Internet Access and Training Program (IATP)

IATP News from the Caucasus

March 18-31, 2005

ARMENIA

IATP staff
(left to right) Anush Hovsepyan,
Artashes Kazakhetsyan, and IATP
Deputy Regional Program Manager
Michael Choe

Alumni Discuss Armenia 2020 Project Online
On March 29, the IATP office in Yerevan held an online event on the Strategic Development of Armenia and the Armenia 2020 project (www.armenia2020.org). Armenia 2020 is a scenario-building initiative that focuses on the study of development models for the Republic of Armenia until the year 2020. The project was represented by Artashes Kazakhetsyan, the project’s director, and by Anush Hovsepyan (FLEX 96, Muskie 04), the project’s public relations officer. The event was organized to contribute to alumni awareness about the project, its goals and future activities, as well as to create a wider, shared view of possibilities and future development of Armenia while identifying ways for alumni to become a part of this grand initiative. Alumni accessed the event from eight IATP sites as well as from personal computers at work and at home. Alumni questions addressed what the project has accomplished, about project scenarios and how realistic and feasible they are, how alumni can get involved in the project, project outreach in the regions, and cooperation with the Armenian government and NGOs. The hosts took turns answering questions and said that the project is proud to have created a network of committed and accomplished individuals from all over the world concerned with the sustainable development of Armenia. The project values the involvement of progress-oriented youth and sponsors a number of initiatives that come from different universities and looks forward to sharing with alumni the research findings in fields such as information technology (IT), tourism, and the jewelry industry. The group uses a variety of outreach tools for the dissemination of information in the regions of Armenia, such as town hall meetings, media coverage, and direct work, and sees public apathy as the main obstacle in spreading the mission of the project. The project cooperates with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Trade and Economic Development as well as works with almost all layers of Armenian society, including the government, civil society, media, and students. The project director stressed the potential of IT sector development in Armenia that may contribute up to 8% of the GDP by 2020. On the question of project implementation assessment, Kazakhetsyan answered that the project has provided interesting benchmarks and can essentially monitor country performance and define the direction of development. However, so far the country seems to be facing a status-quo scenario. Both representatives stressed that the project needs to be continued and brought the example of the lauded Belgium 2050 project, which is the continuation of 2015 project. The chat transcript will be available on IATP’s website, as well as on Armenia 2020 and the US Embassy websites.

IATP Kapan Users Learn about the Role of IT in Promoting Gender Equality
On March 30, Satenik Sargsyan (FLEX 04) and Anna Minasyan (FLEX 01) conducted a seminar on “The Role of Information Technology (IT) in Promoting Gender Equality,” devoted to National Women’s Month in Armenia. Graduating students and lecturers from Kapan Medical College, State Engineering University of Armenia, and Moscow Modern Humanitarian Academy attended the seminar. The seminar introduced participants to the issue of gender equality and the role of IT and IT development in promoting gender equality in Armenia while also leading them through the various Web resources related to gender discrimination and ways of preventing and promoting gender equality. At the beginning of the seminar, participants were introduced to the issue of gender equality and its historical background and developments in different parts of the world. Sargsyan spoke about the role of women in different societies and countries, her experience in the US, and the history of feminism in America. During the second part, Minasyan presented participants with the issue of gender equality and the role of women in Japan and in several African countries, emphasizing the difference between Western and Eastern concepts of gender equality. The seminar also examined the role of women in the spheres of economy, politics, business, social work, and others. Participants discussed and examined the role of women in Armenia and considered gender role differences across societies. Participants learned about the role and the impact of IT and IT development on gender equality in the world and in Armenia. IT development in the society assists the development of other spheres in the country and is an invaluable tool for public awareness. Participants browsed through various useful websites related to women's rights, health, and culture, as well as sites dedicated to women in business: working for equal opportunities and status (http://www.bpw-europe.org). Attendees were also shown the website of the United Nations Development Fund for Women in Armenia and learned that the organization promotes gender equality and links women's issues and concerns to national, regional, and global agendas by fostering collaboration and providing technical expertise on gender mainstreaming and women's empowerment strategies.

GEORGIA

alumni
Tbilisi Alumni Advisory Council
presents a seminar to other
alumni.

