FWC “Make it Happen”: Friendly Football Match in Larnaca for Youth Ambassadors for MDGs

In the context of the European Union funded project called “Youth Ambassadors for the Millennium Development Goals”; Cypriot NGO Future Worlds Center sponsored young people in a ‘Make it Happen’ Football encounter in Larnaca on Saturday 19 December 2009. Football encounters are a fun and educational way to bring youth from Cyprus together so they can discuss ways Cypriot youth can work to achieve the MDGs among youths.

Over a period of two years, the project aims to raise awareness about the Millennium Development Goals both among young people and the public at large in Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary and Cyprus. The project will focus on:
• Raising awareness about the Millennium Development Goals and the interdependence between the EU and developing world;
• Involving young citizens in actions related to development education;
• Introducing a Global Dimension into civic activities already taking place in the four participating countries.

More information and Materials about the MDGs are available on the http://cy.youth4world.com/ website.

Future Worlds Center’s 4th annual Holiday Gift Collection

In the Spirit of giving and the joy it brings, Future Worlds Center (FWC) is organising its 4th annual Holiday gift collection to support the families of refugees and asylum seekers in Cyprus. This Holiday season let us all give some joy to the children of these families by making sure they receive a gift to let them know they are valued and loved.

All gifts should be wrapped and the age and gender of the child for which the present is intended (ages 0-14) is indicated on the outside of the gift.

For further information please contact FWC at tel: 22 873820 or fax: 22 873821.

FWC offices are open Monday to Friday, 900-1700 and are situated at 5 Promitheos street, 1st floor, office 4 in Nicosia.

Future Worlds Center coordinates the Unit for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture (URVT) which offers free social and psychological support to victims of torture and their families. FWC is also the implementing partner of “Strengthening Asylum in Cyprus” a project funded by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in Cyprus. This project offers free legal advice and social support to refugees and asylum seekers.

Event Management Workshop on 12 December at the Goethe Centre

As part of the Youth Leader Programme of the 'Youth Activism' project, Future Worlds Center, Mediation Association and the Environmental Study Centre will organise a Workshop on Event Management, targeted at young leaders and active youth from all parts of the island.
The workshop will be held at the Goethe Centre in Nicosia from 9am until 4pm, lunch and coffee will be provided for the participants.
The Youth Activism project is implemented by the Cyprus Network for Youth Development and receives funding from UNDP-ACT. For more information about the network, please visit www.multiculturalcyprus.org. For more information on the Event Management Workshop, contact Thomael.

FWC wins another award for Project Management

Future Worlds Center (leg. reg Cyprus Neuroscience & Technology Institute (CNTI) was honored at an Awards ceremony for their Grundtvig project: STELLLA - The Stimulation of E-Learning in Life-Long Learning for Adults - the encouragement of electronic learning in the life long learning of adults. It was hosted by the Institution of Management of European Programs of For life Learning on 26 November 2009 at the Holiday Inn in Nicosia.

The program STELLLA is the result of collaboration of 6 European countries, Belgium, Cyprus, Germany, Italy, Poland and Spain, that received financing from the Institution of Management of European Programs Life Long Learning 2006-2009. More concretely, the program falls under the unit Grundtvig.

The success of the program is owed to the irreproachable collaboration of partners, to the high specification technology that was used for the transaction of activities, and to the devotion of partners as well as the separate attribute of each European organism in specific subjects.

The results were amongst other things, the promotion of electronic learning of adults learners and teachers in the all involved countries with various ways as an example the videoconferences, the modern and asynchronous communication via electronic platform, the use of `of Second life' (Second Life) and Facebook. Other results were the distribution of electronic learning with booklets and video clips in YouTube, the web page, posters and briefing in the printed mass media.

FWC was actively involved in the all activities in collaboration with the [TEPAK]. In May 2007 FWC hosted the partners in Nicosia where they had also the chance to learn about our society and culture. During the program FWC had the possibility of visiting the cities and the countries of other partners, as an example Pamplona of Spain, Rostock of Germany, [Marsala] of Sicily and [Olstyn] of Poland.

The success of program STELLLA led the partners to their collaboration to program STELLLA2.0. In this proposal were added still 4 partners, France, Finland, Lithuania and Greece.

If you have any further queries you can visit the web page STELLLA at the address: www.stellla.eu.

FWC Orientation Manual

Please click Here for latest version of the FWC Orientation Manual.

Future Worlds Center supports the Global Education Week

Future Worlds Center supports the Global Education Week between 14 and 22 November 2009, being celebrated across the 47 member states of the Council of Europe.
The Global Education Week encourages pupils and teachers as well as youth groups to explore educational activities for global citizenship. This year's theme is closely related to the Millennium Development Goals: "FOOD FOR ALL". Schools, teachers, students and all other active youth are invited to participate in the campaign with their activities and raise awareness about global issues and how they interrelate with our life.
Future Worlds Center, through its Global Education Unit, strongly supports the Global Education Week, and will visit different schools and offer workshops to teachers to support their engagement in Global Education. Future Worlds Center will also be present at the bi-communal fair of the International Children's Film Festival on Saturday, providing information and interactive exercises to youth about the Millennium Development Goals.
For more information about the Global Education Week, please visit the North-South Centre website. For more information about Global Education activities at Future Worlds Center, please click here.

