It was on April 21, 2003, that a number of educators and researchers, with an active interest in the teaching and learning of history, decided to establish a non-governmental, non-profitable, multi- communal organisation in Cyprus and named it The Association for Historical Dialogue and Research (AHDR). Since then, the AHDR has organised and developed a range of projects and activities, such as te
acher training workshops and the creation of supplementary materials, in order to work towards its greater aims. The birth of the Association almost coincided with a historic change that took place on the island when on 23 April 2003 travel restrictions between the two sides of the Green Line in Cyprus were eased and several thousand Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots had their first chance since 1974 to cross the divide. It was evident that, more than ever before, the AHDR had to actively begin to realise its shared mission and vision, and in doing so, recognise the values of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the European Convention on Human Rights, the covenants of Human Rights issued by the United Nations, and the UNESCO recommendations relevant to history teaching. Since its foundation, the AHDR has enlisted members from various ethnic, linguistic, and professional backgrounds working at various educational levels in Cyprus, making the first steps towards a greater effort: an effort to maintain a continuous, open dialogue about enhanced pedagogic practices that could encourage the values of the discipline of history. The AHDR envisions a society where dialogue on issues of history, historiography, history teaching and history learning is welcomed as an integral part of democracy and is considered as a means for the advancement of historical understanding and critical thinking. The AHDR recognizes the values of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the European Convention on Human Rights, the UNESCO aims on education, and the Council of Europe’s recommendations relevant to history teaching. More specifically the AHDR aims:
• to create opportunities for educators, youth and children to be benefited by the latest developments in history teaching and learning
• to advance knowledge on the issues of history, historiography, history teaching and history learning
• to collect and share resources on history and history teaching
• to nurture a critical understanding of the linkages between perceptions of history, attitudes and behaviors towards the “other” and history education
• to gather and make available archival materials on certain aspects of Cyprus history.
• to develop educational materials for educators and students.
• to increase public awareness on the importance of dialogue and multiperspectivity on the issues of history, historiography, history teaching and learning. Contact us by phone :
+357 22 445 740 / +90 533 853 7470
