Internet Access and Training Program (IATP)

IATP News from the Caucasus

February 18 - March 3, 2005

GEORGIA

IATP Holds Web Chat on Rights of Internally Displaced Persons
On February 25, IATP sites throughout Georgia participated in a Web chat dedicated to Internally Displaced Persons (IDP), focusing on children in Georgia. The invited speaker, Darejan Rogava (CC 99), is an expert in issues related to the United Nations Convention of Children’s Rights. She answered a wide array of questions on IDP children and protection of their rights. The event was moderated by Tamar Chakhnashvili (UGRAD 02). Rogava is the chairman of the Coalition for IDPs’ Support and currently works as the chief doctor at the Ministry of Labor, Health, and Social Welfare. Numerous children’s nongovernmental organization (NGO) representatives, secondary teachers and students, and various media outlets logged in and asked Rogava a series of questions regarding the most problematic topics in the field of children’s rights in Georgia. Rogava provided thorough and detailed responses to the questions, and directed the audience to other resources for obtaining additional information. She also commented on the mortality rate among IDP children, outlined the dynamics of statistical data in recent years, and informed participants about the programs for IDP support currently being implemented in Georgia.

Alumni Center in Tbilisi Launches the Website of the Caucasus International Summer Institute
In January, Tbilisi Alumni Center began hosting a series of trainings for alumni of US government-sponsored exchange programs. The first step of the training focused on Web design and introduced participants to the essentials of website development. Five FLEX alumni created a Web page for American Councils Georgia and the Caucasus International Summer Institute. IATP staff member, Guram Adamia, introduced participants to the basics of HyperText Mark-up Language (HTML) and FrontPage operation principles. The second part of the Step-by-Step training was held in February and was devoted to a type of programming called PHP. The IATP webmaster guided alumni from the previous training and some other newly joined participants on how to create dynamic websites with PHP. As a result of Step-by-Step training, alumni Giorgi Dvali (FLEX 04) and Shota Gvaramadze (FLEX 04) created a website for the Caucasus International Summer Institute. The website’s new features enable visitors to register online and search information about Georgia. Another participant, Tinatin Shengelia (UGRAD 02) designed the Danish Refugee Council’s website, which includes a section devoted to interactive training in micro-finance.

ARMENIA

website
The statistics Web page that will be
updated by newly trained
government employees

IATP Backs E-Government Initiatives in Armenia
On February 18, the IATP access site in the Writer’s Union of Yerevan completed a series of Web design trainings lasting over a month. The trainings were part of a professional development program implemented by the Armenian Marketing Association for representatives of the National Statistical Service, Ministry of Education and Science, and other governmental structures. The series of courses equipped the participants with the skills that empowered them to create basic documents, write in HyperText Mark-up Language (HTML), create animations, design websites, and use graphic elements properly. The acquisition of these skills then enabled them to move on to more advanced topics later in the month, including Web design such as Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) and JavaScript. The Web design skills gained as a result of these trainings will allow the participants to improve the websites of their respective government institutions, which are available at www.armstat.am and www.gov.am. Better quality and constant updating of these sites will turn them into invaluable resources for those needing information about the operation of various governmental structures in the local language and will contribute to opening new communication channels and improving e-government initiatives.

IATP Provides Vital Information for Kapan Business Professionals
On February 22, IATP Kapan organized a seminar entitled "Developing Local Business Online" for nine representatives of the Kapan Business Center as well as economics and management students of State Engineering University of Armenia. The purpose of the seminar was to introduce participants to online resources for small and medium enterprises and discuss the role of Information Technology in business development. During the seminar the participants not only discussed general principles of the successful operation of businesses but also focused on the specific situation in Armenia. They received online information about local organizations that promote business development in the country. In addition, they browsed several local websites of prominent business consulting firms and gained exposure to a variety of services offered by these companies. Participants also browsed a popular online business journal that provides regularly updated information on the economic and business sectors of Armenia. Access to this information through the Internet is particularly important to the population of Kapan, which is located in a remote region and lacks good communication and transportation connections with the capital. It has not only helped business professionals to be successful in their work but also allows for the exploration of new fields and promotion of other branches of the economy.

AZERBAIJAN

Alumna
Kerimova, PST program alumna,
teaches psychologists, students,
alumni, and teachers

Alumna Hosts Seminar on New Teaching Methodologies with Computers
On February 28, Pre-Service Teaching alumna, Firangiz Kerimova, conducted a seminar at IATP US-Azerbaijan Education Center entitled “Best Teaching Practices through Technology” for PiE and JFDP alumni, teachers, university students from the Teacher Training Institute, and psychologists from the Azerbaijan Association of Psychologists. The main goal of the seminar was to introduce new methodologies of interactive teaching in the classroom through computer technology. Various innovative techniques were introduced during the seminar and participants had an in-depth discussion about how these new methodologies could be integrated into the classroom. They also realized that use of technology in the classroom encourages students to become more active and promotes teamwork through cooperative learning.

IATP staff introduces students to
MS Excel basics at the HCA office in
Ganja, Azerbaijan

IATP Provides Mobile Training for Local NGO in Ganja
On February 24, staff of the IATP access site in Ganja conducted mobile trainings on MS Excel for five participants from the Helsinki Citizen Assembly (HCA) including employees, teachers, and volunteers. The main purpose of this training was to familiarize the participants with the integration of computer technology in the workplace. The training not only covered the basic aspects of Excel but also focused on using more advanced functions for accounting and banking. Participants quickly realized that these skills play an unparalleled role in facilitating data analysis and efficient management of financial resources. Akifa Aliyeva, chairman of the HCA, expressed her gratitude to IATP staff for organizing the event and commented on the integral role that these skills will play in writing future budgets of HCA’s numerous projects.