ACTIVITIES 2002-2004
CNTI was engaged in three types of activities:
(j) Activities with social contribution • Project “Technology For Peace” ( www.tech4peace.org ) • Project “Youth Promoting Peace” (www.y2p.org ) • Project “HasNa” (www.hasna.org ) • Organization of «Computers & Dyslexia» Conference: Currently organizing the 5th Conference (www.cnti.org.cy/index5). Invited speakers from all over the world together with local scientists presented to Cypriot experts, special educators, parents and students, the latest developments in the area of early screening, diagnosis and treatment of learning difficulties. • Organization of «Innovation-Technology-Social Progress» Fair: Currently organizing the 3rd (www.cnti.org/ktk) under the auspices of the Ministers of Education & Culture, Industry & Tourism and Labor & Social Security ; this event aims to encourage innovation by providing a forum where ideas can be presented, discussed, honored and funded. • Co-organization of various conferences: Being an active and well- know institution is usually engaged in co-organizing and/or supporting the organization of various international events. For example, CNTI was engaged in the organization of “The Struggle for Democracy in West Asia in the context of Global and Regional Conflicts”, by TODA institute, Hawaii, “Building an innovation based economy”, co-organized and co-funded with the collaboration of CNTI with the Commonwealth Science Council, the World Association of Industrial and Technological Research Organization and others.
(k) Local representation of international bodies • CNTI is currently the local partner for the Washington D.C based NGO HasNa Inc. (www.hasna.org) • Drs. Yiannis Laouris, and Harry Anastasiou serve as the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East Directors of IWA-International World Affairs Organization (www.iwa.org)
(l) Pure research activities The Dyslexia research team consists of university professors, neurophysiologists, speech therapists, special educators, psychologists, computer scientists and others. The most successful and internationally recognized line of research takes place around the development of an early, language-independent, computerized screening test for learning difficulties with emphasis in Dyslexia. The Ministry of Education and Culture, the Research Promotion Foundation, the University of Cyprus and the Cyprus Dyslexia association support this activity. (see also Section 4.1.1)
2001-2003
YOUTH PROMOTING PEACE: Bi-communal Youth Peace Activities ( www.y2p.org )
(a) “Youth Promoting Peace”, known as Y2P, was founded in 1999, initiated by a group of active youngsters in the rapprochement movement. Building on a number of successful mass events, the Group’s project was initiated in September, 2001. The purpose of this project which is hosted by CNTI, is to continue to organize several creative events, which aim to bring together primarily the youth of the two communities and build bridges of communication and understanding between them.
(b) This project directly and indirectly affects a large number of people, mainly youth who benefit from the bi-communal activities organized by Y2P in the following ways: • They interact with people from the “other” community, who are considered to be their enemies, collaborate for the organization of the events, work and celebrate together and form new and promising friendships based on tolerance, mutual respect and understanding. • Young people realize that apart from differences they also share common elements with people from the other community, which could prove very important in terms of coexisting and communicating. • The Young People initiate concrete dialogue with several officials, members of the government and NGOs and declare that young people care about their future and want to take pat in future evolutions which will shape their future. • They create a viable network, which is essential for the sustainability of the project. • This project attracts young people that never had the chance to take part in bi-communal activities, offering them ways to get involved in social and civil affairs. • This project led to the expansion of cooperation between the youth of the two communities in Cyprus, individuals or groups. It is the start for further cooperation in the future.
(c) A positive coincidence brought a senior facilitator, Dr. Yiannis Laouris , the president of the Cyprus Neuroscience and Technology Institute, in contact with the group which was formed after the participation of a number of teenagers in peace conferences, which enabled them to lay the seeds in founding Youth Promoting Peace (Y2P). Equipped with extensive experience in facilitation of groups, being one of the Fulbright trained Senior Trainers, and having participated in many bi-communal activities and in lots of conferences both in Cyprus and abroad Dr. Laouris facilitates the meetings of the group transmitting positive feelings and preserving and expanding the enthusiasm of the members of the group. Apart from the invaluable know-how and administrative support the CNTI also provides tangible support (space, technology) to the project.
