The bicommunal education programme Imagine is set to resume in January, following modifications introduced to address concerns raised in recent years, Education Minister Athena Michaelidou said in an interview with Politis radio.
The programme, which had been halted on the Turkish Cypriot side since 2022 after a decision by former leader Ersin Tatar, will now restart with the approval of both sides. Michaelidou described Imagine as an important initiative whose aim “remains essential”, adding that the changes made were meant to ensure broad acceptance and clarity regarding its objectives.
The programme
Launched in 2016, Imagine is an official confidence-building measure implemented by the Association for Historical Dialogue and Research (AHDR) under the auspices of the Bicommunal Technical Committee on Education, with funding from the German Federal Foreign Office.
The programme focuses on peace education, anti-racism and human rights through experiential workshops. All activities are voluntary and require parental consent.
Workshops begin separately within Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot schools and culminate in joint meetings in the buffer zone. These meetings take place without identity checks, offering students a neutral space to interact, collaborate and discuss shared challenges.
More than 8,000 students and 2,500 teachers have taken part in Imagine since its launch, making it one of the most successful and sustained bicommunal educational initiatives on the island.
With its relaunch scheduled for January, the programme is expected to resume its role in fostering dialogue and understanding between school communities across the divide.