Cypriots encouraged to join Friendship group
MOTIVATED and energetic Cypriots aged between 15 and 18 are invited to apply for one of a limited number of places on the 2018 bicommunal Cyprus Friendship Programme (CFP), which celebrates the 10th anniversary of its establishment this year.
This year’s summer experience will offer the chance to stay at residential camps in Cyprus and in the homes of American families in California, Oregon and Hawaii. Every year in July, five groups of four to seven pairs travel to various locations in the USA and are hosted for one month there by families, which cover all expenses.
This year’s programme will also enable teenagers to take part in a series of activities and events focused on developing leadership, communication and peace-building skills to improve understanding and trust across the political lines that divide young people in Cyprus, said a CFP statement.
So far, more than 700 students from dozens of schools across the island have participated in the programmes organised by the CFP, a non-profit organisation based in the US that is made up of volunteers from the US and Cyprus. It has been working with Cypriot youngsters for 10 years.
The programmes aims to promote dialogue, tolerance, and mutual respect among young Cypriots in parallel with the CFP’s mission of advancing peace and understanding on the island by providing its future leaders with skills and experiences that will make them “global citizens” and “effective advocates for positive change”.
Summer programme applications must be made by Wednesday, with all applicants needing to have at least one year left in school and at least one Cypriot parent. Applications can be made online at www.cyprusfriendship.org.