Home
Subscribe
Internet Access and Training Program (IATP)
IATP News - Best of 2004
E-mail this pageView news from:
Georgia
Saakashvili answers questions
from the press at IREX’s IATP
office in Tblisi
Georgia IATP Holds Web Chat with Mikheil Saakashvili
On January 25, 2004, Muskie program alumnus Mikheil Saakashvili was sworn in as president of Georgia, in a ceremony that included numerous international visitors, including US Secretary of State Colin Powell. IREX has always utilized its resources to promote awareness and fairness of elections and throughout Georgia’s recent political upheaval, IATP has continued that tradition. Leading up to the parliamentary elections in November 2003, IATP held Web chats, seminars, and trainings for government officials in order to prepare them to administer a fair, democratic election process. Then, in the wake of the “Rose Revolution” on November 22, IATP quickly mobilized its resources in order to hold a series of national Web chats with the candidates before the January 4 presidential elections.
Beginning on December 22, citizens gathered at all 12 IATP access sites throughout the country to grill five presidential candidates about the issues important to them. The week of chats culminated on December 29 when former opposition leader Mikheil Saakashvili logged on from the IATP alumni conference room and web studio in Tblisi.
The one-hour Saakashvili chat, held in Georgian to make it accessible to the greatest number of citizens, was covered by several national media outlets. During the chat, Saakashvili addressed difficult questions about pension reform, corruption, and the roles of the media and NGOs in society. In response to a question regarding the redistribution of wealth to aid the poor, Saakashvili stated, “…In any democratic society which has developed market economics, those who are well-off pay higher taxes than those who are poor,” and that “Social justice and fairness is…the main attribute of a normal and successful society.”
Addressing a question about the enormous difference in income levels between government officials and pensioners, he admitted the amounts would never be equal. He stressed however that he had recently met with the minister of finance to schedule pension increases. He also emphasized that the government needs to focus on eliminating corruption and developing a system that improves the conditions of the Georgian population.
The chat finished with Saakashvili’s vow, if elected, to hold parliamentary elections as soon as possible, insisting that a new administration will need a “new and reformative parliament to take new and decisive steps.” IATP will no doubt continue to work with the entire Georgian community to meet the demands of such initiatives.
*Photos and complete text of the Saakashvili chat (English and Georgian) as well as the other presidential candidate chats (Georgian) are available at www.iatp.org.ge.
Soso Sebishkveradze answers
questions about public relations
Khashuri Political Candidates, Voters, and Journalists Learn Public Relations
On May 18, representatives of political parties, employees of administrative organizations, nongovernmental organization members, journalists, and other interested individuals gathered at the IATP access site in Khashuri to discuss public relations in political campaigns. Soso Sebiskveradze, a public relations specialist and member of Kartli XXI, a local NGO, led the seminar. The speaker introduced the role various methods of public relations can play and the pitfalls that can occur for political parties and different organizations. The participants visited a Georgian-language Web resource for public relations and obtained information about well-known public relations companies in Georgia. Sebiskveradze provided detailed explanations on campaign preparation, including the importance of press releases, pre-election campaigns, and slogans. The participants discussed the art of managing crisis situations, mistakes, and priorities and discussed situations that occurred during the last elections. Most of the participants are planning to participate in the upcoming elections. “There is enough time before the elections for us to take into consideration information obtained at the seminar,” stated one of the candidates, and for this purpose the candidates and voters will fully utilize IATP’s Internet resources.