(d) For the implementation of 30 activities, visualized, organized and implemented by Y2P the young people secured two grant of total 55,000 CYP. The group also secures small sponsorships for the implementation of its activities.
(e) July 2003: organized the first ever Euro-Med seminar Action 5 (one week) in Cyprus with the participation of nine countries (41 participants) from the EU and the Mediterranean co-funded by the European Commission, UNOPS/UNDP and other private companies in Cyprus. Additional 21,000 CYP were raised for the implementation of this project (co-funding with the European Commission - Youth Programme)
(e) The project enjoys the support of the people of the United States and the United Nations Development Program through a grant to the United Nations Office for Project Services. ( www.unopspmu.org )
2001-2002
TECHNOLOGY FOR PEACE ( www.tech4peace.org )
(a) The purpose of the project was to design and develop a comprehensive virtual infrastructure for Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot peace-promoting individuals and groups and indirectly support their activities by introducing an Information Technology dimension to their work. Furthermore, the project aimed to become the central reference, information and meeting point, which will be providing different types of support, information, ideas and inspiration to the various peace building initiatives both in Cyprus and overseas. The project is located in Cyprus but it is basically hosted in cyberspace.
(b) The project’s results are (a) the provision, for the first time, of an entire spectrum of information and knowledge, which gives the specific profile of the Cyprus situation and the range of the peace building efforts and culture in Cyprus on which new initiatives can be built, (b) the provision of a vital reference point for all those interested in, and working with, the Cyprus problem ranging from Greek and Turkish-Cypriot citizens, professionals, academics, policy makers, students and third parties, (c) the tracking and evaluation of the importance of new information and communication technologies as they transform international relations and the enhancement of the level of public awareness about the new possibilities emerging for the prevention, management and settlement of conflicts in a speedy manner, (d) the facilitation of cooperation and information sharing between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots by establishing itself as a platform of for ideas and debates, (e) the extraction of valuable lessons and insights for future training of Peace builders, whether in government, international organizations or the private sector, and finally the promotion of cross-cultural, international interaction, potential cooperation and involvement between individuals and organized groups and improve their response times.
(c) Building on his long involvement in the rapprochement movement, Dr. Yiannis Laouris, who is also the President of the Cyprus Neuroscience and Technology Institute, founded the project. Furthermore, CNTI provided tangible (space, technology etc) and intangible (technological know-how and administrative support) support to the project during its duration. The Project also involves the active participation of George Tziapouras as Project Coordinator and Dr. Harry Anastasiou who are both members of the Cyprus Neuroscience and Technology Institute Board as well as of a number of Turkish Cypriot associates who are also either directly or indirectly linked with other projects of the Institute. (d) The total cost of the Project was CYP 51,780.
(e) Technology For Peace – www.tech4peace.org is a project supported by the people of the United States and the United Nations Development Program through a grant to the United Nations Office for Project Services. http://www.unopspmu.org P.O.Box 21642 Telephone: 357-22-874777 Fax: 357-22-359066 Email: fo.cyp@undp.org
2002-2004
TECHNOLOGY FOR PEACE: PHASE II
(a) The purpose of the project was to design and develop the first infrastructure for supporting bicommunal projects and more specifically to train peace builders in the use of the Internet as a means of communication.
(b) The project’s results were the following: • First successful cooperation between Greek Cypriots (CNTI) and Turkish Cypriot (PeaceNet) peace builders through the development and use of Information and Communication Technologies. • Acquisition of an e-Mail server, which supported thousands of peace builders in their electronic communication between 1996-1999. • Technological infrastructure was acquired and applied in both communities for the support of various projects such as the development and promotion of a peace curriculum and the International Communication and Negotiation Simulation Project (ICONS) of the University of Maryland. • Reaching out to new people who had not been involved in bicommunal activities before. • Networking with NGOs and other third parties and individuals involved in the rapprochement movement both at the local (i.e., Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots) and international level (i.e., USAID, USIP, IWA, the University of Maryland and others).
