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More than 350 people from both communities visited the opening of the art exhibition, UNCOVERED, on 23rd September. The exhibition is held at the Ledra/Lockmaci street crossing in the old town of Nicosia for one month. UNCOVERED is an art project based on a research which examines the issues stemming from the prolonged condition of the closed Nicosia International Airport.  Based on a series of field visits to the airport, seven art projects by Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots were produced. They activated the numb space of the airport, and demonstrated to the public at large that the two communities can work together for the common future.

After the current exhibition held in Nicosia under the auspices of the United Nations Good Offices Mission and with the support of UNDP-ACT, this project, UNCOVERED, will expand its research for the following exhibition abroad.
 

A total of 21 civil society organisations from all over the island, as well as the European Public Space of the European Commission, participated in the NGO Fair 2011 on Saturday 14 May, attracting some 500 people in Limassol’s Enaerios Square. Under the slogan, “Come and meet some of the NGO’s of Cyprus and discover their good work!” the event offered these organisations a unique opportunity to meet one another and to share their work with the public.

The Civil Society Fair organised by the ENGAGE, Do Your Part for Peace project attracted some 5,000 people, who joined the fun in Famagusta. Throughout the day and into the evening, there were live performances, music, dance, street jugglers and much more, showcasing the work of civil society organisations in the area. A total of 18 different organisations participated in the Fair, mingling with the public and sharing their work. This is the first in a series of similar events planned by the the ENGAGE project.

Wednesday 13 October saw the re-opening of the Grand Turkish Bath (Büyük Hamam) in Nicosia, after a 2-year restoration project supported by UNDP-ACT in partnership with the Cyprus EVKAF Administration brought the historic site back to its former glory. Built in the late 16th Century, and incorporating a range of architectural styles, the Büyük Hamam was traditionally used both for bathing and socialising, a practice and cultural ritual that continued well into the 20th Century. Throughout the restoration process, great care was taken to respect the original structure of the building, and wherever possible to revive traditional techniques and retain special features of the building that help to tell its centuries-old story.

The Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) and the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce (KTTO) - within the context of the Economic Interdepence Project - together with the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation organised ‘An evening with Stelios’ where Sir Stelios Hajioannou, the founder of easyJet, who gave a speech about his vision on bi-communal entrepreneurship and announcing the winners of the ‘Stelios Awards for Business Cooperation in Cyprus 2010’ on 20th of October 2010.

The Cyprus Community Media Centre (CCMC) is orgainsed a ‘Media Mix 2010’ event, to bring together journalists and civil society organisations from across the island, the first in a series of CCMC events aiming to encourage a more diverse representation of voices expressed in the media. The event will bring together Cypriot journalists and civil society organisations (CSOs), allowing them an opportunity to meet, connect and explore together the potential of community-based media. Lisa Buttenheim, Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Cyprus said it was “wonderful to see community media utilised as a mechanism for building bridges between the communities and their media outlets...A society where the media and civil society can work together is a society where many voices are heard.”

A group of young Cypriots, aged 14-18 years, travelled to Brcko to study the problem of Bosnia & Herzegovina, and the efforts there to find ways to peace. Activities included tours of the troubled areas, workshops and meetings. The exchange was organised by Soma Akriton Youth Organisation in cooperation with PRONI CENTAR of Brcko, a local youth organisation.

A group of young Cypriots, aged 14-18 years, travelled to Belfast to study the problem of Northern Ireland, and the efforts there to find ways to peace. Activities included tours of the troubled areas, workshops and meetings. The exchange was organised by Soma Akriton Youth Organisation in cooperation with The Spirit of Enniskillen Trust, a Northern Irish organisation that specialises in peacebuilding.

The ‘Cyprus 2015’ public opinion poll was presented during a public event that took place in Limassol on Tuesday 02 March 2010, organised by the Association of Social Reform, the Cyprus University of Technology (TEPAK) and the Representation of the EC in Cyprus.

The Cyprus Community Media Centre (CCMC) was opened at a new facility in the grounds of the Ledra Palace Hotel, Nicosia by honorary guests and members of the eminent Elders group, Desmond Tutu, Jimmy Carter and Lakhdar Brahimi. CCMC aims to create a more diverse, vibrant and community-led media landscape through its work with community based organisations across Cyprus.