AR 2008/Activities

Activities

Accessing Development Education http://www.developmenteducation.info

This project aims at promoting Development Education within the educational sector across Europe, focusing specifically on Lithuania, Cyprus, Scotland and Ireland. This project acknowledges the fact that highly valuable Development Education material has been developed, however it recognizes the difficulties of teachers and educators to access the existent material, as well as to apply these resources to their local or national educational context. More specifically, the project addresses the lack of access to, as well as the need for, Development Education material by teachers, educators, youth trainers and other actors across Europe, and especially in those countries that have joined the EU only recently. The project aims to: • Raise awareness in Cyprus, Lithuania, Scotland, Ireland and Bulgaria about development issues and about the interdependence of EU countries and countries of the developing world; • Engage educators and youth to take action in support of the developing countries; • Build capacity among educators to integrate Development Education in their lesson plans. Specifically, the project aims to engage educators and schools in Development Education activities and equip them with relevant training and materials, thus making them promoters and multipliers of national campaigns that aim to create awareness about Development and about global interdependencies. Expected Project Results: • Development Education material adapted to local needs, in accordance with educational curricula in Cyprus, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Scotland and Ireland • A European collection of case studies, best practice and general Development Education materials reviewed, modified and adapted by an international educational advisory committee and made accessible through the web • A trans-national network of schools and educators jointly working to integrate Development Education into schools • Schools and teachers trained to use Development Education material in their lesson plans, thereby serving as multipliers.

CyberEthics GII: Island-wide combined Safer Internet Awareness Node, Hotline, Helpline http://alldifferentallequal.info/node/537

CyberEthics concerns the safe use of Internet in Cyprus, and serves the needs of all people that live on the island (i.e., also Turkish Cypriots and other minorities) addressing not only issues of pornography, but also racism (currently on the rise in Cyprus), gender discrimination and inappropriate use of peoples’ images. It operates as a combined Awareness Node and a Hotline. The project also aims to engage actors from the government and the civil society, thus contributing towards the eradication of cyber crime through informed actions of European citizens and public institutions that aim to change behaviours, mentality and attitudes, giving special emphasis to rural and less developed areas of the country. Objectives: - Act as node of awareness network in Cyprus. - Devise a cohesive, hard-hitting and targeted awareness campaign using the most appropriate media, taking into account best practice and experience in other countries. - Establish and maintain a partnership (formal or informal) with key players (government agencies, press and media groups, ISP associations, users organisations, education stakeholders) and actions in their country relating to safer use of Internet and new media. - Promote dialogue and exchange of information notably between stakeholders from the education and technological fields. - Where appropriate, cooperate with work in areas related to the Safer Internet plus programme such as in the wider field of media and information literacy or consumer protection. - Inform users about European filtering software and services and about hotlines and self-regulation schemes. - Actively cooperate with other national nodes in the European network by exchanging information about best practices, participating in meetings and designing and implementing a European approach, adapted as necessary for national linguistic and cultural preferences. - Provide a pool of expertise and technical assistance to start-up awareness nodes (new nodes could be ‘adopted’ by a more experienced node). - Take an active part in European-level events and in the organisation of national, regional and local events for the Safer Internet Day. - Cooperate with the hotline present in the country, if any, and Europe Direct.

Youth Ambassadors for Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) http://cy.youth4world.com

Youth Ambassadors for Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) campaign aims to raise awareness about the MDGs, first, among young people and on a second level among general public in the target countries namely Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic and Cyprus. Taking into consideration that the EU new member states have recently started the implementation of their development policy and therefore still face significant weaknesses, there is a great need for educational and promotional activities which aim at building public support for MDGs (according to Eurobarometers). As these countries become responsible actors in international development field, their societies also should be informed about the needs of developing countries and mobilize support for effective development cooperation as agreed in the last few years by the donor countries. This project will mainly focus on youth ensuring that young people (future leaders) will take part in this educational and awareness raising process. The project is planned for 2 years. During that time all the activities such as: trainings of MDGs Ambassadors, festivals, events, competitions, debates, happenings as well as internet radio and platform, will take place simultaneously in all the project’s countries ( the activities will be adapted to the needs in each country). All the activities are planned in this way to ensure that maximum amount of young people will be involved in each stage of the project. Another important aspect is, that all the activities that will be implement in the project, will have a multiplayer effect. The lead agency is the association “SMVS Youth for the World” from Poland. The main aim of the project is to raise public awareness on development issues and MDGs through active participation, discussion and different events which will involve youth from project’s countries. All the project’s activities will respond to the result that are planned to achieve.

