Reconciliation Now!

The current project has three goals. Within each of these goals are also included specific objectives.

1. Create a critical mass of senior and young journalists within Cyprus’s leading media organizations who share a culture and have acquired new skills for practicing more responsible and objective journalism.

1. Introduce more journalists to the concepts of peace-building and provide them with practical skills in non-violent problem-solving and conflict resolution that are relevant to their professional needs.

2. Create a network of "friendly" journalists within leading media organizations and develop mechanisms and opportunities to use this network to increase understanding of critical issues related to peace and conflict resolution, and bicommunal relations.

2. Facilitate the creation of joint Turkish and Greek Cypriot business ventures that are committed to integration and skills building of their workforce.

i. Support small micro-enterprises (SMEs), especially young business people, in forming joint ventures, with a special emphasis on those businesses that will enhance economic development and job opportunities in the North.

ii. Provide conflict resolution training to business people and, where relevant, to their employees, to enhance productivity and increase the likelihood of success of bicommunal business ventures.

iii. Provide information, training and support to SMEs and young business people seeking to benefit from relevant EU- and UN funding opportunities that are now becoming available for business development.

3. Institutionalize the reconciliation process by tapping into and benefiting from existing Cypriot expertise and building more sustainable bicommunal support mechanisms.

i. Create an efficient and more permanent bicommunal structure with appropriate human and capital resources, that will: a) immediately serve to formalize strategic planning, project development, project management, resource allocation, evaluation and public relations functions; and b) be positioned in the future to evolve into Cyprus’s first truly national-level, bicommunal NGO.

ii. Create synergies, facilitate interaction and promote the development of “collaborating networks” between various peace and reconciliation projects.

iii. Foster professional and management skills development for people directly involved/employed in peace and reconciliation projects/initiatives, with a special emphasis on overcoming disparities that may exist between the North and South.

iv. Form a group of senior peace builders certified to deliver courses in conflict resolution using the HasNa-training model.

v. Develop a longer-term plan (including sources of funding) and take initial steps towards the establishment of an International Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation Center that can deliver training and mediation services as well as serve as a focal point for networking to large numbers of citizens, NGOs and business groups.

.