CFP takes a long-range view of change, slowly working with one pair of teens, two families at a time, so they may develop the trust necessary to create lasting empathetic bonds. Because of our programs in Northern Ireland and Cyprus, we can document our program and how it generates change based on experience.


Creating Friendships for Peace is founded on collaboration and the knowledge that we can deepen our understanding of one another when we commit to sharing experiences across our differences and conflicts. We believe in the ingenuity and creativity of members of conflicted communities and their constituencies to solve problems equally, respectfully, and independently. As a result, CFP develops an in-country team of volunteers to operate the non-U.S. portions of the CFP program.


A critical aspect of the CFP program model requires both sides of a conflict to view our in-country and U.S.-based initiatives as transparent and impartial – irrespective of political, religious or ethnic identities or affiliations. We do not accept U.S. government funding to avoid the impression that we are government agents.

Pathway of Change

STEP 1: INVITATION AND PILOT
Upon invitation and before initiating a friendship program, CFP identifies an in-country team of adult coordinators with whom we conduct a pilot U.S. residency program to test the efficacy of our mission and philosophy. In Israel and Cyprus, these teams gained experience by partnering with a previously established peacebuilding organization.

If the pilot program is successful, CFP begins its official friendship program.

STEP 2:  ANNUAL U.S. RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM BEGINS
The in-country team works with the U.S. to recruit and select teen pairs to come to America for a month, usually in July. Each teen pair, consisting of one teen from each community, shares a room in the home of an American family and enjoy becoming a part of that family while attending weekly workshops to develop skills in dialogue, conflict management, and leadership. They also participate in community service and environmental projects and perform public presentations.

Teens who participate are expected to and do continue their relationships when they return home. Parents of the pair have also agreed to meet, and many share a meal together and exchange visits in each other’s home.

Teens who participate are also expected to help recruit by speaking at presentations in their schools and with the media (newspapers and television).  This is why we insist that teens have at least one more year in school to join CFP.

CFP begins with friendship to create an experience of tolerance, leadership development and discovery of self and community responsibility. Annually, teens who participate share that the experience was life-changing and made real and unexpected friendships. Parents, too, express hope because of their experience.

Initial measures of success involve the number of applications.

STEP 3: ANNUAL IN-COUNTRY PROGRAM BEGINS
As the in-country team gains experience, they develop an additional in-country camp program. This weeklong bi-communal immersion allows the in-country team to focus more specifically on the history and unique characteristics of their conflict.  It also allows CFP to expand the number of teens participating in peacebuilding and creates a pipeline for future applicants to the U.S. Residential Program, now called “The Year 1 and Year 2 Program.”

The expansion of teens participating in CFP allows for greater exposure into schools with more nationalistic sentiments.

STEP 4: ESTABLISHMENT OF PARENTS AND FRIENDS ASSOCIATION
In-country coordinators are encouraged to develop an ad hoc association supported by local stakeholders, including alums, their families, and friends. This loose affiliation of community members allows for bi-communal social opportunities for teens and families. However, as membership and cohesion strengthen among members of this group, they will eventually apply for legal status to house an Alumni Association and achieve financial independence and accountability.

The continued involvement of parents and alumni provides the opportunity to create an ever-increasing voice for change to end a conflict.  Cultural factors may need to be overcome to empower that voice.

STEP 5: CAMP EXPANSION
As the applicant pool expands, in-country coordinators may offer more than one camp each summer; teens who have participated in the Year 1 camp but cannot travel to the U.S. may apply to an optional advanced camp.

At this point, there are other measures of success, such as teens from public vs private schools, number of alumni social events, and number of parent social events.

STEP 6:  IN-COUNTRY COORDINATORS, ALUMNI, AND THE P&F ASSOCIATION ACHIEVE AUTONOMY.
While the CFP still provides the U.S. Residency program teaching leadership skills and constructive dialogue techniques, the in-country coordinators, alumni, and Parents and Friends Association work together with their shared vision and unity of purpose to build a sustainable peace to change their future.

SUSTAINABLE PEACE