UCYVROK http://www.ucyvrok.wetpaint.com

Objectives of the project Uniting for Citizenship and Participation: Youth promoting Vulnerable Groups’ Rights, Opportunities and Knowledge (UCYVROK): 1. Create a platform for the exchange of expertise, materials and best practices of youth organisations working with the concepts of cultural diversity, human rights, empowerment, social inclusion and active citizenship 2. Actively engage youth organisations in developing a.) a Joint Vision of a European youth environment based on those concepts b.) a Joint Action Plan towards an increased participation of less privileged youth in European youth projects and activities Target groups 1. Youth organisations in 12 EU countries 2. Young people involved in youth projects 3. Youth workers and trainers 4. Youth policy makers Expected results 1. Web-based portal and website; 2. Joint Action Plans and Vision Maps for the empowerment and inclusion of less privileged youth; 3. Joint Declaration on Citizenship and Participation, submitted to local, regional, national and EU authorities; 4. CD-ROM and Booklet with best practices, resources and material gathered by all partners.

Strengthening of youth civil society initiatives through EU and neighbouring countries’ networking

The project action is an answer to the identified needs of Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan youth which are based on the founding that there is a need for youth in the said countries to be strengthened and supported to take participation in the social and political life of the said regions in order to support democratization process imposing EU democratic values and principles. The project overall action aims to strengthen youth civil society initiatives through EU and neighbouring countries’ networking. More specifically, the project action aims to provide equal opportunities for young people in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan to build their leadership knowledge skills and attitudes for participation in community life and decision making as well as make EU democratic principles and values closer to the Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan youth through various capacity building, share of experience and partnership building and networking activities with Greek and Cyprus youth. Project action will target youth at the age of 14 – 24 years from Sokuluk and Alamudyun regions (Kyrgyzstan)., Almaty, Medeu region (Kazakhstan), Greece and Cyprus We expect that at the end of the project we will manage: a) To establish and ensure sustainability of 3 Youth Committees in KG and KZ that will serve as youth focal points for exchange of ideas and support youth participation in the social and political life of the said regions in order to support democratization process in their countries; b) To develop new skills and qualities of young volunteers, leaders and young staff members of Youth Committees in KG and KZ; c) To build strong connections and networking between youth NGOs of KG, KZ, Cyprus and Greece for the purpose of sharing of experiences and getting collaboration for common purposes and widening field of actions; d) To share the project practices with wider public through project web site.

Psycho-Social Support for Asylum Seekers and Refugees

The project aims to provide social welfare services and psychosocial support to asylum seekers in Cyprus at a national level. It will attempt to inform them for their rights such as employment, housing, material standards for reception, medical care and public assistance. In addition it will provide support to any psychological dysfunctions or/and other social problems they may face. Another general point is the knowledge we are going to earn from this joined collaborative initiative, in particular you as both students and young professionals. Our aim is to establish “inter-professional bridges” where different professions will work together for the benefits of asylum seekers.

Unit for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture http://www.urvt.org

The Unit for Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture is a project funded by the European Refugee Fund and the Republic of Cyprus, through the Asylum Service - Ministry of the Interior. The project has been initiated in 2006 and has since been funded consecutively. The unit supports and promotes the empowerment and rehabilitation of torture victims with a focus on refugees and asylum seekers. URVT’s mission is to assist victims of torture by providing multidisciplinary treatment and rehabilitation services and also to raise public awareness of issues concerning torture and rehabilitation. URVT’s integrated treatment approach encompasses a full range of services including medical treatment, psychological support, legal counseling, and other social services. The Unit works closely with a network of volunteer service providers, medical professionals, and language and cultural translators to help victims of torture and their families rebuild their lives. The Unit is the only of its kind in Cyprus and its personnel has been trained accordingly in Greece by MRCT. It consists of a social worker, a medical doctor, a psychologist, a secretary, and a coordinator. Results of the action: The Project being now in the second year of its operation has rehabilitated more than 30 individuals, some of whom are still being supported and some have received asylum on the grounds of humanitarian principles. The Unit has also made substantial work in the field of raising public awareness within the society.

