More than 200 children participated in a bi-communal ‘Education for a Culture of Peace’ event on 7 May at the Ledra Palace Hotel organised by the Post Research Institute and the Association for Historical Dialogue and Research and funded by the European Union.

Supported by UNFICYP’s Civil Affairs Section, the event, the second of three linked activities involving Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot children, was the first of its kind, and involved children and teens aged between 6 and 18 from both communities.

Activities involved music, theatre, sports and seminars on human rights, social inclusion, antiracism, intercultural dialogue and sustainable development, among others.

“This kind of event is very useful not only to build a culture of peace, but because young people get the chance to interact with each other, which breaks the barriers that have existed for too long in Cyprus,” said Marina Vasilara, UNFICYP civil affairs officer.

“Building a culture of peace is especially important for children, so they grow up with strong values that foster acceptance, tolerance and cooperation with all people,” said Arzu Cagin-Samioglu UNFICYP civil affairs officer.

The project, which has been active since 2015, will organise a ‘Peace Works’ festival in the buffer zone on 14 May, and a summer camp in the Troodos Mountains later this year.