Internet Access and Training Program (IATP)

IATP News from the Caucasus

February 4-17, 2005

AZERBAIJAN

online discussion
Dr. Ali Shikhaliyev addresses the
forum participants’ questions

Youth across Azerbaijan Discuss Online the Problem of HIV/AIDS
On February 10, the IATP access site at the Ganja Education Information Center in Ganja hosted a forum dedicated to HIV/AIDS issues currently in Azerbaijan. The host of the forum was Community Connections alumnus (Public Health program) Dr. Sanan Hajiyev and trainer at International Relief and Development, Inc. in Ganja, Dr. Ali Shikhaliyev. The forum involved about 50 people, including medical doctors, nongovernmental organization (NGO) representatives, university students from eight regions of Azerbaijan, and alumni asking questions to the guests of the forum. Students who are studying in the United States at this time also took part in the forum and asked questions. The questions asked during the forum addressed specific issues about and touched upon general problems society encounters with HIV/AIDS. The participants were concerned that not enough is being done to inform the public on how the infection is transmitted. The myths and facts about how HIV can and cannot be transmitted were also discussed. The forum facilitated not only professional exchange among medical doctors but also an increase of HIV/AIDS awareness of the youth participating. Some of the information about possible dangers and prevention methods was completely new for the participants. At the end of the forum, the experts invited the participants to join an online HIV/AIDS awareness campaign being conducted for medical doctors and employees of public health institutions in Lankaran, Ganja, and Gabala, with the assistance of IATP (http://stopaids.iatp.az).

IATP users
Participants gain online practice
creating templates of web pages

Young Leaders Take First Step in Web Design in Ganja
From February 1 to 3, staff of the IATP access site in Ganja conducted mobile trainings for 15 participants, including IATP employees, teachers, and volunteers of the Association of Young Leaders (YLA) in Ganja on a common programming language HTML. The aim of the seminar was to familiarize the participants with how to create websites using HTML fundamentals and explaining how to use HTML to define the layout and attributes of online documents. The trainer further focused on formatting Web documents and how to create links between Web documents containing text and graphics. During the training, participants gained online practice and created some sample webpages. As the follow up of this training, IATP staff is planning to organize advanced Web design training for the participants at the beginning of March. As a result of the training, participants furthered their knowledge in Web design programs, and plan to come to the YLA center to develop websites in the future.

ARMENIA

IATP users
Participants gain online practice
creating templates of web pages

Vanadzor Alumni Give Disabled Children an Opportunity to Contribute to Development of Civil Society
Vanadzor alumni of US government-sponsored programs Sona Sargsyan (FLEX 00, UGRAD 04) and Karine Matinyan (UGRAD 04) have implemented a grant called “Project Smile” authorized by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the US Department of State. The aim of this project was to expand opportunities for disabled children. The alumni conducted a 45-day computer training course for 15 disabled children at the Vanadzor IATP access site. They cooperated with Lusastgh nongovernmental organization, which supported this project by selecting the participants who were willing and able to take part in the training course. During the next 30 days they learned the basic features of MS Word and how to access the Internet and communicate through e-mail. The project was concluded with an award ceremony at which children were presented with certificates confirming their successful completion of trainings in computer basics, Internet and e-mail. The ceremony took place on February 15 and was recorded and broadcast through the Vanadzor local TV channels “Interkap” and “Lori.” During the ceremony IATP site administrator Armen Potinyan expressed his gratitude to Sargsyan and Matinyan for giving the children an opportunity to communicate with the youth, to establish and maintain contacts through e-mail, and acquire essential information online about different aspects of life both in Armenia and other countries.

IATP User Begins Web Design Career Thanks to IATP Training
Chrtistine Avetisyan, an active IATP access site user since March 2004, has started a new career path thanks to IATP training. Although already well-versed in information technology (IT), this former computer teacher came to IATP with a desire to gain advanced IT skills and to learn Web design. After successful completion of Web design trainings, she practiced her new skills by creating a new webpage for the already existing website of Armenian International Airways. After a successful experience with this, she was invited to redesign the official website of a travel agency. Development of the site is still in progress. “IATP has played an important role in my professional achievements,” Avetisyan says. “Whenever I turn to IATP trainers for help, I always receive relevant assistance. I plan to continue developing my Web design skills and pursuing the career of a professional Web designer. Thank you to IATP for this great opportunity!”

GEORGIA

NGO Representatives Discuss Conflict in Khashuri
On February 14, the IATP access site in Khashuri conducted a seminar about conflict resolution. The seminar was led by IATP staff member Nino Sukhiashvili and was attended by local nongovernmental organization (NGO) representatives. Participants discussed conflicts, sources of conflict, development stages, and regulation mechanisms. Khashuri itself is a region bordering a conflict zone (South Ossetia), and real world examples were brought up during the discussion. The trainer introduced several websites where the audience found information about how the international community deals with internal conflicts. The NGO representatives viewed the official websites of the United Nations and Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and learned how these organizations resolve conflicts.

trainer
The IATP trainer assists a nurse in
searching the Internet

Nurses in Poti Introduced to Internet
On February 10, the IATP access site in Poti hosted nurses from Poti Central Hospital. IATP staff member Sopho Nachkebia, led the seminar aimed at introducing the nurses to the Internet and medical Web resources. The trainer taught the participants how to use the Internet and Internet search engines. Popular directories were also discussed. After introduction to the Internet, the participants found Georgian and Russian medical Web resources, such as www.caumedserv.com.ge, www.medlinks.ru and doktor.ru with Nachkebia’s assistance. The participants navigated the websites and as a result obtained interesting and updated information in the sphere of medicine. Thanks to the newly-acquired skills, the participants will be able to learn more about medicine online, use online encyclopedias, and medical journals. Participants thanked the trainers for introducing them to new resources, which will keep them up to date in their quickly changing field.