Building a Multi-Ethnic and Multi-National Cyprus to promote European Values and Regional and International Peace

The main objective of the project is to promote awareness and increase the sensitivity of the Cypriot society on how a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural Cyprus serves European values and promotes regional and international peace. To meet the main objective, the project will engage students, teachers and parents in workshops and activities to create a vision map for a multicultural and multiethnic Cyprus, as well as visualize and implement specific activities, which contribute towards materializing the vision for a multicultural society.

SafenetCY -Island - wideSafer Internet Hotline in Cyprus http://212.31.98.230/cyethics2/page.php?pageID=15

SafenetCY is the hotline that promotes the safe use of Internet in Cyprus. It serves the needs of all people that live on the island (i.e. also Turkish Cypriots and other minorities) and addresses not only issues of pornography, but also racism (currently on the rise in Cyprus), gender discrimination and inappropriate use of people’s images. It operates as a combined Awareness Node and a Hotline under the CyberEthics project. The project engages actors from the government and the civil society, thus contributing towards the eradication of cyber crime through informed actions of European citizens and public institutions that aim to change behaviors, mentality and attitudes, giving special emphasis to rural and less developed areas of the country. The Hotline handles reports made through its corresponding website. In line with Cyprus legislation on the anonymity of the reporter, the Hotline operator takes all necessary actions in order to deal with the reported issue independently of who has filed the complaint. Every report is recorded on SafeNetCY’s Database. From that point every procedure has to be completed in less than 24 hours from the time the report was made.

Everybody’s Song - Music as a tool for the promotion of diversity and intercultural understanding http://www.everybodyssong.net

The general aim of the project is to reflect on the role of music in intercultural understanding and to identify ways on how to utilise it in youth work. The main objectives of the project are: • to raise awareness about cultural diversity • to train youth organisations and musicians in cultural diversity and project development • to establish partnerships between youth NGOs and musicians • to attract new target groups to youth work and the arts • to facilitate cross border cooperation between five different countries • to promote and increase the visibility of the Youth in Action programme in South East Europe Expected results: • A set of elaborated tools and well documented good practice examples using music as a tool in intercultural understanding and youth work for the promotion of diversity, tolerance and non-violent conflict transformation; this set is mainly aimed at youth workers, NGOs, music and arts teachers and musicians working with young people. It will be accessible in 3 ways: 1. on an interactive website (partly available in seven different languages) including a download section 2. on a Multimedia DVD including audio- and video-files 3. in a booklet summarising the project results • Raised awareness about shared cultural heritage in South East Europe • Improved cooperation between youth organisations and artists (musicians) • Increased visibility of the participating youth organisations and the Youth in Action Programme

New MediaLanscape Now http://www.cyprusmedia.wetpaint.com

The “New Media Landscape Now!” project aims to bring together journalists from both sides of divided Cyprus to produce a strong vision for an ideal media landscape which will hopefully serve as a magnet to mobilize transformation. The FWC organized a workshop with Cypriot journalists that will focus on the development of a road map towards an ideal media landscape in Cyprus. The FWC organized two follow-up, closed-door conferences with a total of 24 journalists - 12 from each side of the island. They worked together to finalize a vision of a future media landscape in Cyprus and to develop an action plan with steps towards a feasible transformation of the existing media landscape. They put together a set of guidelines sharing good practices and potential steps towards a new media world, to be disseminated among the main stakeholders related to media on both sides.

SteLLLa Stimulation of eLearning for Life Long Learning for adults http://www.stellla.eu

It is the ambitious aim of steLLLa to develop a generic method for autonomous learning for adults that can be implemented in the training courses of various professions. First of all, we will share information and experiences. The expertise of each partner combined with the well balanced constitution of the group guarantees a synergetic cooperation and a cultural enrichment. Starting from concrete eLearning tasks; trainers, learners and the partner institutions will create new good practice examples for several domains. Adult learners will be involved in the test settings. We will promote these new eLearning techniques to enhance the Life Long Learning opportunities for adults. Also, we want to stimulate trainers and learners to use an eLearning environment as communication tool and for didactical purposes; to use modern ICT methods not only to communicate but also to acquire and exchange knowledge.