Kazakhstan
IATP Country Coordinator
Raduga Kultassova proudly
displays IATP’s awards for
outstanding contributions
to the development of the
Internet in
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan National Internet Award Recognizes IATP for Outstanding Achievement in Internet Development in Kazakhstan
On November 19, information technology (IT) professionals, as part of the Kazakhstan Internet Award (KIA) for 2004, presented IATP with award for the best Internet-promoting organization in Kazakhstan. Aleksandr Kolosov, President of KFI and Master of Ceremonies, awarded IATP Country Coordinator Raduga Kultassova with a diploma and medal recognizing IATP’s impact on Internet development. This most prestigious Internet contest in Kazakhstan recognizes the most prominent social and cultural online resources that have contributed the most to Kazakhstan-related content on the Web in 16 award categories. Various sponsors and organizers, including Web studios, Web magazines, an Internet Security Provider, and the Khabar media conglomerate, invested time and money into the contest’s organization. From June 15 to October 31, the judges of KIA 2004 reviewed more than 600 websites from 79 countries, searching for the best resources related to Kazakhstan. IATP Web Development and Training Coordinator Ayan Barlybayev also received two awards for Best Children’s Website and Best Website in the Kazakh Language, for www.spring.freenet.kz, which he created for a children’s library in 2001. Barlybayev has continued to work with the library, which hosts an IATP access site in Almaty, to develop their Web resource into one in Kazakh, Russian, and English. The website assists young readers and their parents in finding information from the online library catalogue, and has a description of popular books, materials on children’s rights, and a dozen library clubs for children. Khabar’s media network and the country’s major Internet magazines reported on the contest. IATP continues to work toward its goal to provide the broadest possible open Internet access to target audiences and promote the free flow of information in local communities.
Alumni at the Almaty Alumni
Resource Center follow the discussion
of parliamentary elections
Kazakhstani Citizens Question Political Party Representatives Online
On September 10, 50 citizens of Kazakhstan and representatives from seven of Kazakhstan’s 12 registered political parties gathered at 12 IATP access sites across the country for an online discussion of the upcoming parliamentary elections. Each party representative presented information about their party’s platform and answered questions on a variety of topics, including the economy, gender equality, unemployment, and protection of private property. Journalist Dilyera Yazynina from Shymkent asked Gennadiy Vasilyev, the representative of the merged Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan and Communist parties, to explain how his new party could stand for rule of law considering the lack thereof under communist rule in the USSR. Vasilyev replied, "The basics of communism were for creating a civilized state that obeyed the rule of law. Unfortunately not all of the people that called themselves Communists followed these principles." Gulnara Asaul, a citizen from Ust-Kamenogorsk, expressed her disappointment over the progress of democracy in Kazakhstan so far, noting, “Whenever we give our votes to certain candidates, we hope they will keep their promises. However, they rarely serve their constituents. Let’s hope that the elections will be more successful this time.” At a time when most Kazakhstani citizens feel that they do not receive sufficient information from television, radio, and newspapers about the parliamentary elections scheduled for September 19, the network of IATP access sites is providing an alternative channel of information.
The Contact News contains a variety
of stories of interest to young people
Youth Club Launches Newspaper in Kyzylorda, Kazakhstan
On January 27, Contact, a club for young people in Kyzylorda, Kazakhstan, printed the first issue of its newspaper The Contact News. The mission of Contact, founded in cooperation with Peace Corps Volunteer Patrick Lee in 1999, is to increase social, cultural, athletic, and educational opportunities for young people. The club, to which both high school and college students belong, has sponsored such events as athletic contests for children from rural villages, celebrations of British and American holidays, food and clothing drives for orphans, and environmental cleanups. The club is headquartered at the local IATP access site, where Access Site Administrator Oleg Kim and Trainer Elena Sidorkina often provide technical support and conduct training courses for the club and its members. The club decided to create a youth-oriented newspaper and turned to IATP for an extensive Step-by-Step training on computer basics, Internet use, and graphic-editing software. FLEX program participant Marzhan Serekova contributed the first article via e-mail from Ohio, where she is studying on exchange. In her article, she describes her impressions of life in United States for peers at home in Kazakhstan. In addition to feature articles, the English and Russian versions of the newspaper contain humor, an astrology section, and lyrics to popular songs. The first press run of 70 issues of The Contact News was quickly depleted by local high school and university students and their teachers.
