Internet Access and Training Program (IATP)

IATP News from Central Asia

March 4-17, 2005

KYRGYZSTAN

Alya Abdulina, a journalist of
Obshestvenniy Reiting, shares her views
about the results of the first round of
parliamentary elections at the IATP
access site in Naryn, Kyrgyzstan

Voters throughout Kyrgyzstan Unite to Discuss Parliamentary Elections
On March 11, eight IATP access sites in Kant, Naryn, Karakol, Kerben, Isfana, Talas, Balykchy, and Bishkek hosted an online discussion on the Kyrgyzstani parliamentary elections for 23 participants, including representatives from local media and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), as well as college students. The participants discussed the political situation after the controversial February 27 first-round campaign and two days before the run-off elections, which took place at 39 polling stations on March 13. The chat participants discussed and exchanged information about the results of the first round, preparations for the run-off in rural areas, actions taken by NGOs, media, and other organizations to ensure transparency during run-off, and candidate’s attempts to buy votes in the first round, among other topics. The outcome of the parliamentary elections may indicate how the presidential elections will proceed in October 2005, as Kyrgyzstan faces a critical point in its democratic history. During the one-hour discussion, participants shared information about violations during the first round, such as voter coercion, candidates’ pressure on voters, and other violations. Candidates offered services and even money to prospective voters. Some voters took money from both candidates and voted for the one whom they liked more. Unfortunately, some voters were persuaded by the gifts rather than candidates’ stances on the issues. Gulnura Soorbekova, the project assistant of Foundation for Tolerance International (FTI) in Isfana, remarked, “At the polling place where I had been sent to as an observer, I noticed that there were people who wanted to sell their votes. Nobody inside of the polling place dared to approach those persons. But, outside of the building, they were surrounded by people who were interested in their votes.” They concluded that in most regions, little attention from observers and Central Election Committee members was directed to the situation outside of polling places. Moreover, many chat participants agreed that the local NGOs and media did too little leading up to and during the elections to ensure transparency. At least one expert claimed that the new technologies such as voter ink finger-marking, transparent ballot boxes, and three-side voting cabins were nothing but show for international observers and community, and did not contribute to transparency. The IATP event was covered by a local newspaper in Naryn, Obshestvenniy Reiting, on its website. By using information technology and uniting active citizens, IATP access sites provided voters with greatly needed elections-related information. It was a rare opportunity for those in more isolated areas to learn about the elections results and issues not usually covered by the local press.

IATP Users

Approximately 76,200 IATP users visited IATP access sites more than 310,000 times in the past three months;
More than 2,100 alumni of US government-sponsored programs used IATP resources last quarter;
IATP users speak more than 45 languages natively.

instructor
Putalova works on her new DL
course at the IATP access site in
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

Distance Learning Consultant Introduces Grant Proposal Writing Course Online in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
On March 7, Elena Putalova, the executive director of Green Women, a local non-governmental organization (NGO), completed and posted her distance learning (DL) course entitled, “How to Write Winning Grant Proposals and Manage Projects” to IATP’s DL portal, using IATP access site resources in Bishkek. In September, Putalova applied for an IATP DL consultant position to participate in the IATP DL Academy, a new initiative to develop full-scale DL courses in sectors including business administration, education, and NGO development. For the past three months, Putalova and four other IATP DL consultants learned to create DL courses, incorporating lectures, forums, chats, and tests into online courses. As a skilled grant writer, Putalova has helped Green Women win over $30,000 through five grants from the Soros Foundation, Global Ecological Foundation (GEF), and International Humanist Institute for Cooperation with Developing Countries (HIVOS) for ecological, women’s, media, and other projects. She has also conducted over 100 trainings and taught grant writing to more than 1,000 employees of NGOs, journalists, and other target groups. Putalova incorporated many of her course materials into the online version. She condensed her normal ten-week course into six online modules that cover project planning and preparation, seeking out grant-giving organizations, developing budgets, project implementation, and other issues. She provides sample problems that organizations may face while working on projects, tests, and home assignments. Putalova remarked, “The nongovernmental sector in Kyrgyzstan is developing fast. However, there are few organizations and people who can write grant-winning proposals, and even having done this much; they face obstacles while working on projects. This course should serve them as a manual in effective proposal writing and project management.” Putalova has already attracted nine DL students from Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Germany, and Turkey, who have signed up for her free course, which starts after registration closes next week.