Deryneia makes Global Connections

25 teachers from primary schools and a nursery school participated in a 2-day interactive training workshop on Global Development Education at the 3rd Elementary School in Deryneia on the 6th and 12th November. The training took place in the framework of the 'Accessing Development Education' project. Under the slogan 'Global Connections - Local Citizens Making Global Connections through Education', the project aims to engage educators and schools in Global Development Education activities and equip them with relevant training and materials, thus making them promoters and multipliers of national campaigns that aim to create awareness about Development and about global interdependencies.

The training in Deryneia was carried out by the team of facilitators, who had participated in the Training of Trainers in Edinburgh/ Scotland in June this year, implemented under the same project. The two days introduced teachers to the concept of the global citizen, to the skills, knowledge, understanding, values and attitudes associated with global citizenship and offered a variety or practical activities and exersices that can easily be incorporated into different lessons to include a global perspective in the classroom.
More similar trainings are planned for teachers in Agros and in Limassol. For more information, please contact the project coordinator.

Global Connections - FWC visits project partners in Tralee/ Ireland

Future Worlds Center Global Education Unit staff Kerstin Wittig and Nicolina Markidou visited KADE - Kerry Action for Dlopment Education in Tralee/ Ireland last week. KADE hosted the monitoring and evaluation meeting of the EU-funded 'Accessing Development Education' project, coordinated by Future Worlds Center in partnership with KADE, ScotDec (Scottish Development Education Centre), Youth Career and Advising Centre (Lithuania) and C.E.G.A. Foundation (Bulgaria). During their visit in Tralee, the project team was hosted by the Mayor of Tralee, and visited a local primary school, which had participated in the Footbal Against Racism Campaign. The project team also visited a local secondary school and spoke to students who had travelled to Kenia for a school partnership project, as well as to a group of students participating in the Young Social Innovators Active Citizenship programme with a Reforesting Project in Ireland.
The KADE coordinator and the FWC staff also met with Irish Aid, exploring possible synergies with the Accessing Development Education project.
The project began in January 2008 and has been involving teachers in the 5 partner countries, reviewing, gathering and modifying teaching resources on Global Development Education, creating spaces for sharing expertise and experiences across the countries, and offering workshops and trainings locally to teachers, as well as support to their schools in promoting Global Development Education. Furthermore, the project has created an online depository of best practice teaching resources, aiming to make Global Development Education accessible to teachers across Europe. The project will conclude with a European Conference in Limassol from 8 to 10 April 2010.
For more information, please contact the project coordinator or visit the online portal.

Med-Highschool promotes Millennium Development Goals

In the context of the EU-funded project 'Youth Ambassador for MDGs', Future Worlds Center held 3 introductory workshops at Med-Highschool in Larnaca, introducing the Millennium Development Goals and how they relate to our life here in Cyprus. More than 70 students, ranging from year 1 to year 6 of the Med-Highschool, actively participated in the workshops.
Most of them have expressed their interest to continue working on the MDGs, and a follow-up workshops has been planned for the first week of December, during which the students will have the opportunity to plan their own MDG campaign.
For more information please contact Kerstin Wittig. For more information about the 'Youth Ambassadors for MDGs' project, please contact the project coordinator.

American Academy in Nicosia become Youth Ambassadors for the Millennium Development Goals

High School Students of the American Academy in Nicosia have joined workshops to become Youth Ambassadors for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). In the framework of the EU-funded project 'Youth Ambassadors for MDGs', Future Worlds Center was invited by the American Academy in Nicosia to join forces and organise a project for year 10 and year 11 students, supporting an orphanage in Moldova.
Future Worlds Center offered two introductory workshops for all the year 10 and 11 students about the Millennium Development Goals and about how they relate to our life here in Cyprus. In a second round of follow-up meetings with Mrs Eva Argyrou and the students, it was decided to focus on the MDG 2: 'Achieve Universal Primary Education', and to plan the future project in Moldova around nursery education. The next steps of this project include more detailed planning workshops, identification of project funding sources, and research about nursery education, about Moldova and about the needs of the orphanage.
For more information about school actions and school workshops, contact Kerstin Wittig. For more information about the project 'Youth Ambassadors for MDGs', please contact the project coordinator.

FWC attends INHOPE 10 th Anniversary General Assembly

FWC associate Lawrence Kalogreades participated in the INHOPE 10 th Anniversary General Assembly, as a representative of the Cyberethics project and the Cyprus Safer Internet Helpline and Hotline. The Assembly took place in Brussels, Belgium, on the 3rd, 4 th and 5th of November.

The proceedings consisted of task group meetings where goals and tasks were discussed and outlined, training sessions, voting regarding the inclusion of new members to the INHOPE network, as well as presentations from stakeholders from various countries, agencies and corporations.

