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IATP News - Best of 2003
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Uzbekistan
IATP Administrator Shukhrat
Tukhtasinov (center) demonstrates
chat features to Dilmurod Usmanov
(FLEX 03) (right) and Muhammadsodiq
Kosimov (left), an imam from the
city mosque
Religious Leaders Join Online Chat at IATP Access Sites in Uzbekistan
After the success of its online chat on November 11, IATP united a group of 20 religious leaders, alumni of US government-sponsored exchange programs, and college students for an online chat at local IATP access sites throughout Uzbekistan on November 20. The participants engaged in a live online discussion with five religious leaders from Ferghana and Namangan, Uzbekistan, who had spent three weeks in the United States in September on the US government-sponsored, IREX administered Community Connections program. During the chat, the religious leaders related their experiences of visiting religious organizations and universities and interacting with fellow Muslims in mosques in the United States. Sobirjon Normatov, an imam from Um al Quro Mosque in Ferghana, remarked that Islam played a more important role in US society than he had previously thought. According to Sobirjon, the United States is a country of many faiths, which are freely practiced by followers. He said that American Muslims visit mosques not only for prayers, but also to engage in discussions and place their children in religious study courses. The leaders also talked about their host families in the United States, who were of different religious backgrounds but all hospitable to their Uzbekistani guests. At the conclusion of the chat, IREX Program Assistant Ulugbek Aliev of the Cultural and Religious Pluralism in the USA and Uzbekistan program took advantage of the opportunity to disseminate information about the program to the chat participants.
Young Internet wizard Javlon Turdiev
aspires to win an ECA scholarship to
study in the United States
15-Year-Old “Wizard” in Ferghana Takes Internet by Storm
Javlon Turdiev,15, a resident of Ferghana, Uzbekistan, credits IATP with giving him the skills and experience he needs to enter higher education and build his future career. When he first visited the local IATP access site in February 2001, Turdiev was in the sixth grade at Ferghana Regional Olympiad School, a specialized school for talented youth that trains students for participation in academic competitions. Initially completely lacking computer skills, Turdiev attended IATP trainings in computer and Internet basics and learned how to use standard office software packages. Turdiev enjoyed the atmosphere of the IATP access site, and volunteered to help IATP Administrator Olga Akopdjanova conduct seminars. After several months of hard work, he became an IATP-certified trainer last October, and so far has conducted more than a dozen computer and Internet courses in Uzbek for new IATP users. Starting in May, Turdiev took his skills to the next level by taking courses in Web design conducted by Peace Corps Volunteer Mark Cull and IATP mobile trainer Evgeny Belov. His efforts eventually yielded a website at http://wizard.freenet.uz, which provides information about Uzbekistan and links to educational resources.
Tajikistan
Internet Access Site Installed in Pamir Mountains of Tajikistan
On October 3, IATP brought public-access Internet to the city of Khorog, Tajikistan, with the installation of six computers connected to a radio modem. Khorog, with a population of 30,000, is the administrative center of Tajikistan's Badakhshan province, the most isolated and mountainous part of the country. Badakhshan province, on the border with Afghanistan, accounts for nearly half of Tajikistan's territory and is mostly taken up by the Pamir Mountains, the second-highest mountain chain in the world. Before the arrival of IATP, the only public Internet access in the city was at an Internet cafe that opened in June 2003, charging two dollars per hour. Because the average monthly salary in Khorog is less than ten dollars a month, the Internet was out of reach for most residents. Needless to say, IATP's public access Internet is being welcomed by Khorog residents. English teacher Davlatnazar Olimshoev, one of the site's first registered users, comments, "I am very glad that we have free Internet access now in Khorog through the IATP access site. Telecom Technology is a commercial ISP, and the costs for Internet is too expensive. We are not only isolated from the rest of the world but more importantly from the rest of our country. Today I can be in frequent contact with my relatives and colleagues from Dushanbe and other countries, exchanging e-mails, and find more updated information on how to teach English in schools." In the coming weeks, IATP will roll out its full training and Web hosting program in Khorog, taking residents to the next level of computer literacy and networking capacity.
Noor Umarov (Muskie 01) came to
IATP’s alumni resource center with
his eight-year-old son Najib to teach
him how to use the Internet and
exchange messages with the
people of Boulder, Colorado.
