Uitwisselingsprogramma's voor Turks-Cyprioten krijgen steun van EU (en)

IP/10/174

Brussels, 22 February 2010

EU aid programme for the Turkish Cypriot community promotion of youth exchanges and other PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE CONTACTS II

The EU has awarded grants for eight projects under the scheme for the “Promotion of Youth exchanges and other People-to-People Contacts”. The main objective is to enable broad sections of the Turkish Cypriot community in a variety of fields to enter into contact and engage with their counterparts in the European Union. This grant scheme is funded from the € 259 million EU aid programme for the Turkish Cypriot community.

Eight grants have been awarded ranging from € 13,000 to €129,000 and covering up to 90% of the total costs of the projects. The activities will be implemented over a period from 3 up to 24 months. Information on the awarded grants can be found in annex to this press release.

The projects cover two main fields of people-to-people contact activities: 1) by individuals and informal groups and 2) by civil society organisations’.

Grant recipients will take part in workshops, seminars, conferences and congresses in other European Member States. They will meet with other European civil society organisations to exchange experience and approaches and improve their project management capacity while interacting together with partners in other European countries.

Contact person for the Promotion of youth exchanges and other people-to-people contacts: Virginia Cezilly at Virginia.cezilly.fernandez-de-liger@ec.europa.eu

Background

List of awarded grants

“Promotion of Youth Exchanges and Other People to People Contacts II”

Ismail Cemal - “Rural youth getting skills in donkey care and handling for special interest tourism”

Grant amount 22,500 EUR.

The objective of the action is to expose Turkish Cypriot youth to European ways, values and standards related to the care and management of domesticated donkeys at work, in special interest tourism activities and in animal sanctuaries/refuges.

GROUP WE - “Women and Ceramics in northern part of Cyprus”

Grant amount: 14,319.20 EUR

The overarching goal of the project is to give the Turkish Cypriot women and artists the opportunity to experience and investigate the vision women and artists in Europe have regarding their careers and lives. The project aims to highlight the disparities between the Turkish Cypriot women and European women which will enable the Turkish Cypriot women to see the areas where they are different from their counterparts in Europe.

KAYAD Community Centre - “Leaders for Inclusive Free of bias Education in the Turkish Cypriot Community”

Grant amount: 128,605 EUR

The overall objective of the project is to encourage a better knowledge and understanding of ‘Multiculturalism’ amongst youth in Cyprus to promote the interaction and integration of all ethnic groups in a peaceful society.

Bengu Mindikoglu - “Desalination Techniques and technologies in northern part of Cyprus”

Grant amount: 16,692 EUR

Overall objective of the project is the promotion of an appropriate use of desalination techniques, desalination technologies and brine water discharge in northern part of Cyprus through development of stronger relationships with European counterparts.

Esra Can Akbil and Emre Akbil- “World Architecture Festival Entry”

Grant amount: 12,809 EUR

World Architecture Festival is a leading architectural event in Europe that is composed of several events such as an architectural competition of the highly prestigious ‘World Building of the Year’ award, exhibitions, seminars and networking. The prize winning architectural project in Nicosia is eligible for attending this festival under the Future Projects: Competition Entry Category. The calendar of this grant and the Festival allow us to apply in this proposal for the Festival in 2010.

The Management Centre of the Mediterranean - “Networking with the European Union”

Grant amount: 84,463 EUR

The overall objective of the action is to Increase networking of Turkish Cypriot Civil Society Organizations with similar organizations in the European Union that will in turn inspire innovative action in Cyprus.

Green Action Group - “Strengthening the Biodiversity and Conservation working group of the Cyprus Environmental Stakeholder Forum”

Grant amount: 42,944 EUR

The overall objective is to promote island-wide planning for nature conservation with the long-term vision to improve the conservation status of nature and biodiversity in Cyprus.

Orhun Mevlit - “Leadership Development Program for Youth Leaders/Basketball Coaches

Grant amount: 24,141 EUR

This multi-cultural leadership development program for Youth Leaders/Basketball Coaches to Northern Ireland aspires to support the personal and professional development of 7 youth leaders/coaches.