Turkmenistan
Chary Atayev (CI 03) and alumni
watch a BBC documentary about
HIV-infected teenagers in Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan Alumni and UN Coordinator Discuss Drug Trafficking and Abuse in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
On January 30, Chary Atayev (CI 03), the national project coordinator for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), conducted a two-hour roundtable on drug abuse and trafficking for 10 alumni of US government-sponsored programs at the Alumni Resource Center in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. Atayev delivered a presentation on UNODC’s mission and activities, described a few drug trafficking cases with which he was familiar, and gave an overview of trends over the last few years. Although statistics on drug use and crime are not made public in Turkmenistan, Atayev is aware that there is a large amount of drugs transported through Turkmenistan each year. To impress upon fellow alumni the seriousness of the problem, Atayev presented a 1998 BBC documentary about drug addicts in Mary, Turkmenistan. Atayev, who spent four months at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York, as a participant in the Contemporary Issues program, shared links such as the Partnership for a Drug-Free America and the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign, which he had learned about through correspondence with his colleagues in the United States. Atayev believes that by spreading information about the drug problem in Turkmenistan among alumni and other leaders in society, he can reach a wide audience and establish positive peer pressure to reduce drug use.
Stay-at-home Mom Enrolls in Distance Learning Courses in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
On July 19, Tatyana Konovalova visited the IATP access site in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, to tell assistant administrator Gurbanbibi Meredova about how IATP helped her enroll in college online. Konovalova is a stay-at-home mom, who has long wanted to complete college but family difficulties have always stood in her way. Since her first visit to IATP in January, she has attended basic courses in computer and Internet use, which enabled her to search for educational and job opportunities online. Among the websites she found was that of the Open University of Israel, which offers a wide variety of courses, including many on Jewish culture and traditions. Konovalova found these to be of particular interest because of her Jewish heritage. On May 28, Konovalova wrote to the university’s admissions committee, and passed an entrance examination on June 2, which led to her enrollment. She will major in Economics and start out with a course entitled “The Economics, Politics, and Government of Israel.” The class, which will start at the beginning of August and last one academic year, will give her a certificate for successful completion. Waiting for the textbooks the university has sent her, Konovalova remarks, “IATP has played a vital role in my life, because if not for the Internet that they provide, I never would have learned about the Open University and become its online student.”
Public Affairs Officer Shannon
Runyon opens the Internet
Technology conference in
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
Information Technology Leaders Discuss IT Development in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
On April 17 and 18, IATP brought together 42 information technology (IT) leaders for a conference on IT development in Turkmenistan. On the first day, representatives of the US Embassy, United Nations Development Programme, European Union, British Embassy, alumni of US government-sponsored programs, and local Web developers discussed the challenges and obstacles to IT development in Turkmenistan and ways to overcome them. Among the issues discussed were infrastructure, government regulation, promotion of Turkmen-language Web content development, and gender equity in Internet access. Participants also discussed the successes over the past year, including a tripling of the number of websites in the country thanks to IATP trainings and the launch of the NATO-sponsored Silk Highway project, which provides Internet to several local academic institutions. On the second day, IATP Development Academy participants discussed their accomplishments and solicited ideas for developing their projects further. The Development Academies provide intensive training campaigns for specific audiences based on their needs and development goals. Development Academy trainers presented case studies about the results of their programs, sharing accomplishments such as a website containing a directory of local medical professionals. US Ambassador Tracey Ann Jacobson closed the conference by thanking the participants, remarking, “As you build upon your successes and Turkmenistan’s Internet continues to grow, the people of the United States will benefit from increased contact and information sharing with the people of Turkmenistan.”
Kyrgyzstan
Tashbolot Baltabaev after a session
at the Kyrgyz Republic’s Legislative
Assembly in Bishkek
Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyz Legislature Deputy Launches Election Campaign with Online Discussion in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
On March 10, Tashbolot Baltabaev, a deputy from Kyrgyzstan’s Legislative Assembly, launched his online election campaign from the IATP access site in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. His constituents from the Batken electoral district gathered at the IATP access site in Batken to chat with their representative. Baltabaev is running for reelection in the Jogorku Kenesh Legislative Assembly, which is roughly equivalent to a seat in the US House of Representatives. In an effort to support fair and transparent elections, the chat at the IATP access site gave the voters a chance to test the candidate’s plans. The IATP access site administrator moderated the chat and allowed each voter to ask at least one question. During the discussion, Baltabaev addressed such issues as tuberculosis, access to clean drinking water, independent mass media, and initiatives to fight poverty in the region. With a population of more than 28,000, Batken is among the most isolated and underdeveloped cities in the south of Kyrgyzstan. Baltabaev will be using IATP facilities every Wednesday during his campaign to find out what his constituents want and need from their government. Using IATP’s resources should increase his chances of reelection, unless of course, his opponents start using IATP, too.