IATP Creates Cyber Communication Bridge between Sister Cities Boulder and Dushanbe
From May 23 to 26, 2003, the two IATP access sites in Dushanbe, School No. 20 and “Polygon” Internet Café, hosted a bilateral virtual forum event with US sister city Boulder, Colorado. Sister cities since1987, they have been conducting a wide spectrum of mutually beneficial events, including intercultural exchanges and government projects. The Tajik government gave a Choihona, or national teahouse, to Boulder in 1987, which is a full-service restaurant attracting more than 100,000 visitors each year. Boulder is planning to reciprocate by building a cyber café, which will be an American restaurant with a learning center and Internet portal in Dushanbe. As a way to raise awareness of this project in Boulder, their organizers suggested an online event. IATP, the leading Internet promoter in Central Asia, naturally took the reins in Dushanbe for organizing the event, along with over 15 ECA alumni volunteers, IFES, ACIE, Asia-Plus (a top-rated national radio station), and Babylon-T (a national Internet service provider). Throughout the four-day period of free access to the Internet for the residents of Dushanbe, IATP staff and volunteers fed Asia-Plus Radio with translated excerpts from the forum entrants, which the DJs read on the air throughout the weekend. As a result, nearly 400 people participated in the event, including teachers, doctors, lawyers, and government officials. IATP created a website (www.boulder-dushanbe.irex-tj.org) to supplement coverage of the event for both cities that displayed daily photos of Dushanbe, images from three online web cameras installed at the Dushanbe forum sites, and a Russian-language description of the event.
Kazakhstan
Yevgeniy Tetyukhin (TEA 01) with
volunteer Jennifer Harford at the
Challenge Alaska marathon finish line
Alumni Greet International Wheelchair Champion in Petropavlovsk, Kazakhstan
On August 17, alumni of US government-sponsored exchange programs gathered at the IATP access site in Petropavlovsk, Kazakhstan, to share the joy of Yevgeniy Tetyukhin (TEA 01), who had successfully accomplished a tour of competitions for disabled athletes. Yevgeniy cannot imagine his life without access to the Internet. Every day he spends a significant amount of time searching the Web for opportunities to live a more active life. The result of this daily work is, most recently, a victory and exciting trip overseas. On July 30, Yevgeniy returned from Alaska, where he had taken part in the international marathon Challenge Alaska, the longest wheelchair race (267 miles between Fairbanks and Anchorage) in the world. On August 2, he traveled to Omsk, Russia, to participate in an international race and took first prize. This professor from Northern Kazakhstan University never misses any chance to promote the development of the movement of disabled sportsmen in Kazakhstan.
Turkmenistan
CI Alumna Awarded the Best Alumni Homepage Certificate from the IATP Central Asian Web Design Competition
On December 21, Janeta Tachkuliyeva (CI 02) won first place in the Best Alumni Homepage category at the Central Asian website competition for her website, http://iatp.edu.tm/janethp/. Tachkuliyeva had participated in the basic Web design course and fully developed her Web design skills during the intermediate Web design course from December 15 to 18. Tachkuliyeva, an anesthetist, won an IREX small grant in 2003 to publish brochures about drug addiction and conduct seminars about drug abuse in high schools. Through her new website, Tachkuliyeva’s website shares personal information about her, her clinical experiences, scientific and social researches she conducted, her resume, and a list of her publications. The panel of judges recognized the website’s impressive design, easy navigation, informative content, and easy readability. During The Shortest Day but Longest Night event, results of the Best Alumni Website Contest in Central Asia were announced. The names of the winners are posted at www.alumni.kz.
Kyrgyzstan
Rustam Rahimov searches for
information about event planning
Disabled IATP User Helps University Students Write Thesis in Tokmok, Kyrygzstan
On June 4, one of the most active visitors of the IATP access site in Tokmok, Kyrgyzstan, Rustam Rahimov, was thanked by the university students for his assistance in obtaining information for their thesis. Rahimov uses a wheelchair to get around, because he has cerebral palsy. Despite his physical challenges, he has been visiting the IATP access site for several months to learn all he can about computer and Internet resources. Recently, he has begun using his new skills to help other users who have not yet reached his advanced level. One example of his volunteer work is his assistance to Hiloila Tahtaeva and Marina Magay, students of the Tokmok Institute of Culture, in doing research for their thesis on event planning. In addition to showing them how to use search engines to find facts, Rahimov showed them how to write the thesis itself using word processing software, pointing out all the features that make the process go more quickly and smoothly. He wrapped up the lesson by demonstrating how to create charts to visually convey information, and how to add attachments to e-mail, so that they can submit their academic work electronically. Far from letting his disability get in his way, Rahimov is helping his technologically-impaired fellow citizens overcome their own limitations.
Belarus
Women’s NGO from Minsk Encourages Women in Vitebsk to Join an All-Belarusian Online Network
On October 7, an IATP Minsk user, Natalya Khoziaeva, chairperson of Women’s Business and Art Cooperation, and author of the website http://sunlight.iatp.by, traveled to Vitebsk to involve representatives of local women’s NGOs in the creation of an all-Belarusian online women’s network. Khoziaeva spoke about the importance of promoting a stronger women’s presence in society, of protecting women's rights, and of preventing trafficking of women. She stressed the important role of IATP in the development of the women’s network and encouraged women to participate in IATP courses and develop websites for their organizations. Khoziaeva plans to incorporate these websites in a comprehensive portal for women’s Web resources in Belarus. This will allow women throughout the country to learn about each other's professional and creative successes and experiences. Svetlana Utkina, coordinator of the Vitebsk Branch of the Belarusian Young Women's Christian Association, commented, "A women’s Web portal is a wonderful opportunity to consolidate efforts in protecting women's rights, but there are not so many women’s NGOs that know how to create websites. Due to the IATP Step-by-Step Training Program, we have a chance to fill this gap in our skills and develop a website for our organization. This will help us engage more women in our activities and exchange our experiences with other NGOs in Belarus and abroad."
