Bicommunal Support Program (BSP)

The Embassy’s Bicommunal Support Program (BSP) provides theme-based training programs for Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots in areas of common interest that range from education and media, to youth leadership and combating trafficking in persons. These programs give participants the chance to work together to break down barriers and find practical solutions to island-wide concerns. Since its inception in 2000, BSP has reached thousands of Cypriots through a wide variety of activities. BSP programs are administered by AMIDEAST, a U.S.-based non-profit organization that maintains a staff and office in Cyprus.

 

In addition to AMIDEAST programs, BSP directly oversees a small-grants fund, which supports bicommunal projects of under $10,000. These grants are intended to help Cypriots support their own bicommunal undertakings in Cyprus. For more information on this program, including grant application guidelines, send us an e-mail.

 

Read more about BSP/AMIDEAST Supported Programs
Read more about BSP Small Grants Program
Small Grant Application Guidelines

 

For more information, please contact

Bicommunal Coordinator
Tel. +357 22 39 39 39

Click here to e-mail us

 

 

Cyprus America Scholarship Program (CASP)

 

The Cyprus America Scholarship Program (CASP), which is administered by the Cyprus Fulbright Commission, provides bachelor's degree-level scholarships and short-term professional training opportunities. CASP also supports bicommunal summer camps for Cypriot youth and university students.

 

 

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BSP/AMIDEAST SUPPORTED PROGRAMS Programming year 2006– 2008

English for Specific Purposes On-going The Bicommunal Support Program's English for Specific Purposes Program, which is administered by Spring International Language Center, is devoted to the enhancement of English language and communication skills of Cypriot professionals, specifically those involved in settlement negotiations and EU harmonization activities. With a view to strengthening bicommunal linkages and facilitating professional development, the program targets members of the public sector and business community, as well as journalists, teachers and bankers. Since its inception in 2005, the program has made a significant impact. Participants have demonstrated marked improvements in oral, aural and written English language skills. They are better able to engage in island-wide activities, to contribute and interact at international conferences, to undertake doctoral work in English, to implement state-of-the-art software packages in English, and to collaborate over extended periods of time with colleagues from the European Commission, The World Bank as well as other international and private organizations.

Athens Journalist Symposium March 2007 Forty leading journalists from both communities in Cyprus as well from Greece and Turkey attended the second Journalist Symposium on March 3-4 at the Titania Hotel in Athens, Greece. The event was sponsored by Embassy Nicosia's Bicommunal Support Program in collaboration with Embassy Athens and Embassy Ankara. Discussion focused on U.S. foreign policy in the region, perceptions of U.S. foreign policy, democratic reform in the Middle East, as well as the role of the media in reporting about neighbors and regional conflict. The symposium was opened by Deputy Chief of Mission, Thomas Countryman, Embassy Athens. Participants hailed from Islamist, left-wing, right-wing, government and opposition newspapers. Speakers included Walter Russell Mead, Council on Foreign Relations; Dr. Tamara Cofman Wittes, Brookings Institute; Deborah Potter, Newslab; Carol Daniel Kasbari, Israeli-Palestinian Media Forum; Pavlos Tsimas, TA NEA; Yavuz Baydar, SABAH; Semih Idiz, MILLIYET; Ioannis Pretenteris, TO VIMA; Paris Potamitis, CyBC TV; Costas Yennaris, Phileleftheros; Hasan Hasturer, KIBRIS, and Hasan Kavecioglu, Radio May, Nicosia. Participants debated issues of mutual concern, including perceptions of democratic reform in the region, the Cyprus issue, objectivity and subjectivity in reporting conflict, and the importance of maintaining close contacts and meaningful collaborations among all journalists working in the region. Read more

Anti-TIP NGO Capacity Building On-going The Bicommunal Support Program’s anti-trafficking NGO capacity building program, implemented by PACT, is a two year initiative that has made significant inroads since its inception in the fall of 2006. Organizations have been working on: identifying core competencies, honing communication and advocacy strategies, refining financial management practices, establishing better engagement techniques with stakeholders and the community, and on creating new products and services to better support their respective anti-trafficking goals.  NGOs have also been working to strengthen local and international networks. Organizations that used to see each other as funding competitors are now working collaboratively on developing a comprehensive, bicommunal awareness campaign on trafficking in women, drafting policy recommendations on trafficking legislation for the Government of Cyprus and the Turkish Cypriot authorities, and on gender awareness training for Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot civil society groups.

Cyprus Bold Leaders Summer Camp July 2007 Critical Mass Leadership Education ran this three-week camp for 40 Cypriot teenagers. The camp focused on creating an empowered, related, and committed community of ambassadors skilled in the areas of intercultural awareness and communication, conflict resolution and collaborative leadership. Activities centered on urban immersion, games and discussion, as well as outdoor challenge exercises, canoeing, camping, and rock climbing. Participants also had the chance to spend time with American host families. Read more about the program from the Critical Mass Leadership Education website

Corporate Social Responsibility On-going   The Bicommunal Support Program is sponsoring a training initiative on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) for up-and-coming Cypriot businessmen and women.  Global Education Services and its partner, Seattle University Albers School of Business and Economics, will be implementing an intensive nine-week program, which will begin in Cyprus and continue in Seattle, Washington.    The training will cover the basics of business and community ethics, environmental concerns (as they pertain to corporations and the general community), questions related to accountability to local communities, marketing, product development and quality control, as well as intellectual property issues.  The overall goal of the program is to understand better ethical behavior as the context for profit and community health as well as the context for individual success and social responsibility.  Participants will work on specific action plans with a view to transferring ideas learned from their studies and internships into projects that can be carried out with local businesses upon their return to Cyprus.