Innovative training courses will be held on each of the four legs leaving from Alexandria, Larnaca, Antalya and Istanbul. On each leg 24 men and women will make up the crew of Peace Sailors, supported by four trainers trained by the Geneva-based Centre for Applied Studies in International Negotiations The boat will call at a number of ports to invite local young people to join this promotion of peace and reconciliation through major events: the Peace Events, to be held in Alexandria, Gaza, Haifa, Larnaca, Beirut, Istanbul and Piraeus.

The Scout Movement has sought support from the North-South Centre, DG XXII of the European Commission, UNESCO and the European Youth Forum to enable this ambitious project to become reality. A Partners Committee was set up in April 1999 to support the initiative.

Richard Amalvy, Project Director, explained: The role of youth organisations in the development of the Mediterranean region should be better understood and supported. En fact, youth NGOs play a significant role in society and in cultural, political and economic life. They not only contribute to the training of managers, but they are also often found in the world of politics, social affairs and education. They are also part of the economy through the activities that they run and the funding that they raise or generate. The Peace Cruise will thus contribute greatly to this recognition, and he added: the role of youth NGOs in the worlds of social affairs, education and culture help to strengthen society and democracy, and contribute to the development of society.

The Peace Cruise will also demonstrate that youth NGOs are actors in the process of peace and reconciliation and in the struggle against all forms of prejudice. Bon voyage!

The Peace Events of the Peace Cruise