Technology for Peace: Difference between revisions

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The Tech4Peace project was founded as one of the projects selected for implementation during a Peace Bazaar organized by the Cyprus Conflict Resolution Trainers Group in 1997 <ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyprus_Conflict_Resolution_Trainers_Group#Cyprus_Peace_Bazaar Peace Bazaar in Wikipedia]</ref>. The members of the founding team were [[Yiannis Laouris]], [[Harry Anastasiou]], Dervis Besimler and Bekir Azgin. They were all members of the [[Cyprus Conflict Resolution Trainers Group]].

===~~Background~~ Information===

===Historical Information===

The project began in 1996 with two activities which were practically funded by their participants:

# A bicommunal virtual organisation (known at the time as UCM: [[United Cyprus Movement]]) has been set-up on the Internet to discuss matters of general interest and attempt to inform and recruit Cypriots (both Turkish and Greek) who lived abroad. The software for automating the workings of this virtual community was partly designed and developed by Greek Cypriot [[Yiannis Laouris]] and Turkish Cypriot [[Turgut Durduran]]. The whole system was hosted in various university servers (USA, Australia), but since 1997 it became a "refugee project" because the expenses rose to a level that the participants couldn’t afford.

# In August 1997, [[Yiannis Laouris|Laouris]] and [[Harry Anastasiou|Anastasiou]] (from the Greek Cypriot side) in coordination with their counterparts in the North, [[Dervis Besimler|Besimler]] and {Bekir Azgin|Azgin]], together with other members of the Technology for Peace (TFP) Initiative from both communities, and all members of the [[Cyprus Bicommunal Trainers Group]], planned and materialized an Internet Workshop for students<ref>Chart</ref>. This activity was funded (provision for space and snacks) by the [[Fulbright Commission]] and took place in the [[Fulbright Building]] in the Buffer zone.

In 1997, a ~~USIA~~ grant ($12,000 for the Greek Cypriot side) to Dr. [[Hrach Gregorian]] of [[International World Affairs Organisation]], who has been collaborating with the two sides of the TFP initiative, was used to purchase for two computers, in the South and four in the North, a server in the States, rent for space and internet fees for six months, and modest facilitators' remunerations. Following two parallel workshops, and a follow-up for a six-month period of virtual negotiations and communication, the project was brought to existence and its significance and contributions became visible.

In 1997, a [[USAID]] grant ($12,000 for the Greek Cypriot side) to Dr. [[Hrach Gregorian]] of [[International World Affairs Organisation]], who has been collaborating with the two sides of the TFP initiative, was used to purchase for two computers, in the South and four in the North, a server in the States, rent for space and internet fees for six months, and modest facilitators' remunerations. Following two parallel workshops, and a follow-up for a six-month period of virtual negotiations and communication, the project was brought to existence and its significance and contributions became visible.

The project also had the enthusiastic support of the USAID representation in Cyprus Mrs. [[Judith Baroody]], it received great and positive attention by the media, by diplomats and of course, more importantly, it was embraced by the peace builders of both sides who gradually saw the potential and opportunity provided by cyberspace.

The project also had the enthusiastic support of the [[USAID]] representation in Cyprus Mrs. [[Judith Baroody]], it received great and positive attention by the media, by diplomats and of course, more importantly, it was embraced by the peace builders of both sides who gradually saw the potential and opportunity provided by cyberspace.

A small follow-up grant by the [[United States Institute of Peace|USIP]] ($6,000 for GC side) supported the purchase of two additional computers, and paid for internet connection fees during a workshop that took place in the summer of 98. This workshop signalled the new revised strategy of the ~~TFP~~ initiative, which was to involve and train active and existing members of bicommunal groups so that they could benefit from the potentials and advantages that virtual cyberspace infrastructures have to offer.

