YEU Cyprus in collaboration with Kyrenia Youth and Resource Center GIGEM organised a National Training Course on Human Rights Education, for primary and middle school teachers from both communities called “A Peace of Us” funded by the Council of Europe. The project had two phases: the 5th – 6th of May and the 26th – 27th of May, both phases were implemented at Ledra Palace Hotel in the Buffer Zone which brought together 27 teachers and professors originating from both communities of Cyprus.
This training course aimed to cultivate a culture of human rights, peace, and understanding between the different ethnic groups of Cyprus, focusing on teachers/professors and youth workers. We achieved this by educating 27 teachers/professors and youth workers from the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot communities of the island on the topics of democratic citizenship, human rights, and peace education through non-formal education. Following their training, participants organized similar activities in their classrooms, engaging children aged 7-14 years old.
This training is the first one done with the use of COMPASS and Compasito on the topic of human rights and peace education in Cyprus involving schools from both communities. The goal of the programme is to develop knowledge and understanding of the differences among the two ethnic groups while building mutual respect for human rights and encouraging dialogue among the two communities.