Moldova
President of Moldova’s Court of Appeal Meets with ECA Alumni Lawyers in Orhei, Moldova
On October 29, following the request of ECA alumni lawyers, who form a majority of the IATP Orhei Alumni Club, the President of Moldova’s Court of Appeal Anatolie Doga visited the local IATP access site to participate in a two-hour seminar on the advantages of Internet usage for lawyers. Valeriu Covas (CC 00) and Ion Draguta (CC 00) also invited local non-alumni advocates and investigators to the seminar, for a total of more than 30 attendees. First, Doga initiated a discussion on the latest innovations in penal and civil codes and answered all of the participants’ questions. IATP Orhei Administrator Stela Alexandru also delivered a brief presentation of IATP services for the larger public and spoke of the efficiency of the Internet when it comes to the law system. Covas, himself a lawyer, shared his own experience in using the Internet for professional purposes and stressed that the Internet can raise the efficiency and proficiency of their work. Trainees also explored websites such as, www.docs.md, www.lex.md, and realized that they are “virtually” one click away from professional consultations in many areas of their work.
Ukraine
Dr. Serhiy Korchaka uses his IATP
training to provide medical information
to physicians and their patients in
Kirivohrad and throughout Ukraine
Doctors and Patients Connect, Conduct Research via the Internet
During the week of August 1, Dr. Serhiy Korchaka updated his websites http://doctor.iatp.org.ua and http://kirovohrad.iatp.org.ua/hospital1/) with more information that continues to assist physicians and patients at hospitals in his own community and throughout Ukraine. Last year, Korchaka attended a seminar on Web design at the IATP access site in Kirovohrad, Ukraine. As a result of the training, Korchaka was able to diagnose Brugada syndrome, a disease he learned about through Internet research. His story is posted on www.irex.org. Later, Korchaka assisted his colleague, Dr. Volodymyr Kosenko, in creating a website devoted to urology. Kosenko recalls that one day a patient came to him from nearby Dnipropetrovsk because he found Kosenko’s website and determined that the physician had the necessary specialty to assist him. Kosenko and Korchaka continue to utilize the Internet to match patients with doctors and to perform research to assist in their medical practices.
Georgia
IATP Holds Nationwide Chat Sessions with Georgian Presidential Candidates
Starting on December 22, IATP in Georgia has been hosting online chat sessions with the Georgian presidential candidates. IATP users all over Georgia have flocked to the IATP access sites to pose questions directly to the candidates for presidency. Within three days, five out of six candidates—Zurab Kelekhsashvili, Zaza Sikharulidze, Kartlos Gharibashvili, Mikhail Saakashvili, and Roin Liparteliani—had participated in the chat sessions. Through the IATP-mediated event, the candidates have been given the opportunity to speak with potential voters to win their respect and votes. Candidates answered questions on diverse topics and expressed gratitude toward IATP for helping them to know their voters. The presidential elections are scheduled for January 4, 2004.
Azerbaijan
College Develops Technology Curricula with Help of IATP
Nigar Mammadova, teacher in informatics at the Social-Economic College in Guba, has taken many computer courses at the IATP access site in Guba, Azerbaijan. Since then she has launched basic computer, Internet, and MS Word trainings at the college. College officials were impressed and inspired by Mammadova’s first successful step and plan to purchase new computers in January to improve the information technology facilities. Mammadova is planning to take more advanced courses at the IATP site and will subsequently begin teaching advanced skills at the college. Mammadova said: “I want to see my students [become technologically] savvy, and I am convinced that the skills acquired through my courses will actually make a difference in their lives. Thanks to IATP for enabling me to prepare my students to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow.”
Armenia
Zinaida Babayan embraces the
benefits of evolving technology
Older Generations Take Advantage of Internet
IATP has had several successes in bringing the benefits of the Internet to people of all ages. Eighty-year-old Zinaida Babayan is a recent example of someone who has benefited from the advent of the Internet and IATP’s free services. Born in 1923 in the town of Bogorodsk, Babayan had a successful academic career, followed by work as an epidemiologist. She traveled extensively, living all across the Soviet Union, before moving to Armenia in 1961. She has had over 40 articles published in scientific journals. In her 50 years of public service, she frequently used traditional postal services to maintain contact with the friends and colleagues she met over all those years. With the collapse of the Soviet Union the postal services suffered severely, dislocating her from her contacts. In the past five months she has become a regular user at the IATP center at the National Library of Armenia (NLA), learning to use e-mail and Internet features. Through these efforts, Babayan has found many of her lost acquaintances and once again maintains contact with them, while continuing to learn about the many applications of new technologies she has discovered at IATP NLA.