Teaching For Peace Award

Teaching For Peace Award
“Teaching for Peace” Award 2024 is an initiative by the AHDR, funded by the Federal Foreign Office of the Republic of Germany. As in 2023, the award aims to encourage and recognise the commitment of teachers to peace education and their efforts to broaden educational opportunities offered to students, contribute to the sustainability of peace education projects implemented in schools and give visibility to local peace education efforts.
| Sl | Name | Country | Flag | Year | Awarded For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | Pavlos M. Pavlou | Cyprus | 2025 | for actively educationg and building a culture of peace. | |
| 17 | Ziya Tüzel | Cyprus | 2025 | for actively educationg and building a culture of peace. | |
| 16 | Selma Eylem | Cyprus | 2025 | for actively educationg and building a culture of peace. | |
| 15 | Irene Constantinou | Cyprus | 2025 | for actively educationg and building a culture of peace. | |
| 14 | Popi Nicolaou | Cyprus | 2025 | for actively educationg and building a culture of peace. | |
| 13 | Ahmet Derya | Cyprus | 2024 | for actively educationg and building a culture of peace. | |
| 12 | Maria Papapolydorou | Cyprus | 2024 | for actively educationg and building a culture of peace. | |
| 11 | Gülçin Kele?zade | Cyprus | 2024 | for actively educationg and building a culture of peace. | |
| 10 | Yagis Yildirim | Cyprus | 2024 | for actively educationg and building a culture of peace. | |
| 9 | Dilek Tüccaro?lu Ekingen | Cyprus | 2024 | for actively educationg and building a culture of peace. | |
| 8 | Alexandros Kofteros | Cyprus | 2024 | for actively educationg and building a culture of peace. | |
| 7 | Mert Balin | Cyprus | 2024 | for actively educationg and building a culture of peace. | |
| 6 | Maria Polychrona | Cyprus | 2024 | for actively educationg and building a culture of peace. | |
| 5 | ?ener Elcil | Cyprus | 2023 | for actively educationg and building a culture of peace. | |
| 4 | Mary Machera | Cyprus | 2023 | for actively educationg and building a culture of peace. | |
| 3 | Zühal Mustafao?ullar? | Cyprus | 2023 | for actively educationg and building a culture of peace. | |
| 2 | Chrystalla Pitsiri | Cyprus | 2023 | for actively educationg and building a culture of peace. | |
| 1 | Costis Achniotis | Cyprus | 2023 | for actively educationg and building a culture of peace. |

Teaching For Peace Award Laureates (2025)

Pavlos M. Pavlou
Teaching For Peace Award 2025
Dr. Pavlos M. Pavlou is an applied linguist and educator who has been recognized for his contributions to the field of peace education.He received the 2024 “Teaching for Peace” Award, according to an announcement by the Cyprus Progressive Society for the Modernization of our Society (OPEK), of which he is a former President. The award ceremony was scheduled to take place at the "Home for Cooperation."Separately, a different individual named Pavlos Pavlou was an esteemed Associate Professor at the University of Cyprus since 1997, whose scholarly work focused on Teaching English as a Foreign Language and the Sociolinguistics of Cypriot Greek. He passed away in 2010.

Ziya Tüzel
Teaching For Peace Award 2025
Ziya Tüzel, born in 1969, is an educator who began his career as a mathematics teacher from 1994 to 2019. He holds a BA in Mathematics from Hacettepe University in Ankara.He has been involved in education administration, serving as a principal at Lefke Gazi High School starting in 2019, and later at 19 Mayıs Turkish Maarif College.Beyond his teaching roles, Tüzel has been actively involved in organizations like the Cyprus Turkish Secondary Education Teachers' Union (KTOEÖS), where he served as the organizing secretary on the Executive Board. He is also the President of the Kyrenia Thought Association and a Board member of the New Cyprus Association.While his work in education and association roles suggests a commitment to societal and possibly peace-related efforts, the context provided does not specify details about him directly winning a "Teachers for Peace" award.

Selma Eylem
Teaching For Peace Award 2025
Selma Eylem is the President of the Cyprus Turkish Secondary Education Teachers' Union (KTOEÖS). She is a prominent advocate for peace and a solution to the Cyprus issue, often speaking on the need for increased peace advocacy and education.In her role, Eylem has made strong statements emphasizing the importance of peace education to establish lasting peace and cultivate a culture of peace for a reunified, free, and democratic Cyprus. She asserts that peaceful societal forces must collaborate to halt fascism and racism.Eylem and the KTOEÖS support a unified federal Cyprus and have actively opposed separatist rhetoric, including the idea of a two-state solution. She advocates for the demilitarization of the island, stressing that Cyprus needs joint efforts for peace, not warships.While she is a highly visible figure in the peace and education community, the context does not specify that Selma Eylem has received the "Teachers for Peace" award.
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Irene Constantinou
Teaching For Peace Award 2025
Irene Constantinou as a Senior Environmental Officer in Cyprus's Department of Environment, where she heads the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)/Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) team and handles European Union issues.She holds advanced degrees, including an MSc from Harvard University, and has previous experience as a Greenpeace campaigner for the Mediterranean region. She also served at the Permanent Representation of Cyprus in Brussels.While she is a prominent figure in environmental policy and has a background that suggests engagement with societal issues, the search results do not explicitly confirm that Irene Constantinou has won the "Teachers for Peace" award. The information relates her to environmental and financial roles, but not directly to an award focused on peace education.