TAJIKISTAN

IATP users
Residents of Kanibadam learn
about American democracy from
FLEX participants in the United
States

FLEX Participants in the United States Discuss Democracy with Citizens of Tajikistan
On March 14, nine participants on the US government-sponsored FLEX program, who came from throughout Eurasia to study at high schools in the United States, met online with 15 journalists, nongovernmental organization (NGO) leaders, alumni of US government-sponsored programs, and students from five IATP access sites in Tajikistan to discuss the role of civil society in democratic countries. IATP Kanibadam site administrator Firuza Kasimova initiated the event with Ilhom Aliev, a native of Kanibadam who is a student this year at Monroe High School in Oregon. Kasimova organized the technical aspects and invited the guests in Tajikistan, and Aliev handled logistics on the US end, which resulted in a fruitful, two-hour online discussion on democracy. The FLEX participants had just returned from a weeklong ECA-funded conference in Washington, DC, entitled “Development of Democracy in Former Soviet States” that united 120 participants. During the chat, he and eight FLEX participants from other former Soviet countries shared what they learned during the conference and discussed the role of free media in democratic development and the need for an active civil society. For the sake of the audience in Tajikistan, Aliev covered the concepts raised at the conference and explained the FLEX and other US government-sponsored exchange programs. Vyachesla Ishenko and Ulyana Skorupska, FLEX participants from Ukraine, introduced the main principles of democracy, such as freedom of speech and equal rights of citizens, using US examples to drive their points home. The participants from Tajikistan asked the FLEX fellows more than a dozen questions about democracy and society in the United States. Safarjon Bobokhonov, a student from Kulyab State University, asked for a definition of the role of democracy. Talgat Amanbaev, who is from Kyrgyzstan and is currently in New Mexico, answered, “Democracy is a form of government that strives to provide the most legitimate and just government in order to protect civil liberties and let society prosper and flourish.” At the end of the event, Zayniddin Orifi, a journalist from Varorud Informational Analytical Agency noted, “It’s good that IATP holds such useful discussions for youth to expand their outlook and knowledge. I think they are important in the development of democracy in our country.” Since its independence in 1991, including a devastating five-year civil war ending in 1997, Tajikistan has made progress towards democracy, but has not fully embraced its principles. The online event addressed the misunderstandings of democratic principles and shortages of information on civil society.

Police officers gain IT skills at the
IATP access site in Khorog,
Tajikistan

Police Officers Learn Computer and Internet Skills to Improve Work in Khorog, Tajikistan
On March 10, seven police officers from the Khorog City Police Department (KPD) completed a two-week computer and Internet basics course at the IATP access site in Khorog. Currently, the government of Tajikistan is striving to allocate necessary funds to computerize its offices, including police departments. The police officers in Khororg courageously face the dangers of living in an Afghan border town, but before training started they were intimidated by the prospect of learning information technology. When KPD administration learned of IATP’s free courses, they asked IATP to teach 14 police officers the necessary computer and Internet skills needed to perform their jobs more efficiently on the KPD’s two new computers. During the first week, IATP staff taught the trainees the basic skills from how to use a mouse to word processing and creating electronic spreadsheets. They learned to replace their paper files and use spreadsheet filters and diagrams in their reports. During the second week, the IATP trainer taught them to use search engines, browse websites, and use e-mail, chats, and forums. Participants became acquainted with several websites, such as the website of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Russia and the Tajik version of Radio Free Europe. Amri Dorobbekov, a senior KPD sergeant, noted, “Thanks to IATP courses, we are now more comfortable working with computers in our office…[that] will definitely help our department to increase work efficiency and better serve the population.” The KPD does not have access to the Internet yet, but the officers will begin using the IATP access site regularly to access it. They are planning to attend an IATP Web design course to establish the first online presence of any police department in Tajikistan.

TURKMENISTAN

Retired journalist Dina Bayborodina
introduces her DL course to
Turkmen residents at the Alumni
Resource Center in Ashgabat,
Turkmenstan

Journalist Presents New Distance Learning Course Online from Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
On March 9, ten residents of Dashoguz and Ashgabat, tuned in to Dina Bayborodina’s one-hour online presentation of her new distance learning (DL) course “The Kitchen of Journalism” that is now hosted on IATP’s DL portal. Bayborodina is a retired journalist, who received a degree in journalism from Lomonosov Moscow State University in Russia and worked as a journalist in Turkmenistan for more than 25 years for the Turkmenskaya Iskra (Turkmen Spark) newspaper. Three months ago, Bayborodina and five other IATP DL consultants learned to create DL courses, incorporating lectures, forums, chats, tests, and glossaries into an online format. During the chat, Bayborodina introduced the concept of DL to people who had never seen it and shared its benefits, including its flexible scheduling. Her course provides a unique opportunity for Turkmenistani residents to learn about journalism and gain journalistic skills. At present, there is not a single university journalism department in Turkmenistan, and students and professional journalists have few professional development opportunities. Bayborodina provided an overview of her four-month course, which has six modules covering journalism laws, media development, news casting, and journalistic etiquette. The participants asked various questions about the course, including enrollment criteria, the deadline for application, and the number of students that may register. The only foreign guest of the presentation, IATP administrator Tamara Abdurahmanova, who also leads the School of Young Journalists (SYJ) in Navoi, Uzbekistan, asked if she could register 16 of the school’s juniors and seniors, who want to continue their education in journalism but cannot as there is no journalism faculty in Navoi. Bayborodina replied, “I would be more than happy to share my knowledge with everyone, especially if he or she is the student of SYJ, where more than three decades ago I worked, starting my career.” Bayborodina shared her e-mail address with all the participants and assured that she would answer any further questions via e-mail. The online presentation of this kind is a good opportunity to attract and provide residents of Turkmenistan with a close examination of a new alternative form of education, which IATP offers free-of-charge online.

