Technology for Peace: Difference between revisions

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==Description==
==Description==
The project Technology For Peace (Tech4Peace) was envisioned and implemented in order to enhance one of the most basic human rights, the right of communication across the military barriers in Cyprus.
The project '''Technology For Peace''' (Tech4Peace) was envisioned and implemented in order to enhance one of the most basic human rights, the right of communication across the military barriers in Cyprus.




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# 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.
# 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 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 (Tech4Peace) 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 [[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.
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 Tech4Peace 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 enjoyed 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 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.
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.  
Tech4Peace has also been supported both financially and in terms of man hours by its members. For example, while the funds for renting Internet Services have already been used up, the system continued to operate with subsidees from its members.  It has organised and hosted many seminars and workshops, organized many other activities and laid the foundations for the first organized infrastructure for the bicommunal world.  In contrast to its numerous activities and significant contributions so far, to this date, it has been supported only by modest funds.


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.
[[CYBER KIDS]] has supported the Tech4Peace project by donating funds and space. It hosted the project for 12 months at its own expense. Additionally, [[CYBER KIDS]] offered technical know-how at no cost.
 
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. 
In addition to the funds provided so far by Funding Organizations, the TFP has been supported both financially and in terms of man hours by its members.  For example, while the funds for renting Internet Services have already been used up, the system continues to operate with subsidees from its members.  It has organised and hosted many seminars and workshops, organized many other activities and laid the foundations for the first organized infrastructure for the bicommunal world.  In contrast to its numerous activities and significant contributions so far, to this date, it has been supported only by modest funds.
 
Its support at this stage is crucial as its aims and resulting benefits are very wide and multifacet.  The fact that this type of activity is a priority is also being underlined by the fact that in all obstacle maps and vision maps generated by numerous bicommunal groups in the years 94-97 the issue of organized communication is always scattered in the priority regions (see example in Appendix).
 
CYBER Kids has supported the TFP project by donating to the project funds and space. CYBER Kids hosted the project for over 12 months at its own expense and even at the completion of the period it continues to provide space until TFP succeeds to receive its own funding at which stage it will hopefully move to its own space.
 
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 at the time of launching===
===Needs Assessment at the time of launching===
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