Community Engagement

FUTURE WORLDS CENTER (CYPRUS NEUROSCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE)

My tenure in Cyprus began with a guided seminar led by Dr. Harry Anastasiou from Portland State University to research dialogue, communication, and conflict between Greek and Turkish Cypriots.  After the seminar I was offered an internship by the Future Worlds Center (Cyprus Neuroscience and Technology Institute) in their Global Education Unit.  At the Future Worlds Center I had the opportunity to play a diverse role, assisting in project design, management, and implementation, financial management, advocacy, and office administration.

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In 2013 I served as an intern with the Global Education Unit.  I assisted in the implementation of three international, European Union project: “Civil Society Acts Beyond Borders” — a project to ameliorate the intractable conflicts in Cyprus, Israel and Palestine through joint civil society actions; “World From Our Doorstep” — a project to increase multiculturalism in primary school education in Cyprus, Bulgaria, Scotland, and Poland; and, “Youth of the World: Mainstreaming Global Awareness in Youth Work” — a project to increase global awareness, intercultural and experiential learning in youth work.  Additionally, I assisted in the planning and composition of “Map Your Meal”, a project with a budget over 1,000,000EUR.  “Map Your Meal” is designed to increase citizens’ knowledge of the supply chains that support the global food and beverage industries.

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After my internship I was hired to serve a dual role: as country coordinator on “Youth of the World: Mainstreaming Global Awareness in Youth Work”, and as the administrator for the Humanitarian Affairs Unit.  As country coordinator on “Youth of the World” I worked with European partners to efficiently carry out project activities, and I designed and implemented a one-week international summer school for European youth workers held in Nicosia.  At this event youth workers from across Europe learned how to better incorporate global awareness into their youth work activities.

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As the administrator for the Humanitarian Affairs Unit I assisted in inter-organizational communication, travel planning, project design, office upkeep, scheduling, and the successful implementation of the UNHCR projects “Strengthening Asylum” and the “Unit for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture”.

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In June 2014 we organized the first annual “World Refugee Day Street Festival” in Nicosia.  This event catalyzed dialogue and cultural sharing between both the Greek and Cypriot communities, and the various refugee communities who call Cyprus home.