Popi Nicolaou
Teaching For Peace Award 2025
Popi Nicolaou is a Cypriot art teacher who has been recognized internationally for her outstanding contributions to education, particularly through projects that promote important social themes.She taught at Frederick University for eight years before working in public schools for the last 17 years, notably at the Lyceum of Apostolou Louka in Kolossi.Nicolaou gained international attention for an artwork she created with her students titled "Immigrants," which won a European Citizen Award in 2016 and a double award at the Saatchi Gallery in London. Another student project she worked on, called "Peace," was a striking composition of 17 life-sized human figures shaped into a dove, the symbol of peace, which was prepared for the Saatchi Gallery and a Cyprus Visual Arts Competition focused on "Building bridges between continents and cultures."In 2019, she received the Global Teacher Award in New Delhi, India, which takes into account the humanitarian and sociological effects of the teachers' efforts. While she is deeply involved in peace-themed art and has won numerous global teaching awards, the search results do not explicitly confirm she has won the specific "Teachers for Peace" award.

Teaching For Peace Award Laureates (2024)

Ahmet Derya
Teaching For Peace Award 2024
Ahmet Derya is a prominent figure in the political and educational landscape in the northern part of Cyprus. He previously served as the 'education minister' between 1995 and 1996 as a member of the CTP political party.He is actively involved in advocating for a peaceful solution to the Cyprus issue and currently serves as the chairman of the pro-federal solution pressure group, the Cyprus Peace Council.In this role, he has taken a public stance on educational issues, including leading protests outside the 'parliament' to condemn a ruling coalition's decision regarding the legalisation of wearing religious head coverings in public schools. His public life emphasizes a commitment to dialogue and opposition to policies he views as harmful to the Turkish Cypriot community.While his work in education and peace advocacy is extensive, the available information does not explicitly confirm that Ahmet Derya has been a recipient of the specific "Teachers for Peace" award.

Maria Papapolydorou
Teaching For Peace Award 2024
Maria Papapolydorou is an academic with a background in education and sociology. She has held positions such as Senior Lecturer in Education at the University of Greenwich and an Adjunct Lecturer at the University of Nicosia.Her scholarly work focuses on complex social issues within education, including articles exploring topics like students' inter-ethnic friendships in ethnically diverse schools and the role of social class in friendship networks among teenagers. Her research also includes analyzing educational inequalities.The "Teaching for Peace" Award in Cyprus is an annual initiative by the Association for Historical Dialogue and Research (AHDR) to honor teachers promoting peace and understanding through inclusive projects.While Maria Papapolydorou's academic focus on social cohesion, inter-ethnic relationships, and educational inequality aligns with the goals of peace education, the available information does not explicitly state that she is a recipient of the specific "Teaching for Peace" Award.

Gülçin Keleşzade
Teaching For Peace Award 2024
Gülçin Keleşzade is an academic and educator with a background focused on educational science and peace-related research in Cyprus.She holds a PhD and is associated with the Institute of Educational Sciences at Near East University in Nicosia. Her research expertise includes Peace Education, History Teaching, Teaching Methods, and Curriculum Theory.Her publications reflect an active engagement with the field, including a study on the effectiveness of technology-assisted history teaching based on peace training for the case of the history of Cyprus. She has also co-authored works related to the development of historical thinking skills and the application of social constructivist learning. Additionally, she was listed as an instructor for a professional development seminar on "21st Century Teaching Skills" for teachers at Turkish Maarif College.While her scholarly work is directly related to advancing the curriculum and methodology of peace education in Cyprus, the available information does not explicitly confirm that Gülçin Keleşzade has been a recipient of the specific "Teachers for Peace" award.
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Yagis Yildirim
Teaching For Peace Award 2024
Yagis Yildirim is an educator, specifically an English teacher, who has been a recipient of the "Teaching for Peace" Award in Cyprus. This esteemed award is an annual initiative by the Association for Historical Dialogue and Research (AHDR).The award aims to recognize and celebrate teachers who make significant contributions to promoting peace, understanding, and positive change within their schools and communities. It seeks to honor educators who foster values of tolerance, respect, and social cohesion.Yildirim's recognition highlights her commitment to peace education through innovative projects or activities that are inclusive of the diverse communities across Cyprus. The award, which includes a monetary prize intended for further peace-building activities, is presented to teachers who address topics like Peace, Human Rights, Interculturalism, and Global Citizenship.The award ceremony is typically held on the International Day of Peace (September 21st) at the Home for Cooperation in the Nicosia Buffer Zone.