In three months, Vyacheslav Fhast
will be playing soccer with his friends
Child in Tokmok, Kyrgyzstan, Receives Free Surgery Thanks to Internet Access
On June 22, Ludmila Melnikova visited the IATP access site in Tokmok, Kyrgyzstan, to thank IATP for providing the assistance and resources needed to find a medical facility to perform an operation on her adopted son’s feet. Four year-old Vyacheslav Fhast, who lost both biological parents three years ago, has difficulty walking because of clubfoot, a congenital malformation in his feet. Melnikova contacted several medical organizations and foundations to request financial assistance for the expensive surgery to correct the problem, which she could not afford on her own. After years of unsuccessful efforts, Melnikova came to the IATP access site in March to try the Internet. IATP site administrator Evgeniy Gaponov helped Melnikova search online and they were able to establish contact with the Required Medical Insurance Fund (RMIF) in Bishkek within a month. RMIF is a government-funded organization that provides grants for medical care to needy families. Melnikova had heard of the organization, but had been unable to find contact information for it in Tokmok, and does not have access to affordable telephone service to consult with doctors. Melnikova used IATP facilities to send Fhast’s personal information, scanned photos, and other relevant documents to the RMIF. Fhast underwent the first of a three-month series of operations on June 7 at the Children’s Trauma and Orthopedic Center in Bishkek. Melinkova is hoping that her son will soon be able to play like other children, thanks to the operations and IATP’s help.
Tajikistan
Kurbanova (second from right)
teaches
other Kanibadam residents
how to use the Internet
Disabled User Takes Internet by Storm in Kanibadam, Tajikistan
On June 16, the Kanibadam branch of the People’s Democratic Party of Tajikistan offered Sitora Kurbanova, a disabled active IATP user, a job as a computer specialist. This was only the latest in a long series of remarkable accomplishments that Kurbanova has achieved with IATP. Since last November, Kurbanova has participated in all of IATP’s basic courses. In January, she designed and posted a personal website. Not content to rest on her laurels, Kurbanova followed up with a second website in February dedicated to the 80th anniversary of Tajikistan’s capital city, Dushanbe. Grateful for the training provided by IATP, Kurbanova decided to share her knowledge with other users. On June 11, Kurbanova finished teaching a weeklong course on Internet basics for six participants at the IATP access site in Kanibadam. With help from IATP volunteers Ilhom Aliev and Alexander Sobirov to maneuver her wheelchair during the training sessions, she did not let her disability stop her from working closely with her students. After so much information technology experience, Kurbanova was a sure winner for the job. Mayor Emingon Sanginov cited the certificate she had received from IATP for the websites she had designed as the factor that gave her the edge over seven other qualified candidates. Kurbanova said, “The Internet has become as important as oxygen in my life, because I use it in so many ways... I communicate with my new friends at www.disability.ru, obtain useful information…and keep in touch through e-mail with my brother, who is in Moscow right now. Moreover, thanks to skills gained at IATP, I now have a job that I wanted.”