(c) CNTI’s contribution to the project was comprehensive and ranged from (i) identifying and forging cooperation with Turkish Cypriot NGOs (i.e., PeaceNet) for the preparation of applications, (ii) requesting funding and conceptualizing, designing, developing and implementing the abovementioned projects, (iii) hosting equipment and seminars in its premises, (iv) to establishing vital networks with international organizations, institutions and actors involved in Information and Communication Technologies and Conflict Resolution.
(d) The project’s cost was approximately CYP 30,000.
(e) The project received funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) and the Institute of World Affairs in the years 1995-1999.
United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
http://www.usaid.gov
Ronald Reagan Building
Washington DC, 20523-1000
Tel: 202-712-4810, Fax: 202-216-3524
Email: AandAOmbudsman@usaid.gov
United States Institute of Peace (USIP)
http://www.usip.org
1200 17th Street, NW, Suite 200
Washington DC, 20036-3011
Tel: 202-457-1700, Fax: 202-429-6063
Email: usip_request@usip.org
Institute of World Affairs (IWA)
1321 Pennsylvania Ave., SE
Washington DC, 20003
Tel: 202-544-4141
Email: info@iwa.org
2000-2004 HASNA PROJECT
The HasNa Inc. Washington has a five year history of collaboration with C.N.T.I. The project was initiated through leads given to us by former US Ambassador Kenneth Brill and former Fulbright scholar Ben Broom.
The first part of the project consisted of 3 phases which were coordinated by two HasNa Regional Offices in Cyprus: one coordinated by Dr. Yiannis Laouris in the South and one coordinated by senior peace builder Huseyin Gursan in the North. The project had a duration of one year. During this year a group of young Journalists, were sent to Washington DC for training. Following a transparent process overviewed by an independent Board, 10 young journalists (5 GCc, 5 TCs) were selected. After having spent time together in Washington DC in the summer of 2002 they were collaborating in Cyprus on various projects. A major project was the development of the first bi-communal on-line magazine www.hasnajournal.org which is tri-lingual. The stated vision of this journal is to contribute towards the positive transformation of the Cyprus media, and the development of a common language, new ethics code and elevated professional standards, in the context of the forthcoming political settlement and the European Union accession.
The Mission of the HasNa (CYPRUS) Journal is to explore and utilize the evolution and revolutions of Information and Communication Technologies as they transform the relationship between the mass media and peace by providing a virtual space where authors may freely express their opinions, suggest practical approaches to support the transformation process, and share their experiences.
The Mission may be achieved through the: (m) feedback offered to candidate authors by senior peace builders (n) organization of events that focus on areas of priority regarding Cyprus journalism (o) feedback by expert members of the international advisory board (p) creation of a forum for open discussion and dialogue via the project's portal
Their final project was the organization of a symposium with the most prominent journalists as its participants. In view of the forthcoming political settlement and the European Union accession, journalism in Cyprus need to be transformed to serve the needs of the times and meet the requirements of the new international standards. A new language needs to be developed. The symposium was designed with two structured dialogue sessions aiming at producing tangible results.
Since January 2004, HasNa Cyprus is contracted to develop two further projects.
The first project is a continuation of the previous one and it focuses on the development of the culture in the arena of the media.
The second project focuses on economic development.
We believe that long-lasting peace will only be achieved in Cyprus when the economic difference between Turkish and Greek Cypriots is minimized. Both the UN and the EU are now making available, for the first time, funds for projects to encourage joint business ventures, especially business activities that will contribute to the economic development of the North. However, the supporting infrastructure for business people to effectively form such partnerships and to absorb and benefit from these new opportunities is still lacking. This project will deploy a team with experience in business development to actively work with potential joint business venture candidates, supporting them from beginning to end to apply, manage and benefit from such opportunities, and to ensure that they are equipped with the necessary skills to succeed.
The goal of this project is to facilitate the creation of Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot joint business ventures that are committed to integration and skills building of their workforce. Where possible, the project will also attempt to increase the number and quality of employment opportunities in economically challenged, mixed neighborhoods. The objectives include:
• Convene groups of entrepreneurs, especially young business people, to identify emerging opportunities and any legal, regulatory or other barriers to forming joint ventures, with a special emphasis on those businesses that will enhance economic development and job opportunities in Northern Cyprus.