Dilek Tüccaroğlu Ekingen
Teaching For Peace Award 2024
Dilek Tüccaroğlu Ekingen being a recipient of the "Teaching for Peace" Award in Cyprus.The "Teaching for Peace" Award is an annual initiative by the Association for Historical Dialogue and Research (AHDR). It is designed to recognize teachers in Cyprus, from all school levels, who make significant contributions to promoting peace, understanding, and positive change.The award celebrates educators whose projects or activities are inclusive of the diverse communities across Cyprus and address topics such as Peace, Human Rights, Interculturalism, and Global Citizenship. Recipients receive a prize to be used for further peace-building activities within formal educational settings. The ceremony is often held on the International Day of Peace (September 21st).

Alexandros Kofteros
Teaching For Peace Award 2024
Alexandros Kofteros is a distinguished Cypriot educator with a background in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), holding a Ph.D. He has been working as a teacher since 1999 and is involved in developing educational content.He is notably recognized for his significant contributions to bicommunal peace-building through technology education in Cyprus. Along with a colleague, he co-organizes a series of teacher training sessions in the Nicosia buffer zone, bringing together Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot teachers to learn coding and robotics. These events have been supported by the UN and the EU Commission's Representation in Cyprus.In recognition of these bicommunal efforts, the team including Alexandros Kofteros was honored with the "Teaching for Peace" Award in September 2024, which was presented by the Head of the UN in Cyprus. The award celebrates their work, proving that technology and teaching can serve as a powerful bridge between communities.

Mert Balin
Teaching For Peace Award 2024
Mert Balin is an extraordinary Cypriot educator who was a co-recipient of the prestigious "Teaching for Peace" Award in September 2024.Along with his colleague, Alexandros Kofteros, Balin was recognized for their remarkable bicommunal efforts to build bridges between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities. For four years, they have co-organized a successful series of teacher trainings in the Nicosia buffer zone. These sessions utilize coding and robotics to create a shared purpose and collaborative space, welcoming teachers from both communities.The initiative, supported by the UN and the EU Commission, extends beyond the initial training with monthly webinars and culminates in a major science fair for students and parents. This work demonstrates how technology and shared learning can unite people and has been hailed as a testament to the fact that peace can be built one classroom at a time. The award was presented by Mr. Colin Stewart, the Head of the UN in Cyprus.

Maria Polychrona
Teaching For Peace Award 2024
Maria Polychrona is an educator in Cyprus who teaches Literature and History in public secondary schools. She is recognized for her deep commitment to peace and inclusive education.Polychrona has been designated a Teacher Ambassador for Peace and is particularly passionate about anti-racist and inclusive education. Her work includes designing and pursuing several projects in these fields. She has a stated passion for working on bicommunal and peace education projects.Her involvement with peace education is further demonstrated by her participation in the Association for Historical Dialogue and Research's (AHDR) initiatives. She was one of the teachers who participated in the AHDR's educational trip to Berlin, "Exploring Co-existence, Learning Together," in 2023, where she and other educators strengthened their ability to promote critical thinking and intercultural respect.While her work aligns perfectly with the award's goals and she is a key figure in AHDR projects, the context does not explicitly confirm that Maria Polychrona is a recipient of the specific "Teaching for Peace" Award.

Teaching For Peace Award Laureates (2023)

Şener Elcil
Teaching For Peace Award 2023
Şener Elcil is a Cypriot educator and prominent unionist, born in Kalavasos, Larnaca, in 1963. After graduating from the Teacher Training College in 1984, he worked as a primary school teacher before becoming the General Secretary of the Cyprus Turkish Teachers' Trade Union (KTÖS) since 2001.He is a vocal peace activist and unionist who has dedicated his career to promoting the reunification of Cyprus and advocating for free, quality, and democratic education for all. His efforts focus on breaking down nationalist barriers and eradicating discriminatory elements through peace education.In recognition of his significant work in peace and mutual understanding, Şener Elcil was awarded the 2016 European Citizen's Prize. He views this as a reward for the long-standing struggle of his union and a reflection of support for a Cyprus settlement based on the peaceful co-existence of the two communities.
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Costis Achniotis
Teaching For Peace Award 2023
Costis Achniotis is a prominent Greek Cypriot educator and peace activist in Cyprus. He is one of the leaders of the Platform of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot Teachers for a United Cyprus.Achniotis is known for his dedication to bicommunal cooperation and reconciliation. In January 2009, he was instrumental in organizing an event where dozens of Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot teachers met at the Ledra Street crossing to sign a joint declaration pledging to work together for peace. During the event, Achniotis emphasized the need to "knock down not only the outer walls but also the inner walls" between the two communities. He acknowledged that past school policies were counterproductive and expressed hope that their work would reverse this trend for the peaceful future of children in Cyprus.While he is a highly visible figure in the teachers' peace movement, the available context does not explicitly confirm that Costis Achniotis has received the specific "Teaching for Peace" Award given by the Association for Historical Dialogue and Research (AHDR).