Seminar participants browse browse
online resources on elections
Women Spread Knowledge of Elections in Kanibadam, Tajikistan
On October 30, the IATP access site in Kanibadam, Tajikistan, was the venue for a “Women and Elections” seminar organized by Musharraf Hasanova, director of the local nongovernmental organization Paivandi Shahrvandi, and Nasiba Ergasheva, a corporate lawyer, for 16 local women from a variety of backgrounds. Paivandi Shahrvandi supports the formation of civil society through community service by an active citizenry, and is IATP’s partner organization in Kanibadam. Since Tajikistan will be holding parliamentary elections in February 2005, followed by presidential elections in 2006, Hasanova and Ergasheva want to boost interest in the elections among women, who make up more than half of the population of Tajikistan but traditionally have not been active in the political process. Ergasheva discussed in detail the concept of civil society, the importance and process of free elections, and why voters in Tajikistan traditionally have not supported female candidates for public office. Then, Sitora Kurbanova presented her newly-created website about the Kanibadam branch of the People’s Democratic Party of Tajikistan, the first website of a political party in the country. Kurbanova, who has had mobility problems since birth and gets around in a wheelchair, was hired as the party’s technical assistant after passing several IATP courses and gaining IT skills. Seminar participants were then guided to a variety of election-related websites, including those of the Informational Portal on Eurasia, the Central Asian News Portal, and the Gorbachev Foundation, to learn more about the upcoming elections in Tajikistan, the importance of elections in building civil society, and the role that women can play in the process. Inoyat Huseinova, the director of the Kanibadam branch of the Association of Businesswomen, commented, “Certainly every citizen should be actively involved in important events shaping the future of their society such as elections. I liked browsing the abundant resources on the Internet and learned much interesting information about elections held in other more democratic and developed countries.”
Uzbekistan
Members of the Club for Young
Journalists discuss media relations
at the IATP access site in Ferghana
Uzbekistan Journalists and Government Officials Unite through Online Activities in Uzbekistan
From June 24 to 29, IATP access sites in Uzbekistan hosted various Internet-related events for over 40 journalists to mark Uzbekistan’s official holiday for journalists on June 27. On June 29, IATP access sites brought together 25 journalists and press attachés from city governments, the prosecutor’s office, and departments for Internal Affairs, Taxation, and Public Education for a nationwide online chat on gathering and reporting information and the distrust between media and press services. Journalist Solekh Yahyaev (IV 01) moderated the chat and facilitated the discussion, where journalists and government officials had the chance to discuss the most pressing issues relating to the media. The participants agreed that they need to organize trainings in rural areas, start local clubs and associations for journalists, and work more closely with press attachés to ensure efficient cooperation. IATP access sites organized local events as well. On June 24, ten journalists attended a seminar on IATP distance learning courses available for journalists and IATP’s Web Engine iWE 1.0 at the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe-funded Internet Café in Tashkent. On June 25, Nurhon Mashrapova (FLEX 00) taught five journalists Internet basics at the IATP access site in Namangan to help improve their online communication and Web searching skills. In Navoi, students of the School for Young Journalists developed a website to promote activities at the school and post their publications online. With its network of 18 access sites and free trainings and access to online information, IATP engages journalists in Internet-related activities, which contributes to the effectiveness of media professionals.
Fatima Haqberdiyeva (CC 04) posts
her views during the chat from the
IATP access site in Tashkent
Alumni Meet with Imams Online in Uzbekistan
On November 9, more than 25 religious leaders, including 15 alumni of the US government-sponsored, IREX-administered Cultural and Religious Pluralism (CRP) and Community Connections (CC) programs, united for an online chat held at IATP access sites in nine cities across Uzbekistan. The religious leaders discussed the current state of religious life in Uzbekistan, shared their impressions of American religious practice, exchanged ideas, and developed plans. The participating alumni had spent up to one month in the United States to learn how Islam is practiced and how religious groups interact, while living with a religious American host family. Ikram Sherniyazov (CC 04) revealed that he is designing a personal website about his trip to the United States at the IATP access site in Nukus. Alijon Mingboyev (CC 03), imam of the Hojailgor mosque in Ferghana, said that in order to improve knowledge of Islam in his community, he and his colleagues are conducting extra-curricular lectures in local high schools. “We have a special literature room in the school where students can find information about Islam, and we organize discussion meetings with students once a week.” His group teaches tolerant principles of Islam to prevent the infiltration of extremist ideology. The alumni described the ubiquity of mosques and Islamic centers in the United States, the existence of interfaith dialogue, collaboration among believers of various religions, religious freedom, and American opportunities for both religious and secular education that starts from kindergarten. They observed that since people are better informed about different religions, religious groups are more tolerant and respectful of each other. The alumni called upon their brethren to learn from these practices and improve religious life in Uzbekistan.