The meeting also marked the 10 years since INHOPE’s inception. In honor of this, past INHOPE staff members, representatives from INSAFE, and national delegates gave speeches regarding the impact of INHOPE’s efforts in thwarting internet crime and child abuse. The concluding remarks were that the network has grown exponentially and that its influence on providing a safer internet is markedly clear, but with the rapid changes in technology and societal norms, a continuous effort is vital in order to stay up-to-date and in-touch.

fundraising event for the Unit for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture

It has been three years since the Unit for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture (URVT) was founded by the Future Worlds Center’s initiative and it is evident that many individuals benefit from the Unit’s services. URVT’s mission is to assist the victims of torture and their families by providing multidisciplinary treatment and rehabilitation services, and to raise public awareness of issues concerning torture and rehabilitation. This is achieved by utilizing a treatment approach which integrates a full range of services including medical treatment, psychological support, legal counselling, and other social services. Τhe ones who most commonly suffer torture belong to vulnerable populations such as: refugees and asylum seekers, internally displaced persons, persons in detention, those living in poverty, street children, as well as ethnic and religious minorities.

As Cyprus has only one treatment centre of this kind, which is URVT, it is imperative that it continues to operate in order to maintain support for those people in need. This requires the help of the community itself and not just the traditional governmental funding mechanisms. This is why URVT is turning to its colleagues, associates and friends to contribute to this worthy cause.

On Friday 20, November 2009, URVT will hold a fundraising event at club ITHAKI in Nicosia at 10pm, in an effort to gather funds for the Unit’s services. The staff of URVT cordially invites you to come and show your support while dancing and enjoying the night away amongst like minded people. Also your support comes from the purchase of tickets which cost €5.00 each and with each ticket purchased there is a chance to win prizes donated by local businesses that support our efforts through a raffle which will be held the night of the event. So please feel free to purchase more than just one raffle ticket so you increase your chance to win prizes and the money goes to support URVT in Cyprus! You do not need to be present to win. We will contact any of the winners who are not at ITHAKI by phone.

Raffle tickets are available prior to the event at Promitheos 5, Office 4, Nicosia, 1065 and also on the night of the fundraiser at the entrance of ITHAKI Club. For further information please contact (click name for to email) Mrs Andria Neocleous or Mrs Constantina Christou at 22-873820.

FWC attends INHOPE 10th Anniversary Celebration and General Assembly, Brussels

The INHOPE Network celebrates 10 years in the fight against online illegal content, primarily child sex abuse images.

The INHOPE network of Internet Hotlines today convened a special session to celebrate its 10th Anniversary in the fight against illegal content on the Internet. INHOPE Hotlines provide the general public with a means to report anonymously suspected illegal content online – primarily child sexual abuse images. Lawrence Kalogreades from FWC represented CyberEthics (the Cyprus Internet Safety Awareness Node) and the Cyprus Safer Internet Helpline

Ruben Rodriguez, President of INHOPE and Director of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children opened the meeting saying, “the INHOPE Association has taken great strides forward in the last few years; we have grown to 36 Hotlines from 31 different countries both in Europe and around the world. We have dramatically increased our outreach to industry and to law enforcement enabling us to develop collaborative projects and initiatives which in turn have increased our ability to remove child sex abuse images from the Internet”

INHOPE is utilising its unique position representing national Hotlines around the world having developed the first global URL database to record the relevant data of websites that contain images of child sexual abuse. Data collated from the network will enable INHOPE to provide the most comprehensive figures and information on the proliferation and circulation of such illegal content.

The information provided by INHOPE and its Members will enable industry, policy makers and law enforcement to target resources in an effort to combat the distribution of this material. By collating the information supplied to our Members by the public and other sources, INHOPE is able to help its stakeholders confront future challenges. The URL database is an invaluable tool for society to report its concerns and by doing so fostering confidence amongst Internet users.

To encourage new Hotline initiatives worldwide, INHOPE, in cooperation with the EC has been working to prioritise countries where illegal material can potentially be hosted or produced and countries which are deemed to be important in the fight against illegal material online.

Illegal activity on the Internet is a cross border problem that no one organisation can effectively tackle alone and INHOPE Hotlines have proven to be an effective first line of defence against illegal content online and in the fight against online predators.

(*) In some countries Hotlines are called tiplines

FWC attends Luxembourg INSAFE event 19-23 October 2009

Dr. Yiannis Laouris and Lawrence Kalogreades represented CyberEthics (the Cyprus Internet Safety Awareness Node) and the Cyprus Safer Internet Helpline respectively in a four-day INSAFE event which took place in Luxembourg on the 19th – 23rd of October.

The event’s rigorous schedule included a meeting of the INSAFE Steering Committee members which lasted an entire day, a day dedicated to training sessions for the Helpline coordinators which included a series of discussions where best practices were shared, and an annual meeting of all the INSAFE members as well as national stakeholders.

Concurrently, the 2009 pan-European Youth Panel on online safety also took place in Luxembourg, beginning on the 20th and culminating in a Youth Panel and INSAFE discussion forum on the 22nd of October which was open to the public.

The meeting was particularly fruitful for CyberEthics, the Safer Internet Helpline, and FWC as a whole, since it strengthened the already existing bonds between European nodes and especially those of the Mediterranean region. Concurrently, the sharing of Safer Internet Helpline best practices between all the European Internet Helplines has assisted in the generation of new service and dissemination strategies for the Cyprus Safer Internet Helpline which are based on successes on a pan-European level.

