Internet Access and Training Program (IATP)

IATP News from Western Eurasia

January 22-February 3, 2005

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MOLDOVA

Alumni learn about the upcoming
parliamentary elections at Chiakir
Pedagogical College in Comrat,
Moldova, the host and partner of
the local IATP access site

IATP and US Embassy Alumni Resource Center Energize Alumni to Vote in Upcoming Parliamentary Elections
On January 26, IATP assisted the US Embassy Alumni Resource Center in organizing a roundtable discussion on the upcoming parliamentary elections in Moldova scheduled for March 6. Fifteen alumni of various US government-sponsored exchange programs residing in Cahul, Ceadir-Lunga, Cimislia, and Comrat came to Chiakir Pedagogical College in Comrat, Moldova, which hosts the local IATP access site, to explore the peculiarities of the current electoral campaign. US Embassy PAO Aleisha Woodward and Head of the Alumni Resource Center Natalia Graur moderated the event during which the audience analyzed the statistics from the previous elections and explored the website about the upcoming elections. The event trained alumni to promote the idea of participation in the local elections from three different perspectives: civil society values, election mechanics (where, when, and how to vote in accordance with the electoral code), and social psychology. IATP Comrat representatives will further distribute posters, brochures, and calendars to its visitors to encourage people to vote.

Alumni take online distance
learning courses at the IATP access
site in Orhei, Moldova

Alumni Explore the IATP Distance Learning Portal in Orhei, Moldova
On January 28, IATP staff conducted a class on distance learning for alumni of various US government-sponsored exchange programs and active IATP visitors. Six participants came to the IATP access site in Orhei, Moldova, to explore the advantages of distance learning and learn about IATP initiatives in this field. The IATP trainer explained the principles of distance learning, presented the IATP Distance Learning (DL) portal, and further focused on the differences between traditional and computer-based learning. The participants noted that online distance learning courses represent a convenient alternative to correspondence courses it is possible to plan their course schedule according to available free time. During the practical portion of the class, the participants discussed interesting topics on the IATP DL portal, passed several course steps, and assessed their knowledge with help of online tests. IATP continues to be the leader in distance learning activity in Moldova.

UKRAINE

IATP in Ukraine Discusses Sustainability Prospects with IATP Partner Organizations
On January 20 and 21, IATP in Ukraine organized a conference on sustainability prospects for 14 IATP access sites and their partner organizations. Laura Oppenheimer, IATP Regional Program Manager for Western Eurasia, and IATP Country Coordinator for Ukraine Maria Makovska welcomed the participants and explained sustainability goals and prospects for the IATP access sites throughout Ukraine. The participants discussed results and impact of cooperation between the IATP access sites throughout Ukraine and partner organizations, the majority of which are libraries. After exchanging opinions on aspects of mutual cooperation, the representatives of IATP partner organizations presented ways to introduce paid services in the libraries. Olha Sloyalnikova, head of Information Services at the Vinnytsia Regional Scientific Library shared her library’s experience with providing paid services for their patrons. Then all participants proposed several models of sustainability and discussed their viability. During the second day of the conference Deputy Director of the Donetsk Regional Scientific Library Olena Bashoun led a seminar on fundraising for libraries and nongovernmental organizations. She explained the basics of fundraising, including the stages of a fundraising campaign and writing grant proposals. Thanks to the conference, the partners of these IATP access sites received a clear vision of IATP sustainability prospects and acquired skills and knowledge for developing sustainability plans for the IATP access sites in their individual institutions. Thus, these IATP partners are ready to sign new sustainability partnership agreements and to increase their cost share in running IATP access sites hosted by their organizations.

Representatives of the US
Consulate (left to right) Tetiana
Bratkovska, Nadiya Orlova,
Malgorzata Bula-Duane, and Molly
Stephenson answer online
conference questions from the IATP
access site in Kyiv

Consular Section of the US Embassy in Ukraine Explains Visa Procedures to Ukrainian Citizens in IATP Online Chat
On January 27, the IATP access sites throughout Ukraine hosted alumni of US government-sponsored programs, journalists, and other interested people for a countrywide Internet conference with representatives of the Consular Section of the US Embassy in Ukraine. Vice Consul Molly Stephenson, Second Secretary of Consular Section Malgorzata Bula-Duane, and Head of the Public Liason Unit of the Consular Section Nadiya Orlova visited the IATP access site in Kyiv, Ukraine, to answer questions online. The participants posted questions about the requirements and procedures of obtaining different types of the US visas. The consulate representatives explained which documents are necessary for getting different types of visas, and in particular, how to get a visa for family members, and how to prolong a student visa. This online consultation, organized by IATP in Ukraine and the US Consulate in Ukraine, became one more contribution to the clarification of the US visa procedures to Ukrainian citizens.