A small follow-up grant by the [[United States Institute of Peace|USIP]] ($6,000 for GC side) supported the purchase of two additional computers, and paid for internet connection fees during a workshop that took place in the summer of 1998. This workshop signalled the new revised strategy of the Technology for Peace initiative, which was to involve and train active and existing members of bicommunal groups so that they could benefit from the potentials and advantages that virtual cyberspace infrastructures have to offer.

In sum, the bicommunal project Technology for Peace has been in action since 1996. Its contribution to the rapprochement effort on the island had long been established and acknowledged, both by peace-building citizens in the two communities and by interested third parties.

The vision which underpinned the ~~TFP~~ Initiative was to enhance in Cyprus one of the most basic human rights, the right of communication between the two communities.

The vision which underpinned the Initiative was to enhance in Cyprus one of the most basic human rights, the right of communication between the two communities.

The scope of the ~~TFP~~ Initiative was to apply modern technology in the service of Peace with emphasis on the usage of internet and internet-based applications such as internet-phone and internet video conferencing, hosting peace related web pages and other relevant applications.

The scope of the Initiative was to apply modern technology in the service of Peace with emphasis on the usage of internet and internet-based applications such as internet-phone and internet video conferencing, hosting peace related web pages and other relevant applications.

The TFP project has already established sites in the respective communities.

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Additionally, the other relation between TFP and CYBER Kids is that technical know-how required by TFP is sometimes drawn from the accumulated professional know-how of CYBER Kids without costs.

==Needs Assessment==

===Needs Assessment at the time of launching===

As the political situation ~~stands right now~~, the TFP project ~~provides~~ the only form of communication in a bicommunally structured system between the Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. The ban on direct bicommunal contacts and events ~~has~~ consequently raised the TFP project to a new level of significance. For the first time, citizens engaged in peace building ~~have~~ in fact been able to sustain communication through periods of paralysis of the rapprochement efforts resulting from political reasons and impasse. Through e-mails and chatting they ~~can now~~ keep the citizen peace process alive, sustaining motivation through difficult times, while anticipating possible progress on the political level. In fact, a number of bicommunal groups which have been active through regular meetings ~~are now~~ requesting training and participation in the TFP project as the only means of sustaining communication and continuity for their work.

As the political situation stood at the time, the TFP project provided the only form of communication in a bicommunally structured system between the Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. The ban on direct bicommunal contacts and events had consequently raised the TFP project to a new level of significance. For the first time, citizens engaged in peace building had in fact been able to sustain communication through periods of paralysis of the rapprochement efforts resulting from political reasons and impasse. Through e-mails and chatting they could keep the citizen peace process alive, sustaining motivation through difficult times, while anticipating possible progress on the political level. In fact, a number of bicommunal groups which have been active through regular meetings were then requesting training and participation in the TFP project as the only means of sustaining communication and continuity for their work.

Using technology to promote communication and peace activities in a conflict area like Cyprus, in which physical access is restricted, is a top priority on the agendas of those who wish to support rapprochment. The need for communication between the two sides is obvious. The fact that now hundreds of people who were involved in bicommunal activities communicate through emails is to a large degree due to the fact that dozens of people received direct training by TFP and dozens of others regularly call and request help, contact information or technical support by TFP. TFP Volunteers have invested hundreds of hours supporting all those who wished to stay in contact with the other side.

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===Electronic Archives (web pages) and Strategies===

In a further series of workshops, the various bicommunal groups ~~will create~~ their web pages giving a profile of their work and activities and creating a virtual meeting and promotion place. This ~~will entail a) design~~ the electronic base for their home page with a great range of sub-pages reflecting the entire spectrum of their bicommunal activities and ~~b) add~~ the relevant textual-literary content for their pages.

In a further series of workshops, the various bicommunal groups created their web pages giving a profile of their work and activities and creating a virtual meeting and promotion place. This entailed:

* Designing the electronic base for their home page with a great range of sub-pages reflecting the entire spectrum of their bicommunal activities and

* Adding the relevant textual-literary content for their pages.

