Will there be a sequel? A Generation of Hope?

I’ve been asked if there will be a sequel to the novel, “The People In Between:  A Cyprus Odyssey.”  The answer wasn’t clear to me until recently.  Last week a group of teens from the Cyprus Friendship Program (CFP) met at Portland State University with Turkish and Greek Cypriot professors who guided a lively conversation among the teens.

There were 7 pairs of teens from Cyprus, each including a Greek speaking and Turkish speaking Cypriot. These 14 high school aged students were selected from over 150 candidates of which 30 pairs all together came to the United States this summer to further develop their relationships across cultural and political historical borders.  The 7 pairs hosted in Portland are staying the entire month of July and are studying sustainable living while they are here.

Harry Anastasiou a Greek Speaking Cypriot from Portland State University’s “Peace and Conflict Resolution” Department said, “There is no reason that Cyprus cannot become a country where every vehicle on the island is powered by solar electricity.”  He went on to say that in order for Cyprus to move forward with technology investment and sustainable improvement, the country will need to become whole instead of the divided status quo.

Professor Anastasiou’s colleague and best friend, Professor Beril Yeşilada, a Turkish speaking Cypriot referred to these groups of paired teens from the Cyprus Friendship Program as the “Generation of Hope.” He went on to say that this generation of hope could in the future be the exporters of peace in a region of the world that has experienced thousands of years of conflict.

The core of my ideas for a sequel came to me shortly after that discussion last week.  Hearing the CFP students articulate their views and experiences related to how they see them selves contributing to an alternative future for Cyprus was nothing less than inspiring!