Rotary-Carter-Cyprus 2024-25 Peacebuilding Initiative: Difference between revisions

       |acronym= Rotary-Carter-Cyprus 2024-25 Peacebuilding Initiative         

       |logo=Fwc_Logo_Transparent_HR.png

       |project_title=[[02 Cyprus-Rotary-Carter-2024-25 Peacebuilding initiative]]

       |funding_period=1/7/2024 - 31/12/2024

       |funding_agency=[[Rotary International]]<br>[[Jubitz Family Foundation]]

The '''Cyprus-Rotary-Carter-2024-25 Peacebuilding initiative''', was a project funded by [[Rotary International]] and a generous donation from the [[Jubitz Family Foundation]], and implemented by [[Future Worlds Center]] and the [[Cyprus Peace and Dialogue Center]] (CPDC). It aspired to empower Greek and Turkish-speaking Cypriot Rotarians to deepen and expand their joint peace-building engagement and strengthen and raise the profile of Rotarians at large.

A team from Cyprus, led by Senior Rotarians and Profs. [[Harry Anastasiou]] and [[Birol Yesilada]] from [[Portland State University - Conflict Resolution Graduate Program|Portland State University]], in collaboration with Drs. [[Yiannis Laouris]] from [[Future Worlds Center]] and [[Meltem Onurkan Samani]] from the [[Cyprus Peace and Dialogue Center]], implemented the first pilot program.

The project began with interviews designed to select, but also to prepare the participants (15 Sep - 20 Oct, 2024). A group of fourteen Rotarians (7 Greek- and 7 Turkish speaking Cypriots) was enhanced with six additional experts, well-known academics and peace activists, and two high-profile social media personalities<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fidias_Panayiotou Fidias_Panayiotou</ref>, <ref>https://www.youtube.com/@urbancypriot Ibrahim @urban_cypriot Beycanli</ref> . The TC past negotiator Özdil Nami<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Özdil_Nami Özdil Nami </ref> was invited to join all activities, while the GC negotiator Andreas Mavroyiannis <ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andreas_Mavroyiannis Andreas Mavroyiannis</ref>  joined selected activities.

The participants of the SDD at the [[Point of View]] were the same fourteen senior Cypriot Rotarians and eight experts (academics, activists, past negotiators, social media). The aim was to generate actionable ideas, innovative projects, strategic frameworks, and policy recommendations that local and regional Rotarians, in collaboration with other local actors, could take to revitalize and elevate peace-building efforts. All discussions were contextualized within global developments, highlighting the pivotal role Cyprus can play in promoting sustainable and peaceful global change.  

# Enable Cypriot Rotarians to share their experiences, learning, and proposed activities with other Cypriot and regional Rotarians and civil society organizations, encouraging and inviting them to take action.

# Render the visibility of the extended team globally, leveraging the engagement of high profile personalities and organizations, to amplify its impact on peacebuilding efforts.

# Compile a White Paper reflecting the outcomes of the [[Point of View]] process to be submitted to relevant parties, such as the UN Cyprus envoy team, political parties, business leaders, journalists, academics, educators, and others as deemed appropriate by the participating Rotarians.

[[Yiannis Laouris]] conducted one-on-one Zoom conversations with all participants to build rapport, discuss the project's vision and objectives, and ensure a clear understanding of the various stages and the commitment required. Each participant was required to identify and clarify up to three obstacles they perceived as important in the current state of affairs. These conversations also secured participants' consent for the transparent and public use of all data, including utilization of recorded video clips.

# Ensure that all participants understood the project's vision and objectives.

** Ensure that each participant identified and submitted up to three obstacles they perceived as significant in the current state of affairs.

 

The obstacles submitted by each participant during the induction session served as input for a virtual Structured Democratic Dialogue (vSDD). The dialogue is documented here:

The goal was to develop a shared understanding of the Problématique before participants travelled to Washington, DC, for the Main Event. Establishing a common language and a shared understanding of how the various obstacles are interconnected enabled participants to propose more targeted and effective actions and interventions through their projects.

* [[Cypriot Rotarians identify Challenges that Hinder Peace Settlement, Sep-Oct, 2024]]

The implementation of SDDs requires the formation of a team called [[Knowledge Management Team]] (KMT) composed of representatives of the Sponsor (or owner), Project Managers, Facilitators, and representative and knowledgeable participants. The KMT’s major task is to formulate the Triggering Questions that will drive the SDD process and to ensure that all requirements for planning and implementing a successful SDD are satisfied.