Jumpstart Peace Bus Tour Kick Off Video

A big thank you to Cyprus Community Media Centre for producing this video of the Jumpstart Peace Bus Tour Kick Off Event! Please click here to go the Future Worlds Center YouTube channel to view the video.

FWC 2002-2004 Annual Report

Please click here to download a copy of the FWC 2002-2004 Annual Report.

FWC 2005 Annual Report

Please click here to download a copy of the FWC 2005 Annual Report

FWC Representative elected to the Development Education Forum Steering Group

FWC member Kerstin Wittig has been elected into the Steering Group of the Development Education Forum. The Development Education Forum is one of the core Working Groups of CONCORD - the European NGO Confederation for Relief and Development, which has 18 international networks and 22 national associations as members. Kerstin Wittig has been acting as the representative of the Cyprus NGDO Platform to the Development Education Forum since 2007.
For more information please contact Kerstin Wittig.

Youth Leaders designed their own bi-communal projects during workshop in Karpaz

The Youth Leader Training Programme, as part of the Youth Activism Project of the Cyprus Network for Youth Development, held a project planning workshop in Karpaz from 16 to 18 November. Youth from all parts of the island joined this workshop, which was desigend as a follow-up to the week-long residential training held in Kritou Terra in August this year.
During the workshop this weekend, the youth designed their own projects, such as a street concert at the area of Ledra Street and Lokmaci, a 'Trustival' - a big festival celebrating Cypriot cuisine and traditions in the Green Line, and a reality TV show featuring Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.
Together with the facilitators, the youth leaders set up their own action plan to realise these projects.
The next workshop that will be offered within the Youth Leader Programme will focus on Event Management. The Youth Leader Programme is implemented by Future Worlds Center, Mediation Association and the Environmental Study Centre, and receives funding from UNDP-ACT. For more information about the youth leaders and upcoming workshops please click here. Further information about the Cyprus Network for Youth Development can be found on www.multiculturalcyprus.org.

“JUMPSTART” Youth Peace Campaign in Cyprus Kicks Off an Island-wide Peace Bus Tour and Public Campaign

The “JUMPSTART” Youth Peace Campaign in Cyprus will hold a Kick Off event that will mark the starting point of an island-wide peace bus tour that will conduct a diverse set of positive youthful activities both in the cities and villages of Cyprus until March 2010.

The Kick Off event will begin Friday 23 October 2009 at 17:00 in the Lokmaci pedestrian area near Al Divan restaurant. The celebration will begin with a cocktail reception and the crowd will hear welcoming words from “JUMPSTART” youth leaders and European Union representatives. Local representatives including Nicosia Mayor Eleni Mavrou will also be present.

Following the opening ceremony, celebration street events will take place until 23:00 and be held in the Lokmaci pedestrian area and in Faneromeni Square and will include live music, drum circles, DJs and fire juggling / dancing. The “JUMPSTART” Youth Peace Campaign in Cyprus Kick Off event is open to the public and the media.

“JUMPSTART” Youth Peace Campaign in Cyprus is a European Commission funded joint action put forward by Youth Center Union (Genclik Merkezi Birligi), a Turkish Cypriot NGO, which is the leader of the project, and its partner Future Worlds Center, an NGO in the Greek Cypriot Community.

“JUMPSTART” Youth Peace Campaign in Cyprus aims to:

“Jumpstart” and re-invigorate the peace process;

Transcend the current trend of apathy and pessimistic mood to an optimistic and creative attitude, that will empower and encourage Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot youth to take positive action;

Create spaces which support positive and constructive dialogue between the Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots;

Facilitate youth to envision and implement new youth bi-communal projects LED by a network of youth leaders from both communities who will serve as agents of change.

Since March 2009 the “JUMPSTART” Youth Peace Campaign in Cyprus has been focusing on creating a core group of youth aged 16-30 from both the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities and developing their leadership, communication and conflict resolution skills through trainings.

For more details contact Project Coordinators:
Huseyin Kursat at +90 533 830 0744 or huseyin.kursat@gmail.com
Nicolina Markidou at +357 99 358 442 or nicolina.markidou@gmail.com

FWC invited to La Strada International NGO platform meeting in Berlin, Germany

The Humanitarian Affairs Unit of FWC has been selected to participate in the 4th NGO platform meeting in Berlin, Germany, on 9 and 10 November, organised by La Strada International (LSI) together with the German hosting organisation, Ban Ying. The decision to organise this year’s NGO platform in Berlin rather than in a La Strada member country was taken to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall on 9 November 1989. A public debate with invited guests will celebrate the special occasion and discuss the impact of the fall of the wall on migration and trafficking, under the title: “The fall of the Berlin Wall - where do we stand 20 years on?”

At the NGO meeting, LSI wants to discuss, with FWC and its partners in the field, how non-governmental organisations and service providers cope with current realities in the anti-trafficking field and how to best serve the interests of trafficked persons within the system.

LSI believes that we need to redefine where we stand and how to set standards for La Strada’s services, cooperation, its independence, advocacy and images, in order to remain successful in the anti-trafficking work. Thus the main focus of this year’s NGO platform is to put on standards and agreements, set services and to look critically at the La Strada’s position as a non-governmental organisation. LSI has invited 30 European anti-trafficking NGO representatives, next to La Strada member organisations, as well as LSI advisory council members and representatives of international anti-trafficking (and related) networks and organisations. To receive more information on the NGO platform, please contact Bobby Gerasimov at LSI, at bg@lastradainternational.org.