Strengthening Asylum for Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Cyprus

As implementing partner to the UNHCR representation in Cyprus, the Future Worlds Center is responsible for monitoring the access of asylum seekers to the asylum procedure of the Republic of Cyprus as well as the access to rights by asylum seekers and refugees, provide individual advice, support and counseling. The purpose of the particular action is to reduce the difficulties of asylum seekers to get access to general information on the refugee concept, rights and obligations under the national asylum procedure, the provision of legal advice and counseling as well as the necessary well targeted interventions with the relevant staff in the ministries to address shortcomings in policy and practice. In practical terms the legal advisors of the project also provide assistance to asylum seekers with deserving cases to prepare their appeals for the Reviewing Authority. The current project is also responsible for facilitating the local integration of recognized refugees and raising awareness over the plight of refugees within the local community. Results of the action: Strengthening Asylum in Cyprus is an ongoing process of awareness raising, and legal support services. Nevertheless the expected impact concentrates on the protection of the beneficiary population, with particular sensitivity towards women refugees and children, including adolescents. In addition, associates, volunteers and friends working with the action have carried a clothes and gifts drive for asylum seekers, refugees and their families while solid outcomes of the action also include a booklet with information for Asylum Seekers and Refugees on applying for Asylum in Cyprus.

Civil Society Dialogue http://www.blogora.net/page/Cyprus+Civil+Society+Dialogue

The Civil Society Dialogue project will bring together civil society organizations from both sides of the island to share experiences and work to create a Citizen’s Platform where ideas are discussed and an Action Plan is devised to build the new reunited Cyprus. Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriots having years of bi-communal experience will come together with others who are not very experienced in that field but are young, well educated and motivated individuals to share experiences and ideas and generate their vision of the island.

EU Kids Online http://www.edukidsonline.net

The EU Kids Online project examines research carried out in 21 member states into how children and young people use the internet and new media. This three-year collaboration aims to identify comparable research findings across Europe to evaluate the social, cultural and regulatory influences affecting both risks and children’s and parents’ responses to them. It charts available data, notes indicative gaps and identifies factors that shape the research capability of European research institutions. Finally, it examines methodological issues relating to cross-cultural analyses and the study of children’s online experience in order to develop a best practice guide to research

Cost219ter http://www.tiresias.org/cost219ter

The FWC serves as the National Contact Point in the European network COST Action 219ter: Accessibility for All to Services and Terminals for Nex Generation Networks. The Action merges the new mobile technologies with a humanitarian angle, aspiring to the day in which new mobile technologies will be accessible and beneficial to all. Driving principle of the action is that the latest mobile systems will provide the opportunity for building a more inclusive telecommunications arena. The applicant has recently organized a European conference in Cyprus (http://cnti.org.cy/cost219) and is co-authoring a book chapter in a Cost219ter book publication. This project funds the participation of our experts in Cost219ter meetings 2-3 times a year. It also funds the participation of younger associates in summer schools.

Resource - Adaptive Design of Visualizations for Supporting the Comprehension of Complex Dynamics

The purpose of the project is 1. Interdisciplinary optimization of resources in learning from dynamic visualizations. 2. Development of instructional materials that meet high standards with regard to the scientific content domain, the computer technology, and the constraints of the cognitive system. 3. Development of innovative learning scenarios with dynamic visualizations (e.g., situated mobile learning). 4. Development of shared materials for experimentation. 5. Assembling a final product for complex and situated learning. This project funds the participation of our experts in their meetings once a year. It also funds the participation of our associates in conferences and in European Commission Task Groups.

Hibernation

The Hibernation Project is a research project focusing on new technology for learning. It investigates how animations can be used to support learning. More specifically, the project investigates if animations are more effective for specific types of learners than for others, e.g., students with reading difficulties, students who prefer the auditory vs. visual channel for learning. The project consists of three phases: Phase 1: Specification of the learning domain, the foundation of theoretical background, the design of the empirical study; Phase 2: Design of animations with respect to design principles and empirical findings; and Phase 3: Data collection, data analysis, and interpretation.

