PeacePlayers Basketball Camp

PeacePlayers-Cyprus is organising the “PeacePlayers Basketball Camp” for youth ages 12 to 16. The camp is taking place at the Rodon Hotel in the village of Agros from Friday July 27 to Wednesday August 1, 2012. The mission of the camp is to bring Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot youth together to play basketball, develop new friendships, and learn about peace. This year the camp will also host Brooklyn Nets Assistant Coach, Doug Overton and former WNBA player Shaunzinski Gortman.
“The PeacePlayers Basketball Camp is a great way to promote peace, and develop long lasting friendships between Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot youth. Our camp will bring together over 60 children to play and learn with each other, developing basketball skills and learning about peace,” said Marina Vasilara, PeacePlayers – Cyprus Managing Director.

Over the course of the camp the children build relationships and forge friendships with one another while learning life skills and the game of basketball. Each day the participants will be led by basketball coaches, including coach Doug Overton and former WNBA player, Shaunzinski Gortman. Participants will play competitive matches and participate in other special avtivities such as movie making, trivia games, and peace building exercises. By playing and working together on the same team, Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot children will use sport as a tool to change negative perceptions children may have about members of the other community.

This camp is organized by PeacePlayers-Cyprus, a bicommunal nonprofit that uses the game of basketball to allow 11-16 year-old Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot boys and girls to play together, learn together, and build positive relationships that help them overcome generations of mistrust and formidable physical barriers to interaction. Since its creation in 2006, PeacePlayers-Cyprus has worked with over 1200 Cypriot youth and held over 100 bicommunal events.

The “PeacePlayers Basketball Camp” is supported by the US Embassy’s Bicommunal Support Program, the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation and AVG Technologies.

For more information please contact:

Marina Vasilara, PeacePlayers-Cyprus
Mobile: 99-301586
e-mail: [email protected]

Orhun Mevlit , PeacePlayers-Cyprus,
Mobile: 0542 8581307
e-mail: [email protected]