• Provide business skills and conflict resolution training to business people and, where relevant, to their employees, to enhance productivity and increase the likelihood of success of these bicommunal business ventures.
• Provide information, advice and other support services to small micro-enterprises (SMEs) and young business people seeking to benefit from relevant European Union (EU) and UNOPS funding opportunities that are now becoming available for business development.
The project funding is expected to end Dec. 2005.
DYSLEXIA PROJECT 1999-2004
(a) The purpose of the project was to develop a complete screening test for Dyslexia to be used in schools in Cyprus and possibly Greece and other Greek speaking regions/communities.
(b) The research has resulted in (a) the development of a complete screening felt, which is currently in the process of standardization in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and (b) the development of a new scientific thought/paradigm that is, instead of focusing to the symptoms of Dyslexia (e.g. spelling errors, miscalculation etc) our research approach focuses on cognitive, non-verbal mental attributes, which underline the learning process. This cognitive non-verbal process allows the diagnosis of possible learning difficulties a lot easier because it is possible to measure non-verbal abilities such as sequencing, categorization, navigation ability and others, even before children have learnt to read. Furthermore, treatment can focus on developing their mental skills. Continuing research focuses in how enhancement of selected mental skills using video-like educational software may improve learning abilities. Results of this research will next be presented in 45-minute presentations in two upcoming international events: June 27-29, 2002/ Multilingual & Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Dyslexia Conference organized by the International Dyslexia Association, Washington DC, and the 53rd Annual Conference organized by the European, International, British Association, Atlanta, November 13-16, 2002.
(c) As a pioneer in the field, the Cyprus Neuroscience and Technology Institute assumed the role of the Leader in this project. Dr. Yiannis Laouris was the overall project coordinator. The project involved the participation of 18 scientists (two of them residing in foreign Universities) and the Cyprus Dyslexia Association.
(d) The total cost of the Project was CYP 38,700. The RPF contribution was CYP 23,600.
(e) The Research Promotion Foundation funded the “DYSLEXIA” Project. http://www.research.org.cy P.O.Box 23422 1683, Nicosia Telephone: 357-22-660292 Fax: 357-22-666117 Email: ipe@research.org.cy
2000 –2006
LEONARDO PROJECT: “Biblio.For.Meda” Community action programme on vocational training
Procedure B - Second phase: 2000 –2006 Pilot projects, Language competences, transnational Networks
“The identification of a training and organizational model to make the most of librarians as facilitators of lifelong learning and promote the adequacy of librarian services and actions that libraries can carry out to favour the participation of all citizens to knowledge, permanent training and development of the local community”
Aims The project has the following targets: • Contribute to the consolidation of EDA as an integrated system in Italy, Rumania, Hungary, Cyprus, U.K., Estonia, and Sweden. • Identify a training and organizational model which is able to exploit both the Public library experience organized to the “western model” and the Popular Library experience organized according to the “eastern model” • Improve the learning level in Europe through the identification of training and organizational models to support the exploitation of librarians as facilitators of lifelong learning
Target Group 1. Librarians 2. Social and cultural operatives (public and private) 3. Institutional bodies (public and private) 4. EDA system bodies
Work Plan The timing of the project has the following phases: Start up (2 months) Documentary research (4 months) Quantity and quality research analysis (4 months) Training and organizational needs analysis (3 months) Training and organizational model design (4 months) Survey and evaluation of the methodologies and models employed (4 months) Literary production and dissemination of the results (3 months)
The project ends March 2006. 2002-2005
EUMEDIS PROJECT - MEDPRIDE
C.N.T.I. as the Research and Development Unit for Ekkotek Ltd – High Technology Business Incubator
C.N.T.I. participates as the R & D Unit for a High Technology Business Incubator in Cyprus (Ekkotek). Ekkotek is participating as partner organization to the EUMEDIS programme – Med Pride.
The project is about on line teleconference trainings for SME’s representatives run by Sviluppo Italia.
The project ends May 2005.