This ~~would involve~~ a combination of computer experts designing the electronic base of the TFP internet page(s) working together with active representatives of the various bicommunal groups who will provide and prepare all the relevant information for the content.

This process involved a combination of computer experts designing the electronic base of the TFP internet page(s) working together with active representatives of the various bicommunal groups who will provide and prepare all the relevant information for the content.

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Currently, the TFP project is sharing a server put in place by one of its supporting organizations (CYBER Kids). When this project is supported, TFP will acquire its own server and connection facilities thus rendering it independent.

~~4. Significance and Sustainability~~

The TFP project already has a past history. Its development has now brought it to the point where it can provide a permanent electronically based infrastructure which can now host innumerable bicommunal projects and initiatives. In this sense, TFP is both a project in its own right and a facilitating tool for numerous other projects. The above mentioned characteristics thereby qualify the TFP as a project of optimal relevance and sustainability.

~~5. Bicommunality~~

As it appears throughout the proposal, TFP started as a bicommunal project from its conception. It is probably the first bicommunal project which received seed money which in fact has outlift the original effort and continues to exist making available framework and services.

~~6. Who are the coordinators~~

The coordinators of the project are experienced peace builders, key members of the intercommunal movement since 1990, sensitive about the numerous sensitivities of the Cyprus problem, and known for being practical and efficient in their approach.

Yet another uniqueness of the TFP is the fact that the original founders are now beginning to move in the background while training a new and broader group to gradually take over and expand the project. As part of the project intention in the minds of the founders, for this transitional process to be completed, the TFP project must now be funded and supported accordingly.

The requesting organization for the project in question is Technology for Peace. TFP is a bicommunal non-profit NGO, which in the South is currently under the umbrella of a non-profit research center (CNTI). The goal is, in the near future, to form hopefully the first purely bicommunal NGO together with our counter parts in the North.

