Doves Olympic Movement Summer Camp 2005
30 July - 4 August 2005 in Agros
In the summer of 2005 we implemented a USAID, UNOPS/ UNDP funded sports initiative in Cyprus in collaboration with the Center for Leisure, Tourism and Sport, Research and Development (CLTS)-Intercollege. The initiative called Doves Olympic Movement Summer Camp 2005 (Lyras, Yiannakis & Kartakoullis, 2005) hosted ninety-six children and twenty instructors from both communities. The four-month long program included two months training of instructors, two local meetings with the parents of the participants and a weeklong Olympic summer camp. The Olympic Camp aimed to build bridges and develop friendship between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot children. The one week Olympic Camp took place in Agros (30 July - 4 August). Boys and girls (13-16 years old) from both communities were eligible to apply for participation. The program consisted of various physical activities (Soccer, Basketball, Volleyball, Martial Arts and Swimming). During the Olympic Camp, the participants had the opportunity to attend workshops and activities in a number of educational topics that aim the children's growth and development. The topics included the values and principles of the Olympic Movement, technology, environmental awareness and human rights.
Background info
For more than three decades, Cyprus has been a divided island. Greek and Turkish Cypriots have been living in their own separate communities with practically no contact or communication. Compounding this state of affairs is the fact that the two communities are also separated by differences in religion, ethnicity and language. This form of separation is contributing to a level of mistrust, fear and insecurity, which has made it difficult for the two communities to live and work together in peace.
As a result of the absence of different educational programs that attempt to bring these two communities together, both communities grew up with a lack of understanding and respect for one another. The purpose of the proposed project was to create a pilot program with sports and other activities and develop a model that would help youngsters from both communities to live together, interact in peace, and think creatively. The program had multiple goals and it emphasized the use of sports as a tool for achieving peace.
Through this program 96 Greek and Turkish Cypriot children and 20 instructors, got together at the week long Olympic camp under the philosophy the values and the principles of the Olympic Movement. The four month long program included two months training of the instructors of the camp, recruitment of participants, conferences with families and participants and development of training and dissemination material.
Through this program we aimed to inspire Greek and Turkish Cypriots to develop:
- A better understanding for each other's needs
- Inter- ethnic tolerance and acceptance
- Friendships among members of both communities
- Patterns of working together in the pursuit of common goals
Training Manual Under Construction