Azerbaijan
Participants in Ganja learn about
distance learning resources and
opportunities
IATP Promotes Distance Learning Across Azerbaijan
During the week of September 6, IATP sites in Ali-Bayramli, Ganja, and Guba held seminars to introduce residents to the concept of distance learning (DL), IATP’s DL support fund for alumni, and the DL academy, which is an opportunity for people to design and administer a quality DL course. In Guba, site administrator Faig Bekirov introduced educators from higher and secondary educational institutions to distance learning. Local television station Xeval TV covered the event and broadcast it twice over the following days. In Ganja, IATP staff and Govhar Yagublu (FLEX 03) led a seminar for 21 participants, including representatives of local NGOs, students, employers, and IATP site users. They discussed opportunities for distance learning in Azerbaijan. The IATP access site at Ali-Bayramli City Library hosted a DL seminar for the chairman of the Ali-Bayramli Regional NGO Resource & Training Center, pediatricians from a local hospital, and teachers from multiple secondary schools. Each seminar addressed aspects of distance learning which are specific to Azerbaijan. Participants found that they can participate in courses overseas without leaving their hometown, thereby discovering an entirely new forum for education. As a result of the training, many of the participants applied to the colleges for online courses and others registered for foreign languages and keyboarding classes.
Armenia
IATP Sevan Helps a Businessman Win World Quality Commitment International Star Award
On October 11, Valerik Gasparyan, Executive Director of Sevan Fish Processing Factory, attended the 21st World Quality Commitment (WQC) ceremony in Paris, France to receive the WQC International Star Award, enabled by his use of IATP’s free Internet services. Gasparyan represented Armenia at the ceremony, which was one of over 70 different countries represented there. Gasparyan was attracted to IATP by his interest in developing business relations with foreign countries and finding partners abroad. After participating in trainings conducted at the IATP access site in Sevan, he came upon the website for Business Initiative Directions Awards, an organization “designed to recognize the prestige of the outstanding companies, organizations, and businessmen in the business world.” As a result of his correspondence with the organization through the Internet, Gasparyan’s company, which specializes in seafood packaging, was awarded the WQC International Star Award, Gold Category and has further positioned itself as a leader in Armenia. Gasparyan said, “Here is one of the advantages of the Internet. You learn what is gong on in the world and can even become a participant and a winner.”
Moldova
Disabled participants gather
around IATP staff to learn
computer skills
Physically Disabled Build their Websites during an IATP Mobile Training Course in Sipoteni, Moldova
From August 26 to 30, IATP Moldova Mobile Trainer Liuba Cracea conducted a course on Internet and Web design basics for the physically disabled representatives of the nongovernmental organization (NGO) Inger in Sipoteni, Moldova. Inger representatives requested and hosted the class, thus empowering its members to acquire valuable Internet-related skills. First, Cracea delivered a brief presentation about IATP and its services and explained the basic search principles for the Web. The trainees then learned how to communicate online via e-mail. Cracea further focused on Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) fundamentals and explained how to use HTML to define the layout and attributes of a World Wide Web document. She also showed the group how to create links between Web documents containing text, sound, and graphics. In less than a week, the trainees managed to create the NGO’s website and the website for Sipoteni.
Ukraine
US Congressmen and ECA alumni
pose after the meeting in the IATP
access site in Lviv
ECA Alumni and American Congressmen Discuss Real Picture of Ukraine
On December 22, the IATP access site in Lviv, Ukraine, organized a meeting of the ECA Alumni Club with US Congressmen Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD) in collaboration with the Public Affairs Section of the US Embassy in Ukraine. Natalia Salo (FLEX 01) moderated the dialogue between the alumni and the congressmen. The event participants discussed the situation in Ukraine after the country’s second round of the presidential elections. The American guests expressed their viewpoint on the development of democracy in Ukraine while exhibiting a non-partisan position that clearly supported free and unbiased elections in Ukraine. The alumni shared their opinion on the future prospects of Ukraine’s development, their desire to promote democracy, and their support for freedom in the country. This discussion will help the alumni to contribute to Ukraine’s well-being by inspiring them with the support of the US Congress.