The German Ambassador to Cyprus, Anke Schlimm, attended on Wednesday a concert of the bicommunal children´s choir, an event featured in the framework of the “Imagine” project, according to a press release issued by the Embassy.
As it is noted, Germany firmly believes that the promotion of contact and dialogue between students and teachers from the two communities is of great importance in order to advance mutual understanding, tolerance and respect. Today’s delightful event has once again shown how cultural activities can build important bridges towards peacebuilding.
“Imagine” is supported by the German Government and encompasses the choir as well as a multitude of peace education activities, bringing together Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot students and teachers. The project aims to promote trust and tolerance between the two communities.
Since 2017 the German Federal Foreign Office has been supporting the educational programme “Imagine”, implemented by the Association of Historical Dialogue and Research (AHDR) and the Home for Cooperation, under the auspices of the bi-communal Technical Committee on Education and with the support of the United Nations peacekeeping Force in Cyprus. As from the beginning of the project, more than 6000 students and 700 teachers have participated in joint activities, according to the press release.
The German Embassy said it will continue to support “Imagine” and the AHDR in order to facilitate encounters of Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot students and teachers at the Home for Cooperation. “The praiseful feedback of the participants in the “Imagine” project encourages the German Embassy in its determination to continue the programme, thus strengthening ties across the divide and between the two communities,” the Embassy noted.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory.
Source: Cyprus News Agency