First National Debate in Cyprus about the MDGs

We invite you to honour us with your presence and attend the first National Debate in Cyprus about the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The National Debate will take place 10 October 2009 in Nicosia, Cyprus from 10:00 to 13:00 at Vet Hall in the UN Protected Area. The event is hosted with the support of UNDP-ACT. There will be a panel of distinguished guests including representatives from UNDP-ACT, The European Institute of Cyprus, the Cyprus Family Planning Association, the Cyprus NGO Platform ‘The Development’ and the Cameroonian Students Association. We also will have Cypriot members of the European Parliament such as Kyriacos TRIANTAPHYLLIDES to open the debate.

Space is very limited and there has been a high demand so it is requested that you please RSVP to this post by 6 October 2009 in order to include you in the debate. You must be on the list in order to be sponsored into the UN Protected Area.

The National Debate is part of the European Union funded project: Youth Ambassadors for Millennium Development Goals (Project No.: ONG-ED / 2007 / 136-678) that Cypriot NGO Future Worlds Center is coordinating with three other European countries (Poland, Czech Republic and Hungary) as well as D.R. Congo, Cambodia and Argentina regarding empowering youth in the promotion of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Additionally, one of our associates in this project is the United Nations Development Programme Country Office in Poland based in Warsaw.

Please contact Larry Fergeson at larry.fergeson.cyprus@gmail.com for any further information you may require about the main goals and objectives of the project.

Thank you for considering our invitation and we look forward to seeing you at the first National Debate in Cyprus with Youth Ambassadors for Millennium Development Goals. Please RSVP at the above email.

Jumpstart Youth Training on Campaigning and PR

What is this?
The training will bring together approximately 30 youth aged 18-30 island-wide to engage in a three-day workshop on Campaigning and Public Relations (PR). It is the third of five trainings expected to be implemented for the youth being actively involved in the Jumpstart Peace Campaign.

The training will include sessions on Social Marketing, Communications and PR as well as Visual Communication. It will also include a practical session during which the youth will engage with the decorations for the Jumpstart activities expected to begin on 23rd October. (Participants are therefore advised to bring suitable work wear for painting)

The Campaigning and PR training will utilize interactive methods which promote capacity-building, co-operation and understanding. It will be conducted by experienced trainers who will facilitate the participants throughout the activities, and make sure that certain skills are prioritized during the sessions. The workshops will also be coordinated by the Jumpstart Youth Campaign coordinators.

Participants will also be expected to get actively involved in the many planned follow-up activities over the next year as part of the Jumpstart Youth Campaign, and serve as agents of change in their respective communities.

When is this?
Training Course duration: The training course will be from 27 – 29 November 2009.

Where is this?
Training Course Location: The Campaigning and PR training will take place at LA Hotel and Resort in Lapta (Lapithos). *Accommodations for the participants will also be at LA Hotel and Resort http://www.la-hotel-cyprus.com/

Why is this?
Jumpstart Youth Campaign: The actions within the Jumpstart Youth Campaign aim to increase confidence-building and co-operation between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot Youth (18-30), by creating opportunities for them to get actively involved in peace-building activities. Jumpstart ultimately aims to enable youth from both sides to challenge their own stereotypes and explore the possibility of envisioning a common future together.

Who is this?
Jumpstart Peace Campaign is a joint action put forward by Youth Center Union (Genclik Merkezi Birligi), a Turkish Cypriot organization, which is the main applicant of the project, and Future Worlds Center (legally reg. Cyprus Neuroscience and Technology Institute) which is the partner organization for the Greek Cypriot Community.

Participation Criteria: Participants will be selected based on their experience in other youth projects and seminars as well as their willingness and availability to contribute to future activities as part of Jumpstart Youth Campaign. Those who have taken part in the previous Jumpstart trainings and have already been actively involved in Jumpstart Peace Campaign will be given priority as far as participation is concerned.

Note: *Accommodation and food are covered by the Jumpstart Youth Campaign project. Transportation from Nicosia will be provided by bus. Participants coming from other areas will have some reimbursement for their transportation costs.

Participation form:
If you wish to participate in the upcoming training, please contact Jumpstart co-ordinators at : nicolina.markidou@gmail.com and huseyin.kursat@gmail.com by Monday 9 November 2009.

FWC participated in “Promotion of Mental Health and Well-being of Children and Young People: Making it happen”

Lawrence Kalogreades represented the Cyprus Safer Internet Helpline at the “Promotion of Mental Health and Well-being of Children and Young People: Making it happen” conference which took place on 29th-30th September 2009, in Stockholm, Sweden.

The conference was organized jointly by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Health and Consumers, the Swedish Ministry of Health and Social Affairs and the Swedish National Institute of Public Health, under the auspices of the Swedish Presidency of the EU. The conference was one of a series of five conferences which are key elements to the implementation of the European Pact for Mental health and Well-being, established in June 2008.