Alumnus
Alumnus Shamuradov gives tips to
debaters

Alumnus Conducts Online Debate Class in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
On March 4, Azat Shamuradov (UGRAD 04) conducted a one-hour online seminar on debate skills for seven participants from Dashoguz and Ashgabat. Shamuradov, who is a junior majoring in computer engineering at the International Turkmen-Turkish University, volunteered to hold the online debate class to help students improve oratorical skills. Shamuradov is skilled in debating and presenting thanks to a speech course he took during his university exchange year at MiraCosta College in Oceanside, California. After Shamuradov returned to Turkmenistan, he organized a debate club for alumni of US government-sponsored exchange programs. The US system teaches students to debate and give speeches, whereas Turkmen students mostly use memorization. In the course of the online debate class, Shamuradov explained that debate is a formal, oral confrontation between two individuals, teams, or groups who present arguments to support opposing sides of a question, generally according to a set form or procedure. He explained the different types, styles, and procedures of debates and focused on the standard, cross-examination, Lincoln-Douglas, and Karl Popper debate methods. He emphasized the importance of critical thinking, structure, eloquence, creativity, logic, respect for an opponent, and presentation, which includes eye contact and gestures. Shamuradov plans to continue giving online debate lessons to the same group of students and will arrange an online debate between two IATP access site users. “I have never thought that one hour of the online class could cover so much information. Before, when I heard the word ‘debate,’ I thought of an argument or quarrel, but now I understand that I was wrong,” remarked participant Maysa Kalandarova. By knowing what debate is and learning how to do it correctly, the participants will have a chance to argue important issues like the education, economy, and healthcare of Turkmenistan. Today, less people know how to discuss issues in a civilized manner; to see objectively the positive and negative sides of each matter. Activities such as this enable the young generation of Turmenistan to be socially aware citizens. Shamuradov plans to finish training the Ashgabat and Dashoguz participants and work with students in Mary and Turkmenabat next, ultimately organizing a country-wide online debate forum.

KAZAKHSTAN

Alumni
The Honorable John Ordway talks
with alumni and access site users
at the IATP access site in Atyrau,
Kazakhstan

US Ambassador Visits IATP Access Site in Atyrau, Kazakhstan
On March 14, US Ambassador to Kazakhstan John Ordway visited the IATP access site in Atyrau to meet with active users. Before attending the IATP discussion, Ambassador Ordway and Cultural Affairs Officer (CAO) Jonathan Mennuti officially opened the American Corner in the West Kazakhstan Universal Scientific Library, which also hosts the IATP access site. The ambassador and CAO met with 20 IATP users, including six alumni of US government-sponsored exchange programs, and representatives of media, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and the government. The IATP site administrator gave the ambassador a presentation about IATP activities, and users shared their views about IATP services. The director of School 16 shared how IATP staff had taught Web design skills to her computer teacher and students, who created the school website. Zina Urinbasarova (CI 98) said, "Thanks to IATP facilities, I am able to keep in touch with my friends from all over the world and obtain information I need to write a grant proposal." The librarians explained how they completed IATP’s Step-by-Step training in January 2004, and as a result created their website in March 2004, which contains information about the library’s work, structure, departments, and services. Since its opening in 2001, the IATP access site in Atyrau has assisted thousands of residents with free services. The visit of the ambassador demonstrated the US government’s support of the socio-economic development of the country and highlighted IATP’s role to improve access to information.

