Creating Friendships for Peace – People UNITED in Countries Divided

Our Programs

Cyprus Friendship Program

The Cyprus Friendship Program (CFP) brings together teenagers from both Greek-speaking and Turkish-speaking Cypriot communities to promote peaceful interaction and understanding between the two groups. CFP is a two year peace-building and leadership training program in Cyprus, with a four week component in the United States in the summer.

Middle East Friendship Program

In our Middle East Program, CFP works alongside In-Country Coordinators and with Hebrew-speaking and Arabic-speaking teens to provide selected applicants with workshops in a U.S. summer program with American host families. We facilitate conflict resolution, promote leadership skills with teens from all sides of the conflict and offer opportunities to understand their relevance and future role in peacebuilding, addressing tensions between the young and the old, power, and resources. CFP’s homestay experience offers the teens valuable time in a secure and impartial environment to have honest dialogue with one another and develop long-lasting understanding and friendships.

About Us

Creating Friendships for Peace, Inc. is a volunteer grassroots organization whose mission is to promote and strengthen friendships between teens from divided communities and extend those friendships to their families and friends. The friendships are developed through home stays with American families. Each family hosts two teens – one from each side of a conflict. The teen pair shares a room and learns about each other, understanding their different perspectives and realizing that friendships can develop despite significant political and cultural differences. With friendship, an atmosphere is created that allows for mutual respect and understanding – a key ingredient for peace. CFP is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in the United States. Our volunteers were active in Northern Ireland from 1981 until 2007. We are currently active in Cyprus since 2009 and Israel/Palestine since 2018. In our efforts to maintain neutrality, we do not accept government funding and rely solely on gifts from individuals, charitable foundations and businesses who wish to make a difference for peace in the world. Creating Friendships for Peace believes in self-determination and peaceful conflict resolution for all cultures and nations. “I know if everyone had a sister/brother/sibling on the other side that they felt close to as much as I did to my pair, we would all be so much closer to peace.” Summer ’22 CFP Teen

Latest News

International Day of Peace Reception Honors CFP’s Partners in Peacebuilding

On September 21st, the CFP Board and DC Metro CFP donors gathered to show appreciation to the Alliance for Middle East Peace, the Alliance for Peacebuilding, Rotary International and the United States Institute of Peace. Learning of all the continuing efforts for peace, despite the current climate, reminds us that doing nothing is never an option. Top left: Avi & Dana Meyerstein (ALLMEP), Andrew Selee (Migration Policy Institute)Top right: Ayçe Ozerdem (GMU Carter Center), Mari Clarke (Rotary District 7620 Peace Committee Chair)2nd row left: Nancy Zirkin (USIP), Linda Ziglar (CFP Board Chair)2nd row right: Retired Ambassador Susan Elliott (CFP Board), …

CFP Board Meets for Strategic Planning

After several years of Zoom board meetings, the CFP Board met in person at the new headquarters in Washington, DC on September 20nd. Those unable to come in person participated via Zoom. The agenda included an evaluation of CFP’s progress in Cyprus after 17 years and a discussion on developments in Israel. A process is being developed to evaluate other conflicts in which CFP might play a part in bridging divisions. Kosovo and the Armenia/Azerbaijan conflict are being considered.CFP’s 13 person board meets quarterly to provide corporate guidance, international perspectives and fundraising assistance.

U.S. Team Annual Meeting

I want to share with you my deepest gratitude for our USA operating team who dedicated four full days to participate in our annual meeting. This meeting is a cornerstone for our team’s cohesion and growth, and, for some is the first time meeting face-to-face, rather than by Zoom. The camaraderie built during these days is invaluable. We convened in Montgomery, Texas, reviewing our program, policies, procedures, and processes based on feedback from teen and host family surveys. This summer’s program was a resounding success. Good leadership, along with the enthusiasm of our teens and host families in all US …

CFP in Northern Ireland

In 1996, two boys from Enniskillen came to spend the summer with the Heyl family in Austin, Texas. Nicholas McCready and Ciaran McLernan were warmly welcomed by Pat and Barbara Heyl and their six children. Nine-year-old Catherine never forgot that summer and recently visited Belfast on a business trip, where she reconnected with Ciaran. Thanks to Lilah Graham, former CFPNI Coordinator in Enniskillen, Catherine now has contact information for Nicholas and hopes to reconnect with him too.

Peace Concert

At the end of August, over a hundred Cyprus Alumni and friends of the program came together for a night of live music and re-connection. A total of 20 alumni musicians and volunteers worked together to help organize the Peace Concert which we believe to be the biggest alumni event in years.

CFP Institute

A criminal defense attorney with a JD degree from Emory University School of Law, Rhonda Gessow co-authored the book “Criminal Law Advocacy: Trial Investigation and Preparation” published by Matthew Bender, 1982. She worked as a restorative justice mediator for the San Mateo Juvenile Mediation program for 16 years bringing juvenile offenders together with their victims to talk about what happened and work towards an agreement between the parties. She is also a mediator for Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center handling matters of conflict within the county, including conflicts between neighbours, families, businesses, Homeowner’s Associations/owners, landlord/tenant. She has trained other mediators in …

CFP Alumni Program

Check out the new Alumni section of the website! https://friendships4peace.org/alumni/Including: The CFP Institute – connecting CFP’s global network of alumni through continuing education Upcoming Events – currently planned, an Aug.3 workshop on conflict styles and an Aug. 31 bi-communal peace concert Meet Our Alumni – a picture gallery of alumni with commentary Alumni Connections Map – an interactive global map where alumni gatherings and collaborations can be tracked Featured Alums – articles on individual CFP alums who are working for peace

CFP Class of 2025 = 91 Teens

CFP just concluded another successful Cyprus program in the U.S. These teens did an exceptional and enthusiastic job and all were wonderful ambassadors for CFP and for Cyprus. Each of the three hosting areas had a full, fun and fast-paced schedule of peacebuilding and leadership programs, that also included a variety of historical and cultural events. Our Cypriot camp program, run entirely by our Cypriot team, was delayed due to the wild fires in the area of the camp in the Troodos Mountains of Cyprus. Thankfully, the danger has passed and the camp is operational now. Similarly, our Middle East …

Read Prior News

Testimonials

Desmond TutuThe Elders

Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu to 2012 CFP Graduation

“Sometimes you might feel that you are alone in this kind of work. Today, take a look around and realise that you are all part of something much bigger – bound together by a shared commitment to our common humanity. Remember that the sea is just drops of water that have come together. And together you can do extraordinary things.”

Institute of PeaceWashington, DC

2015 Peacebuilding Through Education Conference

“For peacebuilding to succeed it must take root at the community level. Communities working together to find common ground, support and communications. It must move beyond governmental action to individuals and community leaders to succeed long term.”

2019 Cypriot TeenCyprus

I would like to be considered as best friends with my pair after this month, and I plan on showing my relationship with him as an example to peers of mine, as a concrete fact that peace is possible and also essential.

2019 Jerusalem TeenIsrael/Palestine

My experience with my pair was super meaningful and important for both of us! Finally we got the opportunity to speak without being stopped by people and finally we got to some agreements and we understood each other.

Interested in becoming a CFP Host? Find information here