The conference had three objectives, namely:
1. To raise the visibility of the importance of promoting mental health and well-being and preventing mental disorders in children and young people.
2. To enable an exchange at EU-level on policy activities, good practices by stakeholders and research projects in Member states, supported by a Commission database.
3. Discuss and endorse an implementation framework for action on mental health in children and young people.

The presentations and discussion sessions revolved around work done by various research centers, NGOs, the World Health Organization, and governmental agencies from throughout the EU. A presentation regarding FP7 funding was also given.

The concluding remarks of the conference focused on the need to stimulate research and development in order to understand the pit-falls which youngsters face in the EU, especially in light of the current economic crisis, and to generate the necessary changes in the educational, social and economic systems in order to guarantee the well-being and economic survival of future generations, and to concurrently generate jobs and cost-effective measures towards this end in order to also counter the current economic climate in the EU.

FWC participated at the BioID_MultiComm '09 Conference

Lawrence Kalogreades represented FWC at the BioID_MultiComm '09 event, a joint International Conference organised cooperatively by COST Actions 2101 & 2102. The conference was held in Madrid, Spain, between the 16-19th of September.

As per the conference’s website (BioID_MultiComm '09), “the aim of COST 2101 is to investigate novel technologies for unsupervised multimodal biometric authentication systems using a new generation of biometrics-enabled identity documents and smart cards. COST 2102 is devoted to develop an advanced acoustical, perceptual and psychological analysis of verbal and non-verbal communication signals originating in spontaneous face-to-face interaction, in order to identify algorithms and automatic procedures capable of recognize human emotional states”.

The participating researchers and graduate students of the COST 2101 Action presented their respective work in the cutting-edge of identification technologies using biometric traits, such as gait, body movements, speech analysis, cross-lingual signature analysis (i.e drawing comparisons between the Western and Chinese signatures of the same individual) as well as multi-modal approaches.

Those who were part of the COST 2102 Action, although less in number, presented their work in the analysis of the relationship between music, acoustics, and emotions, as well as new methods for high-definition speech analysis and processing.

Lawrence also represented Yiannis Laouris, director of FWC, at the COST 2102 Action Management Committee meeting, which concluded that another 2102 Action meeting is to take place in the fall of 2010, for which applicant countries and organizations may submit their proposals. A discussion also ensued regarding the submission of an application in order to further continue the COST 2102 Action, or whether it would be best to submit an application for a new Action.

NGOs working in the area of development cooperation and development education plan common actions in Cyprus

On 30 September 2009 the member NGOs of CYINDEP - Cyprus Island-wide Development NGO Platform participated in a joint event to discuss and strategise common actions. The event was held at the Fulbright Centre and was organised by the Coordinating Committee of CYINDEP, which includes representatives of Future Worlds Center, NGO Support Centre, The Management Centre and Cyprus Diabetes Association. CYINDEP's aims to bring together NGOs working on international development, development education, and development cooperation to improve the effectiveness of their work and advocacy. The Platform is currently in the process to apply for membership in CONCORD - the European NGO Confederation for Relief and Development, which with its 18 international networks and 22 national associations from the European Member States represents more than 1600 European NGOs vis-à-vis the European Institutions.
As main priorities for the next year, CYINDEP members agreed on media outreach to raise awareness about development issues, seek opportunities for capacity building for the CYINDEP member organisations and increase collaboration among the members.
For more information about CYINDEP, please contact Kerstin Wittig.

FWC conducts another SDD co-laboratory in Italy

Three FWC associates travelled to Pisa, Italy from September 15 - 17, 2009 to join other concerned EU citizens and migrants who live in Europe to explore original and innovative methodology such as Structured Dialogue Design, with the potential to encourage citizens’ participation and to stimulate dialogue between European citizens and the institutions of the European Union on the importance of intercultural dialogue in the context of an increasingly multicultural European Union. The participants focused on specific activities they could conduct themselves to reach the following objectives:

* The active interaction and discussion among citizens on the importance of intercultural dialogue at national and European level;
* The collection of citizens’ opinion on a key challenge for the future such as the intercultural dialogue in a multicultural Europe;
* The development of civic competences, to formulate views and opinions on the European integration process in the form of recommendations for policy makers at European level;
* Bringing the institutions of the EU closer to the European citizens.

Particpants were from Italy, Cyprus, Greece, Romania and Portugal. Please visit the project website by clicking here to keep up-to-date on the progress.

Next Youth Leader Training in Karpaz

Building on the success of the residential Youth Leader Training in Kritou Terra, a follow-up Youth Leader Training will take place in Karpaz on the 17 and 18 October. Like the previous one, this training will be organised jointly by Future Worlds Center, Mediation Association and Environmental Study Centre and funded by UNDP-ACT. During the weekend workshop, the focus will be on providing support to the youth leaders in project design, fundraising, and on exploring ways for them to be involved in the overall activities of the Cyprus Network for Youth Development.
For more information, please contact Nicolina Markidou or Nazif Fuat.

