the sports club twinnings, would involve weekly sessions throughout the year in which entire classes of children from Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot schools would play basketball together in an integrated, inclusive environment at various sites. We will be working within the private schools that are not under restrictions, and hope to move eventually into the public school system.

As it has done in its other program countries, PeacePlayers International will seek to add a dialogue component to program activities in collaboration with local partners.

Goals of the PPI-CY Program

1. Develop Young Leaders:
Activities are aimed at the benefits of the children. We offer an exciting opportunity that uses competition, discipline, and team work as a means to improve the children’s self-confidence. Before an individual can bridge a social divide, he/she must make advancements in his/her own awareness. Each person is a key member of their team. This is similar with our staff. Everyone must see the benefit of this program, the potential they hold in their own lives, but also the responsibility to make a positive contribution to their community. Our coaches are growing as role models.

PPI-CY has had many practices and matches and are systematically incorporating the bi-communal aspect of the program. Many people have been weary of ‘new initiatives’ especially involving bi-communal work and the UN. We have held a number of activities and word of mouth is growing. Our main priority is to focus on building trust.

2. Deliver Training in Both Single Identity and Cross-Community Settings:
PPI-CY has informal relationships with sports groups on both sides of the island. Currently our staff has 1 single identity meeting and 1 cross-community meeting each month. In addition, our managers spend time with each coach every week. We are planning a series of workshops that will involve PPI-CY, Intrac, NGO Support Centre, Management Centre, and Mediation Centre.

PPI-CY operations are up and running which has created good energy amongst our staff, local business, and community members. There are adjustments that need to be made with the program to standardize operations. Our next focus will be on inter-staff relations and building trust with the parents.

3. Help Children Foster Trust and Relationships Using the Game of Basketball:
Facilitate positive interaction and dialogue between the two main communities. We have held a number of meetings with parents, and now need to begin work within schools. In the Twinnings, we have seen kids begin friendships while competing on joint teams. For us to increase effectiveness our staff needs to have a better understanding of what children in both communities learn (and don’t learn) in school. In the words of a staff member, ‘It is difficult because we read different histories’. We are interested in working with the Association for Historical Dialogue and Research. Additionally, we need to focus on kids in sessions before and after Twinnings and find out what they are telling their parents, friends, and schools.

In the next quarter, PPI-CY will increase relationship and friendships of coaches. We will facilitate activities that promote interaction amongst our staff and their families. We have a diverse group and a range of ages and nationalities. Everyone brings a different and valued perspective; effective leadership comes from understanding a group of individuals and bringing them together as a team to achieve a common target.

4. Local Fundraising Efforts
PPI-CY will continue to towards a sustainable, long-lasting program. “Slowly, slowly;” there is potential for growth in Cyprus. This can happen internally and externally. We can grow as the kids advance in years and increase our age limit. We can also expand to different areas. Many communities need this opportunity for sports, leadership skills and bi-communal activities. Negative things have been said about the development of youth basketball (on both sides) and there are not many outlets for young girls. Our program aims to have equal representation of females.

Our Partners:

  • Doves Olympic Movement.
  • Centre for Leisure, Tourism and Sport Research and Development
  • NGO Support Centre
  • Mediation Centre
  • World Child
  • UNFICYP
  • Cyprus Youth Council
  • Intercollege