Changing Attitudes of Adults (parents) on Internet - Related Risks for Young Adolescents (IChat) http://www.ichat.cti.gr/index.php/home

The project will address Internet safety issues with the aim to achieve an in-depth understanding regarding safety breaches and protective measures and actions, primarily within the family environment. For this purpose, a limited section of the Online Virtual Environment, Second Life, will be customized to host study teams who will be playing on the Internet and will be “exposed” to real risks in a controlled way. Project participants are expected to develop skills in recognising safety pitfalls and dealing with them as well as appreciate Internet Risks in their true dimension. The very difference between real Internet-related risks and Internet-related risks as perceived by adults (parents) could constitute a new type of risk in itself. There is a similar difference between the means to deal with these risks and the means to deal with these risks as perceived by adults (parents). The conception adults (parents) have on what (their) children do when they “play” (spend time) on the Internet is largely based on ignorance; certainly experiential ignorance in that they have not “played” (spent time) on such activities themselves and often ‘literate ignorance’ in that they have not studied the matter. Media and church hype add insult to injury. Furthermore, there is a difference between the real attitude of adults (parents) towards their children (in general, and with respect to their children’s activities on the Internet) and their self-perceived attitude. There is a further difference between their real attitudes and the results of their behavior. The project will study the attitude of such adults towards the fact that their children immerse themselves into video games (Second Life in particular). Specifically, the project team will study the change in attitudes of the adults regarding the activities of their children and the risks related before and after they had an opportunity to “play” along with their children for several months. Target groups addressed will be parents (of 12-15 year old girls and 13-16 year old boys) who are teachers (preferably at high schools where they have pupils of the same age as their children) who will fall into specific, predefined clusters, along with their children. Each study team will consist of one or two parentsteachers with their one or more children / nephew and / or their friends. Project outputs, products and results will include, among others, i) a customized area in the Virtual, Online Environment “Second Life”, ii) a portal supporting project work, dissemination activities and project participants, iii) recorded research on internet safety risks as perceived by adults and teenagers of the study teams and most importantly the possible change in attitudes before and after game playing. This research aims at concluding to a suggested methodology on an original approach in developing an Internet Safety Culture which could be used as a bases for learning material at various levels and in particular for teacher training.

Dialogue Through Sports: Play for Peace

This project, funded by the Anna Lindh Euro-Mediterranean Foundation for the Dialogue between Cultures 1001 Actions for Dialogue initiative, aims at increasing dialogue among Cypriots island-wide through sports, arts and compassionate communication. The goals are to emphasize team spirit through basketball games, to empower youth through artistically visualizing a future Cyprus and to enhance communication skills through Non-Violent Communication workshops. Objectives: − Increase Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot coaches’ and PeacePlayers International (PPI) team members’ skills through Non- Violent Communication (NVC); − Increase dialogue among Cypriot youth during mono- and bi-communal activities through sports; − Emphasize team spirit and relationship building through interaction; − Empower PPI teams to visualize a strong team/community and sportsmanship in Cyprus with Structured Dialogic Design Process (SDDP). Target Groups: − Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot PPI team coaches (10-14 in total); Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot PPI team members aged 10-15 both from urban and rural settings (approximately 300 youngsters will be reached; the project aims to encourage girls’ participation); Cypriot Civil Society; Educators Media. Activities: Celebrating the EU’s Year of Intercultural Dialogue, the Action will have: − Train the trainer: 2 sustainable workshops of NVC involving facilitation and envisioning for PPI team coaches & educators island-wide; − Train the youth: PPI team coaches return to their communities and apply the NVC skills with the youth in their teams. Cypriot youth will paint their future team, community or sportsmanship in Cyprus on a canvass; youth’s paintings will be presented and displayed in the Buffer Zone; − Dialogue Night: a bi-communal basketball tournament will take place in the Buffer Zone. − A video will be produced by the bi-communal television show “Biz/Emeis” highlighting the project for their show on the “Dialogue Night”. − An interview featuring the representatives from the partner organizations on the bi-communal radio show “Talk of the Island” will be organized. The video and a ‘pod cast’ of the interview will be disseminated to the project members’ and Anna Lindh Foundation’s websites.