Global Education at Lykeio Agiou Ioanni in Limassol

On the occasion of the International Peace Day (21 September), FWC facilitated a workshop on Global Education for teacher of the Agiou Ioanni Lyceum in Limassol. The headmaster, Mr. Demetriades, and eight teachers participated in the interactive workshop, which focused on the concept of Global Education and how it can be integrated into the various lessons. The teachers actively discussed the role, which global skills, values, attitudes and knowledge can and should play at school, and came up with their own proposals on how to include a global approach in their lessons. The lyceum is participating in the Europe-Aid funded Global Connections Project (ONG-ED/2007/136-419), coordinated by FWC, and is pioneering in in bringing a global perspective into the school. Teachers are planning further happenings and events in the context of the Global Education Week in November this year.
For more information about Global Education, teacher trainings and the project, please contact Kerstin Wittig.

Youth Leader Training in Kritou Terra a Success

From 28 August until 04 September, FWC together with the Mediation Association and the Environmental Study Centre (ESC) organised a one-week bi-communal training for youth leaders. The training, hosted by the ESC in Kritou Terra, was implemented within the framework of the Cyprus Network for Youth Development and was funded by UNDP-ACT.

The Kritou Terra Residential Training remains an unforgettable experience for all those who attended. It all began at the Ledra Palace where we met and cautiously though friendly checked each other out. We started mingling in the bus and most of the bonding that occurred from them on was in the free time at night after 8 o clock. We talked about different heated subjects that concern youth, ranging from relationships, careers and the Cyprus problem. One night we even made crepes with nutella! We did a lot of constructive work throughout these days as well with our trainers as well. The icebreakers were good to get everyone comfortable to participate in the discussions, so everyone’s voice was heard. We learned how to be better leaders, how to understand conflict, how to manage conflict. We saw the different ways Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots perceive Cyprus History. We also learned how to cooperate with people, how to communicate without violence – peacefully. We also explored what needs are, and related them to conflict. We also explored the need of empathy. We saw a film “Home” which was about the state of our planet, we discussed environmental sustainability and one day we went on a excursion into Akamas, visiting a number of sites to carry out sustainability evaluation. Furthermore learned what Structured Dialogic Design Process (SDDP) is. Also we were introduced to project development , and developing project ideas and elements. Last but not least we touched upon the subjects of project structures and fundraising. Overall it was a comprehensive and fun trip and I believe I’ve definitely grown an person and as an activist from this experience." (Monica, participant)

For more information about the Cyprus Network for Youth Development, and the Youth Leader Training Programme, please visit the network's website, or contact Nicolina Markidou at FWC.

Annual back to school essentials donation drive

Summer has come and gone. The leaves are far from turning yellow, but have no illusions, autumn is here! Reason for being sad? Not at all!!!

Autumn has a beauty, we all secretly miss. Only recall the first days of school, your days or your children’s ….. or grandchildren maybe? Remember the excitement in their faces?? …. And your frustration in shopping for uniform (formal, casual, physical education, for summer, for winter), school bag, coloring pencils, markers, pens, (of all sorts and colors!!) shoes, and the list can go on and on and on! … If one is able to do all these, then the excitement is double, parents are happy, kids are glowing. But what if one can not?

We turn to the kindness and giving spirit we all have within us and ask for your genuine support and contribution! We only ask you go just a bit out of your way and send our way back to school essentials! We collect: pants, shirts, skirts, sweaters, physical education clothes, bags, and other essentials always in good quality, you might be willing to give.

On our end, the Unit for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture and the UNHCR funded project ‘Strengthening Asylum in Cyprus’ – will forward to families of refugees in Cyprus who are in need of these products. Begin your autumn in a positive spirit, help a fellow human being and feel good!

Drop off point: Future Worlds Center Unit for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture, 5 Promitheos Street, Apt 4, (behind Cleopatra hotel), Between 10:00 am – 17:00 pm. Interested individuals please contact us via email at: andria@urvt.org

Thank you for your support!

FWC hosts Conflict Resolution Graduate Students from USA

On September 14, 2009 20 Graduate Students from Portland State University's Conflict Resolution Department came to the FWC headquarters in Nicosia to hear presentations from the FWC staff about our work in Cyprus, Europe and Internationally. The group was brought by Dr. Harry Anastasiou for the Study abroad course: "Cyprus in Transition" The course is taught annually in Cyprus over a two-week period. For more information about Portland State University please click here

Jumpstart Conflict Resolution Workshop successfully implemented in Agros

A conflict resolution workshop, organized by Future Worlds Center as part of the Jumpstart-Youth Peace campaign, was successfully implemented from 11-13 September 2009, at Rodon hotel in Agros village.

During the workshop, 30 youth, aged 18-30, from both Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot communities had the chance to develop understanding of conflict, and explore different ways of handling it, by the use of interactive participatory methods.

After this introductory session, the participants focused exclusively on the Cyprus problem and engaged in discussions during which they explored their perceptions about the past, as well as their concerns about the current situation in Cyprus.

They also watched the documentary movie “Women of Cyprus”, which deals with Cyprus recent history and political developments of 2004, and had the chance to engage in discussions on Media representation along with the film maker Vasiliki Katrivanou.

These sessions proved to be really productive for all participants. The youth were very interested to explore each other’s perspective and learn more about the other’s perceptions. Ultimately, this strengthened the communication of the group and created better possibilities for them to work together, organize further activities, and be proactive in the framework of “Jumpstart”.