PART V Beneficiaries

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@@ Line 20: / Line 20: @@
 The Tech4Peace project was founded as one of the projects selected for implementation during a Peace Bazaar organized by the Cyprus Conflict Resolution Trainers Group in 1997 <ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyprus_Conflict_Resolution_Trainers_Group#Cyprus_Peace_Bazaar Peace Bazaar in Wikipedia]</ref>. The members of the founding team were [[Yiannis Laouris]], [[Harry Anastasiou]], Dervis Besimler and Bekir Azgin. They were all members of the [[Cyprus Conflict Resolution Trainers Group]].
-===Background Information===
+===Historical Information===
 The project began in 1996 with two activities which were practically funded by their participants:
 # A bicommunal virtual organisation (known at the time as UCM: [[United Cyprus Movement]]) has been set-up on the Internet to discuss matters of general interest and attempt to inform and recruit Cypriots (both Turkish and Greek) who lived abroad.  The software for automating the workings of this virtual community was partly designed and developed by Greek Cypriot [[Yiannis Laouris]] and Turkish Cypriot [[Turgut Durduran]].  The whole system was hosted in various university servers (USA, Australia), but since 1997 it became a "refugee project" because the expenses rose to a level that the participants couldn’t afford.
 # In August 1997,  [[Yiannis Laouris|Laouris]] and [[Harry Anastasiou|Anastasiou]] (from the Greek Cypriot side) in coordination with their counterparts in the North, [[Dervis Besimler|Besimler]] and {Bekir Azgin|Azgin]], together with other members of the Technology for Peace (TFP) Initiative from both communities, and all members of the [[Cyprus Bicommunal Trainers Group]], planned and materialized an Internet Workshop for students<ref>Chart</ref>.  This activity was funded (provision for space and snacks) by the [[Fulbright Commission]] and took place in the [[Fulbright Building]] in the Buffer zone.
-In 1997, a USIA grant ($12,000 for the Greek Cypriot side) to Dr. [[Hrach Gregorian]] of [[International World Affairs Organisation]],  who has been collaborating with the two sides of the TFP initiative, was used to purchase for two computers, in the South and four in the North, a server in the States, rent for space and internet fees for six months, and modest facilitators' remunerations.  Following two parallel workshops, and a follow-up for a six-month period of virtual negotiations and communication, the project was brought to existence and its significance and contributions became visible.
+In 1997, a [[USAID]] grant ($12,000 for the Greek Cypriot side) to Dr. [[Hrach Gregorian]] of [[International World Affairs Organisation]],  who has been collaborating with the two sides of the TFP initiative, was used to purchase for two computers, in the South and four in the North, a server in the States, rent for space and internet fees for six months, and modest facilitators' remunerations.  Following two parallel workshops, and a follow-up for a six-month period of virtual negotiations and communication, the project was brought to existence and its significance and contributions became visible.
-The project also had the enthusiastic support of the USAID representation in Cyprus Mrs. [[Judith Baroody]], it received great and positive attention by the media, by diplomats and of course, more importantly, it was embraced by the peace builders of both sides who gradually saw the potential and opportunity provided by cyberspace.
+The project also had the enthusiastic support of the [[USAID]] representation in Cyprus Mrs. [[Judith Baroody]], it received great and positive attention by the media, by diplomats and of course, more importantly, it was embraced by the peace builders of both sides who gradually saw the potential and opportunity provided by cyberspace.
-A small follow-up grant by the [[United States Institute of Peace|USIP]] ($6,000 for GC side) supported the purchase of two additional computers, and paid for internet connection fees during a workshop that took place in the summer of 98.  This workshop signalled the new revised strategy of the TFP initiative, which was to involve and train active and existing members of bicommunal groups so that they could benefit from the potentials and advantages that virtual cyberspace infrastructures have to offer.
+A small follow-up grant by the [[United States Institute of Peace|USIP]] ($6,000 for GC side) supported the purchase of two additional computers, and paid for internet connection fees during a workshop that took place in the summer of 1998.  This workshop signalled the new revised strategy of the Technology for Peace initiative, which was to involve and train active and existing members of bicommunal groups so that they could benefit from the potentials and advantages that virtual cyberspace infrastructures have to offer.
 In sum, the bicommunal project Technology for Peace has been in action since 1996. Its contribution to the rapprochement effort on the island had long been established and acknowledged, both by peace-building citizens in the two communities and by interested third parties.
-The vision which underpinned the TFP Initiative was to enhance in Cyprus one of the most basic human rights, the right of communication  between the two communities.
+The vision which underpinned the Initiative was to enhance in Cyprus one of the most basic human rights, the right of communication  between the two communities.
-The scope of the TFP Initiative was to apply modern technology in the service of Peace with emphasis on the usage of internet and internet-based applications such as internet-phone and internet video conferencing, hosting peace related web pages and other relevant applications.
+The scope of the Initiative was to apply modern technology in the service of Peace with emphasis on the usage of internet and internet-based applications such as internet-phone and internet video conferencing, hosting peace related web pages and other relevant applications.
 The TFP project has already established sites in the respective communities.
@@ Line 50: / Line 49: @@
