08/07/2026
CHIPS at 60… A look back through the years.
CHIPS’ story started 60 years ago in Cyprus, and we’ve been gathering stories to share about the impact CHIPS has made around the world and in people’s lives since then.
We caught up with Martin Jewitt, who volunteered alongside our founder, Roy Calvocoressi, on our first project in Cyprus, in 1967. Martin reflected on his time in the small Greek village of Kalochorio, where he helped tend to the orchards that the villagers had to flee when the fragile Greek-Turkish powersharing arrangement fell apart in 1963. Martin, the other CHIPS volunteers, and remaining community members committed to maintaining the orchards of those that were displaced until the villagers could come home. The aim was to use practical activities to build bridges between the two communities.
Martin especially remembers the connections he made with villagers from both sides of the conflict, as well as studying Greek and Turkish,“Our principled aim was to live with as much respect and identity with the local culture as possible.” One time, Martin remembers that someone from the neighbouring village of Kedares gifted them an entire goat (and butchered it for them!).
Upon reflection, that first project in Cyprus planted a seed for the next 60 years of CHIPS’ work around the world, according to Martin. “Cyprus set a practical and spiritual model of Christian peacemaking which I like to think sets the Biblical basis for all the subsequent projects [at CHIPS].”
Follow us and keep checking back in for more stories about CHIPS’ history of peacemaking around the globe as we celebrate 60 years of peacemaking.
