Future Worlds Center

Active European Citizenship/ NGO Work and FWC in Cyprus

Future Worlds Center

http://www.futureworldscenter.org/

Future Worlds Center

• We at the Future Worlds Center focus in capacity building, peace-related process in Cyprus, facilitation of communication and understanding between people in conflicting societies, public debates about human rights, transparency, safer use of Internet, extending European citizenship in the Southern parts of Europe, youth participation etc.

• • We organize seminars, workshops, trainings and conferences

to promote its social-intervention aims.

Future Worlds Center

With the programs we have been running. We aim to

• Give Cypriot NGOs in Cyprus the opportunity to interact and participate in programs that provide opportunities of networking, capacity building

• Educate and raise awareness of school children and teachers in general about global issues

• Promote cultural diversity, • Enhance mutual understanding between European citizens • Contribute to intercultural dialogue• Contribute to social cohesion in Cyprus by providing support

to disadvantaged groups, and refugees

Future Worlds Center

NGO world has been rather weak in Cyprus, and only in the past years is growing stronger.

Future Worlds Center

• According to the CIVICUS Study which is Civil Society Index Project, done in 2008 in both sides of the island shows that

a) Structure of civil society is considered “slightly weak. (1.3 out of 3)

b) The environment ( political rights, civil liberties etc) in which civil society was judged “ relatively enabling” (2.1 out of 3)

c) The extent to which civil society practices and promotes social values was considered “relatively significant (1.9 out of 3)

d) Impact of civil society at large was judged moderate (1.8/3)

For more info: http://www.civicus.org/new/CSI_Cyprus.htm

Future Worlds Center

• Future Worlds Center has 3 units that are a)“Humanitarian Affairs”, b) “Development Education”c)“New Media Landscape”

All of these units has been promoting values ofEU citizenship such as cohesion, dignity,freedom, equality, citizens’ rights.

Future Worlds Center

HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS UNIT1)“Social Inclusion/Exclusion of Refugees in Cyprus” project which

is an effort to understand the social cohesion procedure for refugees in Cyprus by exploring financial and educational and social aspects of the phenomenon”

2) “Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture (URVT)” project which supports and promotes the empowerment and rehabilitation of torture victims with a focus on refugees and asylum seeker. (urvt.org)

Future Worlds Center

• In the Unit of Development Education we aim to promote an active citizenship for people to be aware of their rights and responsibilities as citizens of this planet and as the citizens of EU, and to take responsible and informed action.

DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION UNIT

Future Worlds Center

• Future Worlds Center (legal reg.: Cyprus Neuroscience and Technology Institute) is the leading NGO in Cyprus with regards to Development Education.

• FWC has been implementing a variety of initiatives and

project, promoting Global and Development Education, Intercultural Dialogue, Citizenship Education and Peace Education.

Future Worlds Center

• Throughout the past two years, FWC has been coordinating the EuropeAid-funded project ‘Accessing Development Education’, engaging educators and schools in Development Education activities and equip them with relevant training and materials, thus making them promoters and multipliers in the field of Global Development Education.

PROJECTS AT THE DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION UNIT

Future Worlds Center

• FWC has also acted as implementing partner of the EuropeAid funded project ‘Youth Ambassadors for MGDs (Millenium Development Goals)’, which involved young people in actions promoting the MDGs among youth.

Future Worlds Center

• Starting April 2010, FWC will coordinate the EuropeAid funded project ‘TeachMDGs’, aiming at developing teaching resources tailored to the educational system and its needs in CY, BG, LT and EE.

• This project will focus on training teachers on different levels (in service, student teachers and teaching instructors) to promote a wide outreach to the educational system and to actively engage not only the teachers, but also the learners.

Future Worlds Center

Furthermore, FWC is partners in the

a)EuropeAid funded project ‘Media for Development’, aiming atengaging young leaders in utilizing new and web-based media topromote the MDGs within the educational field

b)EuropeAid funded project ‘Capacity and Synergy buildingamong NGDOs and LAs in Greece, Cyprus and Malta fordevelopment’.

c) EU funded project “ACID - Active citizens for intercultural dialogue” - The aim of the project ACID is to organize citizens’ panels on the importance of intercultural dialogue in the context of an increasingly intercultural European Union, exploring original and innovative methodology, with the potential to encourage citizens’ participation and to stimulate dialogue between European citizens and the institutions of the European Union.

Future Worlds Center

NEW MEDIA LAB UNITIt aims to bridging educational, economic, political andother gaps in society by facilitating learning. Citizens ofEU also has rights in cyber world. The projectcyberethics under the unit of New Media Lab informsteenagers, children, teachers and parents about theirrights online, the threats and dangers they could faceonline.

The main aim is to raise awareness about these issues,and provide a place for reporting illegal or disturbingcontent on the internet. (www.cyberethics.info)

Future Worlds Center

For More Information, Please visit

http://fwcis.blogspot.com/http://www.futureworldscenter.org/

THANK YOU