 Additionally, the other relation between TFP and CYBER Kids is that technical know-how required by TFP is sometimes drawn from the accumulated professional know-how of CYBER Kids without costs.
-==Needs Assessment==
+===Needs Assessment at the time of launching===
-As the political situation stands right now, the TFP project provides the only form of communication in a bicommunally structured system between the Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. The ban on direct bicommunal contacts and events has consequently raised the TFP project to a new level of significance. For the first time, citizens engaged in peace building have in fact been able to sustain communication through periods of paralysis of the rapprochement efforts resulting from political reasons and impasse. Through e-mails and chatting they can now keep the citizen peace process alive, sustaining motivation through difficult times, while anticipating possible progress on the political level. In fact, a number of bicommunal groups which have been active through regular meetings are now requesting training and participation in the TFP project as the only means of sustaining communication and continuity for their work.
+As the political situation stood at the time, the TFP project provided the only form of communication in a bicommunally structured system between the Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. The ban on direct bicommunal contacts and events had consequently raised the TFP project to a new level of significance. For the first time, citizens engaged in peace building had in fact been able to sustain communication through periods of paralysis of the rapprochement efforts resulting from political reasons and impasse. Through e-mails and chatting they could keep the citizen peace process alive, sustaining motivation through difficult times, while anticipating possible progress on the political level. In fact, a number of bicommunal groups which have been active through regular meetings were then requesting training and participation in the TFP project as the only means of sustaining communication and continuity for their work.
 Using technology to promote communication and peace activities in a conflict area like Cyprus, in which physical access is restricted, is a top priority on the agendas of those who wish to support rapprochment.  The need for communication between the two sides is obvious.  The fact that now hundreds of people who were involved in bicommunal activities communicate through emails is to a large degree due to the fact that dozens of people received direct training by TFP and dozens of others regularly call and request help, contact information or technical support by TFP.  TFP Volunteers have invested hundreds of hours supporting all those who wished to stay in contact with the other side.
@@ Line 77: / Line 76: @@
 ===Electronic Archives (web pages) and Strategies===
-In a further series of workshops, the various bicommunal groups will create their web pages giving a profile of their work and activities and creating a virtual meeting and promotion place.  This will entail a) design the electronic base for their home page with a great range of sub-pages reflecting the entire spectrum of their bicommunal activities and b) add the relevant textual-literary content for their pages.
+In a further series of workshops, the various bicommunal groups created their web pages giving a profile of their work and activities and creating a virtual meeting and promotion place.  This entailed:
+* Designing the electronic base for their home page with a great range of sub-pages reflecting the entire spectrum of their bicommunal activities and
+* Adding the relevant textual-literary content for their pages.
-This would involve a combination of computer experts designing the electronic base of the TFP internet page(s) working together with active representatives of the various bicommunal groups who will provide and prepare all the relevant information for the content.
+This process involved a combination of computer experts designing the electronic base of the TFP internet page(s) working together with active representatives of the various bicommunal groups who will provide and prepare all the relevant information for the content.
@@ Line 101: / Line 102: @@
 Currently, the TFP project is sharing a server put in place by one of its supporting organizations (CYBER Kids).  When this project is supported, TFP will acquire its own server and connection facilities thus rendering it independent.
-.	Significance and Sustainability
-The TFP project already has a past history. Its development has now brought it to the point where it can provide a permanent electronically based infrastructure which can now host innumerable bicommunal projects and initiatives. In this sense, TFP is both a project in its own right and a facilitating tool for numerous other projects. The above mentioned characteristics thereby qualify the TFP as a project of optimal relevance and sustainability.
-.	Bicommunality
-As it appears throughout the proposal, TFP started as a bicommunal project from its conception. It is probably the first bicommunal project which received seed money which in fact has outlift the original effort and continues to exist making available framework and services.
-.	Who are the coordinators
-The coordinators of the project are experienced peace builders, key members of the intercommunal movement since 1990, sensitive about the numerous sensitivities of the Cyprus problem, and known for being practical and efficient in their approach.
-Yet another uniqueness of the TFP is the fact that the original founders are now beginning to move in the background while training a new and broader group to gradually take over and expand the project. As part of the project intention in the minds of the founders, for this transitional process to be completed, the TFP project must now be funded and supported accordingly.
-The requesting organization for the project in question is Technology for Peace. TFP is a bicommunal non-profit NGO, which in the South is currently under the umbrella of a non-profit research center (CNTI).  The goal is, in the near future, to form hopefully the first purely bicommunal NGO together with our counter parts in the North.
 PART V  Beneficiaries