IATP users
Vera Aksyenova (UGRAD 02) shows
gender and violence-related
websites at the IATP access site in
Ust-Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan

IATP Volunteer and Alumna Initiate Seminar on Domestic Violence in Ust-Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan
On March 1, sixteen senior students from the Eastern Humanitarian Institute’s Department of Sociology and Social Work attended a seminar at the IATP access site in Ust-Kamenogorsk entitled, “Social-Legal Aspects of Domestic Violence,” led by Vera Aksyenova (UGRAD 02) and Lyailya Nogaibayeva. In the United States, Aksyenova took a course on social problems and tendencies. This course heightened her interest in social issues and led her to participate in the Model United Nations debates a year later in Hamburg, which focused on domestic violence issues. Aksyenova and Nogaibayeva’s seminar is part of a pilot project that will use public opinion polls carried out by the staff of Eastern Humanitarian Institute’s Department of Sociology and Social Work. At present, they are working on creating a questionnaire that will be used to inquire the extent of people’s awareness of domestic violence, what types of problems of physical, sexual, psychological violence exist, and how to prevent domestic violence. As it was the first time they have created such a poll, they turned to the Internet for resources on creating polls. Aksyenova invited the participants to research domestic violence issues at www.nasilie.net, www.crises.ipd.ru, and www.crises.freenet.kz, a website created last year by an IATP trainee. As a result of the new information they found, they edited and improved their questionnaire. They concluded their day at a roundtable discussion on the prevention of domestic violence with Yuliya Enshina, a psychologist from a local medical college, Yelena Malakhova, the director of Ust-Kamenogorsk Crisis Center, and representatives of the Eastern Kazakhstan Law Students Association.

UZBEKISTAN

journalist
Olesya Kim shares information
from the Internet at Sangzor radio
station studio in Jizzakh,
Uzbekistan

Journalist at Local Radio Station in Jizzakh, Uzbekistan, Uses IATP Resources for Broadcast
On March 4, Olesya Kim, a journalist at Sangzor, a local radio station in Jizzakh, broadcast a thirty-minute program dedicated to the threats HIV/AIDS to young people, using information she had found on the Internet at the IATP access site. The access site is the only place in Jizzakh that provides open access to the Internet for local residents. After the terrorist explosions last year in various areas of the country, the government clamped down on licenses for Internet café owners. Television and radio stations in the region were also restricted and only the Sangzor and Jizzakh Regional Television channels survived the cuts. Last month, Kim and seven other journalists from Jizzakh Regional Television, completed basic computer and Internet courses at the access site. The IATP administrator taught the journalists to use the Internet and search engines in order to find online news. Before completing the courses, Kim had lacked access to world news. Thanks to IATP’s free-of-charge access to the Internet, she has begun to frequently turn to the Web for information. She used websites for her program, such as www.aids.org, which suggests ways to raise AIDS awareness among young people, preventive measures, and discussions on reproductive health. At the end of her radio program, Kim thanked IATP for the informational support it provides to Sangzor, which reaches more than 150,000 people in the region. After the broadcast, Kim said, “We need to fight AIDS together, because we cannot do it if no one knows anything about the disease. Thanks to IATP, I could convey the issue to young local residents, provide them with more truthful information, and raise their awareness.” Kim is one of seven journalists who visit the access site on a regular basis and use the Internet as a main source of information.

IATP users
Sukhrob Kudratov plans a
presentation about Jamestown, ND
with English club members at the IATP
access site in Bukhara, Uzbekistan

Alumni from Bukhara, Uzbekistan Correspond with Children in North Dakota
On March 12, Sukhrob Kudratov (FLEX 03) brought a package to the English Club at the IATP access site in Bukhara that was sent by children of the Anne Carlsen Center for Children (ACCC) in Jamestown, North Dakota. Kudratov founded the English club in June 2004 after receiving a $3,000 Alumni Small Grant from the Public Affairs Section of the US Embassy in Uzbekistan. As head of the club, he has given alumni and students the opportunity to study English, participate in events, and correspond with Americans by e-mail. Kudratov has often used the IATP access site for events, such as a Thanksgiving-related Web event last November. Kudratov found the ACCC through www.epals.com, which helps people find friends throughout the world and establish online correspondence. The ACCC provides medical, resident, education, rehabilitation, and outreach services for children with disabilities, and makes them feel at home by building healthy relationships. Kudratov contacted ACCC Coordinator Patrick Kellam to establish the online connection and invited twenty members of the English club to begin writing e-mail to the children regularly. For two months, they exchanged information about their local traditions and history, lives, and activities in their cities and countries. To supplement their virtual exchange, children from the ACCC sent a package by post with letters, drawings, magazines, and brochures about Jamestown and North Dakota. A couple weeks later, they sent a second package with postcards signed especially for every club member and pictures of the children to share with their virtual friends in Uzbekistan. After opening the package, Kudratov commented, “Thanks to IATP, we have this incredible opportunity to stay in touch with the center and make friends in the United States. This package is evidence of our friendship and cultural exchange.” Afterwards, the English club members discussed a plan to give a presentation about Jamestown to residents of Bukhara, and they started to prepare their own package to send to the US. Dmitry Braumanov, a college student and club member, noted at the end of the meeting, “Despite using the English Club’s grant by December, we still hold events and keep corresponding with the ACCC.”