Education for peace project description

When conflict lasts for generations, children learn to fear and hate “the enemy”. Social mechanisms play the key role in the creation of the “eternal enemy” i.e. family, school, mass media. The project focuses on the study of the books of the 5th grade of the elementary school in order to locate those elements that cultivate the conflict between the two communities in Cyprus, proposing at the same time alternative ways that will create mutual understanding for a smooth passing to a multicultural society.

What are the objectives of this project?

• The study of how the conflict and hate between the two communities is being promoted through the elementary school education material.
• The formation of proposals, of alternative ways of teaching, that will not patronize children, but will encouraging them to think for themselves, understand and solve conflicts peacefully.
• The development of a dialogue between the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots teachers, educators, local NGOs, and competent authorities, for the reformation of school education that will prepare the next generation of citizens and leaders to enter into a multicultural and multinational society.

Background Information

When conflict lasts for generations, as it happens in the case of Cyprus, children learn to fear and hate “the enemy”, believe that violence, or a possible war will solve the problems of their lives. Social mechanisms play the key role in the creation of the “eternal enemy” i.e. family, school, mass media. The project aims in identifying in the school books those elements, phrases, hidden massages or historical myths that cultivate the conflict between the two communities in Cyprus, proposing, at the same time, alternative ways of teaching that will create mutual understanding between the new generations of the two communities. The project focuses on the study of the social sciences books and lecture of the 5th grade of the elementary school, as a pilot application.

It is important to note, that Group of Greek Cypriot scientists whose name is ‘Let’s be together’ are very much interested in carrying out a similar study regarding the books of the elementary Greek Cypriot schools. The G/C partners intend to submit a similar proposal to the current UNOPS call.

Description of the Project

This project will be based on the social sciences books of the 5th grade of elementary school while the books of Turkish (Ottoman) will be used as supplementary material. An effort will be made from the T/C and G/C teams, to study the books of children with the similar age. This will be agreed in the first meeting of the two teams.  This will be the first step of the project.

 The second step involves the study and the screening/encoding of the books. In this phase the aim is to find those elements, phrases, hidden messages or historical myths that cultivate the hate and the conflict and reproduce the eternal “enemy”: How the Greeks and Turks are presented in the Turkish (Ottoman) history and the symbolic, ideological meaning that the words received in the different historical periods, how historical periods are embodied with ideological content, etc. T/C and G/C team will meet to discuss on the findings, exchange ideas, and views. The third step will be the preparation of proposals for the reformation of the books studied, removing the elements which promote the conflict and hate between the two communities.  Quality control of the findings of the screening/encoding and the proposals for reformation of the books will be made the Assistant Professor of Turkish Studies at the University of Cyprus Niyazi Kizilyurek and a sociologist.

 At the end of the work, a report with the findings and the proposals will be produced by the scientific team and will be distributed to the Turkish Universities, Atatürk Teacher Collage, social NGOs, Teacher Trade Unions and related Local authorities. In addition, an information leaflet in Greek and Turkish (2000 copies) will be produced that will present the project activities and results to the public and interested groups. 

Dissemination activities will be carried out throughout the project, through articles in newspapers, radio broadcasts, internet and personal contacts with the interested groups.

Sustainability of the project

No similar study or product of collaboration between Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots has been published until now, in a way that its final goal is the reformation of the educational material used in schools, by erasing those elements that reproduce the nationalism and promoting the mutual respect and conciliation.  In a more general frame, this study will contribute to the re-examination of Turkish (Ottoman) and Cyprus history under the light of the realities of Cyprus.

The results of this study will be published and can be used by:

1. Teachers, researchers, and social NGOs for pressing the government towards the urgent need for reformation of the school educational books.
2. Related Local authorities, as a base, during the process of modernization and reformation of the content of the school books.

Being actually the first study of this kind, it can be the beginning of an expanded research for the role of education to the peace building in Cyprus. It can also be expanded to other social mechanisms for example to investigate how the T/C and G/C mass media reproduce the conflict between the two communities.

Island wide and/or exposure to other community

The G/C partners (‘Let’s be together’ Group) will submit, as well, a similar proposal to the current UNOPS call. The study of those elements which cultivate the conflict between the two communities will be carried out at the same time at both educational materials. This will allow a spherical analysis of the problem which will lead to concrete and objective conclusions and suggestions.  During the elaboration of this study and especially during the stage of preparing proposals for reformation of the educational books, an extremely catalytic role will play the constant communication with the Greek Cypriot partners.  Through mutual respect and dialogue, proposals will be made that will respond to the needs and the expectations of a united Cyprus, a member of the European Union. 

Cooperation with other organisations

During the entire project, our team will be in cooperation with Teacher’s Trade Union (KTOS) that will support the work. The team will also be in contact with the competent local authority and social NGOs that will be interested in the project results.

Beneficiaries

√        The T/C and G/C communities and especially the new generation, by providing the base for a new approach for the educational school books.

√        Related Local authorities that could use the project results as a base, during the process of modernization and reformation of the content of the school books.

√        The society of Cyprus. By transforming the educational system of the two communities, a chance for peace is given to Cyprus.

√        Our team has a gender balance, 3 men and women will give their best to promote peace and conflict resolution between our people in Cyprus.

 Provide any other information that is estimated essential in evaluating this project.