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Adam Hirsch, International Fellow
The impact that we make on the lives of the children has been evident over the years.
Some are coming to me saying that
after a Peace Players basketball tournament for the first time
they actually thought that peace in Cyprus would be attainable.
PeacePlayers - Cyprus
Marina Vasilara, Managing Director
PeacePlayers started in Cyprus in 2006
with an initial grant from UNDP.
The organization is set up through a bi-communal board
and we have around 10 coaches working with us.
We have about 170 children registered
but many of our events are open to other children as well who are not
taking part in Peace Players teams.
Orhun Mevlit, Coordinator
PeacePlayers gives the kids the opportunity to see each other
because otherwise its very difficult to find a way to get them together.
The philosophy on which PeacePlayers started was that
children that learn to play together can also learn to live together.
PeacePlayers is part of an international network with programs in
North Ireland, the Middle East, South Africa and Cyprus.
All these programs face different unique challenges
but they all have one thing in common.
Its trying to build bridges.
Bridges between the two communities, starting with the children.
Its trying to break down prejudices
and long standing misconceptions.
At the beginning the parents were hesitant.
Now I think we passed it and they are sending their kids easily.
As soon as that first pass is made and they give each other a hi five,
you watch these years of stereotypes and prejudice,
fears and concerns just melt away
and all of a sudden everyone is on the same team again,
playing for a common goal.
The children are attending schools in their own communities,
they have very little chance to interact,
either through the school system or through sport.
When they come out of the school setting and they are on the court
they are playing by the rules of the game.
And those rules of the game are encouraging cooperation,
are encouraging communication, among your team members.
Over time we see Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot kids becoming good friends.
We don’t just teach the children how to shoot and how to dribble.
We also teach them things like teamwork and fair play and respect.
And we are constantly pushing them to find examples of these
not just on the basketball court but also in their own lives.
And we challenge them to become leaders in their own communities.
To put these values of respect into play
and hopefully have that have an impact on the conflict in Cyprus.
What we are trying to do is give the children a chance to change these
All they hear is that the other side is something they should be afraid of
and we have a challenge a lot of times to convince these kids
and the parents to want to come together.
PeacePlayers can help us to see that we have more things in common than our differences.