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.
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.
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
Before Before offers a rare portrait of everyday people in Sierra Leone, with particular focus on the lives of women and girls, before the brutal war of 1991 tore the country apart. Through Small’s account of immersion in another world as she witnessed injustice and was welcomed as a friend, readers are invited to explore the shared ground of our humanity. Learn more HERE (Available on Amazon HERE)
CFP’s leadership met in person and via zoom from Oct. 6 – 9 at the Barbara C. Harris Conference Center in Greenfield, NH for an in-depth evaluation of the 2024 program and future planning. 2025 US Area Coordinators will be: Houston — Amanda Van Dusen New Hampshire — Susan Bartlett Oregon/SW Washington — Jessica Ambrose
Almost 100 CFP Alumni attended the Reunion Dinner held on August 5th at MOD Cafe & Bistro, 1 minute walk from the Ledra Palace checkpoint.
In Cyprus, the Year 1 Troodos Camp welcomed 54 teens from all over Cyprus and was a huge success. An alumni oriented camp took place for the second year in a row in the Maronite village of Kormakitis and welcomed CFP Cypriot alumni from all cohorts. A Year 1 Camp for Middle East teens was also held at the Kormakitis facility at the same time, allowing for some mixed workshops with the Cypriots. These connections provide a special opportunity for all to deepen their understanding of multiple cultures, reflect on recent developments, and exchange ideas on how they might work …
Middle East teens in New Hampshire experienced a specialized hybrid program which combined a group camp experience with paired hosting by American families. We were all inspired by the teens willingness to create friendships especially during an active war and it was evident that bonds of friendships took place despite the escalating political violence.
Cypriots in Oregon/SW Washington enjoyed the beauty of the Pacific Northwest while providing community service during the Battle Ground Harvest Days at the senior citizen luncheon. Other activities included conflict resolution workshops, presentation skills learning and zip line team building.
Cypriots in Houston attended a conflict resolution workshop facilitated by the Dispute Resolution Center of Montgomery County as well as the Global Scholars Academy Program run by the World Affairs Council. Despite Hurricane Beryl hitting Houston at the beginning of their stay, these teens enjoyed many activities that included a tour of the University of Houston.
Desmond TutuThe Elders “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 “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.