“Jumpstart, Youth Peace Campaign” is a joint initiative, implemented by Future Worlds Center and Youth Center Union, aiming at promoting intercultural dialogue and co-operation between Greek –Cypriot and Turkish –Cypriot youth, so that they can act as agents of change in their respective communities.

Follow-up actions include capacity-building trainings, further activities proposed and organized by the youth, as well as the implementation of a bus tour around the island that will carry the message of Peace and Reconciliation.

For more information, you can contact the co-coordinators of the project: Nicolina Markidou at: nicolina.markidou@gmail.com(Future Worlds Center) and Huseyin Kursat at huseyin.kursat@gmail.com

Jumpstart workshop featured in Cyprus Mail

Jumpstart Youth Peace Campaign was once again featured in the Cyprus media. This time the focus of article pertained to the upcoming bi-communal conflict resolution workshop from September 11-13. Please click the image to read the article. You can also contact Nicolina Markidou for more information.

Cyprus Safer Internet Helpline coordinator on Round and About

Lawrence Kalogreades, coordinator of the Safer Internet Helpline, was invited to talk with Rosie Charalambous on her radio-show, Round and About. During their conversation, they touched upon the topics of the recent operation of the Helpline and its goals, the various hazards that are inherent to the internet, and how parents can safe-guard their children from these dangers. An overview of the Helpline, Hotline, and Cyberethics websites was also provided, along with an explanation of the various online resources available.

Launch of the Cyprus Safer Internet Helpline website

A trilingual (English, Greek, Turkish) website has been launched in order to promote and provide information regarding the operation of the Cyprus Safer Internet Helpline. The website is separated into sections for children, teens and parents, educators and professionals. It contains explanations of various online hazards and how to recognize them, overviews of the different kinds of online technologies and services that are commonly used, as well as suggestions about how to become involved in the Helpline’s promotion of a safer internet ethic. The website can be accessed at www.helpline.cyberethics.info.

The Helpline currently operates 7 days a week between the hours of 8pm-9pm and is run by a team of 7 operators. The Helpline’s number is 7000 0116.

With the helpline and website operational, a series of presentations at schools island-wide, as well as appearances in the media are being arranged in order to further promote the Helpline’s activities. The bulk of these dissemination activities will begin in September with the start of the new school year. If you would like us to give a presentation regarding safer internet issues at a local school, please contact Lawrence Kalogreades at 22 873820 or 22 445288 in order to make arrangements.

ACID – Active Citizens for Intercultural Dialogue Second transnational meeting Lisbon (Portugal), July 2009

FWC sent two associates to attend the ACID – Active Citizens for Intercultural Dialogue Second transnational meeting Lisbon (Portugal), July 2009. During the meeting the group shared information and evaluation of the national panels in Italy, Cyprus, Greece, Portugal and Romania. Also, an evaluation of the project's wiki site was completed. Other items discussed were the Production of DVD / collection of videos and preparations were made for European panel to be held in Pisa, Italy in September using the Structured Dialogic Design methodology which will be facilitated by FWC associates. Please visit the project wiki site and join in the discussions! A special thank you goes out to our hosts in Portugal, Edite and Tiago, from Numena who were very gracious.

FWC's URVT on Pagkosmia Mera Vasanistirion

Future Worlds Center Unit for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture psychotherapist Constantina Christou appears in support of the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture on Cyprus'"Pagkosmia Mera Vasanistirion". To view the interview please visit The FWC YouTube Channel or click below

Jumpstart hosted at CyBC

Jumpstart coordinators along with two Greek Cypriot participants who took part in the project’s latest training in Famagusta, were hosted last Saturday (11 July) at CyBC’s radio show “Culture and Peaceful living”(Πολιτισμός και Ειρηνική Συνύπαρξη) to talk about their experience of the project so far.
Jumpstart coordinators elaborated on the main objectives of the project and emphasized the importance of breaking the barrier of communication between the two communities and facilitating the exchange of opinion and life experience between the youth.
The Greek Cypriot participants said that they were really pleased to have taken part in the three-day event in Famagusta mainly because of the innovative methods used which encouraged co-operation and team-building skills between the participants from the very beginning. They both seemed keen to go on with with further activities.
Marcia Kammitsi, who acted as the Greek Cypriot co-ordinator so far, announced the actions to follow, as part of the project, giving emphasis on the conflict -resolution training expected to take part in September. She then encouraged youth who want to problematise bi-communal relations to join in, stressing the “openness” and participatory character of the activities.
Hussein Kursat, the Turkish Cypriot co-ordinator, also invited more people to join in, especially from the Greek Cypriot community, saying that it is really important to the development of a new culture of bi-communal relations.
Fore more information about the Jumpstart project, please contact the new Greek Cypriot co-ordinator Nicolina Markidou.

Please listent to the interview by clicking here

Jumpstart Interview Track 01 - Jumpstart

Jumpstart Interview Track 02 - Jumpstart

Jumpstart Interview Track 03 - Jumpstart

Jumpstart Interview Track 04 - Jumpstart

Jumpstart Interview Track 05 - Jumpstart

Jumpstart Interview Track 06 - Jumpstart

Jumpstart Interview Track 07 - Jumpstart

Jumpstart Interview Track 08 - Jumpstart

Jumpstart Interview Track 09 - Jumpstart