Mentor Link

Since 1990 up to the present I have been working in troubled Cyprus in close conjunction with the United Nations setting up International Summer Schools on the Green Line between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities.

The aim of these Schools has been to bring together students from both communities with others from around the world. The students in this environment, through study and working and enjoyment together, have learnt that they can live in peace and harmony in spite of differences of language, religion, culture and politics.

These experiences, it is hoped, will influence them at a very impressionable age and remain with them for the rest of their lives. I believe that, in work with young people such as this, lies the hope for the future. With the success of these pilot schemes the plan now is to establish a full International School to meet these ideals and reach many more students in an area of considerable conflict.

It is, indeed, a great honour to be asked to be the Patron of Mentor Link and I fully support and admire its noble aims. In the near future I look forward to learning much more about your activities and to meet all the volunteers.

David Blakeway-Smith MBE