Tbilisi Alumni Advisory Council Quickly Making Impression in Georgia
On March 17, the newly established Tbilisi Alumni Advisory Council organized a council presentation with the purpose of informing other alumni of their activities and integrating them into a network of individuals dedicated to expanding and disseminating the benefits of information technology (IT) throughout Georgia. Four recently returned FLEX alumni founded the alumni advisory council. Giorgi Dvali, Shota Gvaramadze, Sophie Tabatadze, and Lana Chkhartishvili introduced the audience to the projects implemented thus far, and encouraged participants to get involved, utilize their expertise, and become a resource in their community. Even though the council has been functioning for only a few months, members have already conducted several computer trainings, both locally and region-wide. Alumni have led mobile trainings in Chokhatauri, Chiatura, and at the training center of the Georgian Ministry of Security. Before forming the advisory council, alumni had conducted pre-departure orientation trainings for FLEX program finalists. The presentation was followed by a brainstorming session addressing the future plans and development ideas for the council. Alumni outlined the schedule of trainings and events for March, which included training in computer and Internet basics for state employees and journalists, and meeting with the head of the State Project of Secondary School Computerization, and consequently, discussing possibilities of involvement in the implementation of the project. Alumni brought up the idea of conducting computer trainings at the Ilia Chavchavadze State University of Foreign Languages and Culture, which has been recently equipped with modern computers. The need for training is especially urgent since students lack computer skills and there is no official staff responsible for providing IT trainings. The initiative was met with enthusiasm and active steps to bring the idea to life. Sophie Tabatadze (FLEX 04) and Salome Moistrapishvili (FLEX 04) met with the rector of the university to discuss this idea. Alumni will start trainings of university students next week. As a result of the presentation, the number of alumni council members increased from four to eleven.

The journalists become acquainted
with journalism etiquette

Journalists Stay on Top with Help of IATP
On March 19, IATP’s access site in Zugdidi hosted students of the journalism department from the local branch of Tbilisi State University. The students were introduced to Georgian and foreign language online information agencies, publications about journalism, and the online journalism resources. At the beginning of the seminar, IATP staff introduced the journalists to the Internet and stressed the importance of the Internet in modern society. The trainer introduced the participants to English, Russian, and Georgian search engines. By using search engines, the students found Georgian information agencies and online newspapers. While navigating the Web resource offered by IATP staff the journalists obtained interesting information such as journalism etiquette and self regulation mechanisms, and media and the law. These future journalists will use this experience in their future careers and plan to visit the center regularly as a resource for their studies.

AZERBAIJAN

IATP users become acquainted with
Internet resources

NGOs Gain Presentation Skills at IATP Guba
On March 22, the IATP Guba site held a seminar on Microsoft PowerPoint for nongovernmental organization (NGO) members who showed an interest in building effective presentations. During the seminar, IATP staff gave users thorough information on presentation techniques, selection of best templates relevant to the content of the presentation, and how to insert video and sound effects in PowerPoint presentations. After the training, Tural Hajiyev, an active user of the center, said, "In my opinion, presentations are the best way for introducing any information in a concise and interesting manner with a wide range of information to a big audience. Today’s seminar has prepared us for the upcoming meeting where our organization is going to introduce its projects." IATP seminars in PowerPoint have assisted NGOs throughout the country in developing professional presentations that have strengthened their positions in communities and their relationships with business and government.

An IATP user researches the latest
events in Kyrgyzstan

Healthy Tomorrow Youth Organization Locates Reliable Online News Sources on Central Asian Current Events
On March 30, IATP Ali-Bayramli staff held a seminar for the Healthy Tomorrow youth nongovernmental organization to provide information about developments following elections in Kyrgyzstan. The main goal of the seminar was to help the four participants get thorough information about the political events in Kyrgyzstan during a time when there are many opinions, rumors, and biased news reports regarding the events in the region. The latest political events in Central Asia have been the focus of the world media recently and the youth of Ali-Bayramli were anxious to learn everything they could from as many resources as possible. The following sites are just two of the many news sources they located online: http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050325/ap_on_re_eu/kyrgyzstan and http://egoist.blogspot.com/2005/03/today-kyrgyzstan-tomorrow-belarus.html. While reading the Internet news stories, the participants discussed how and if the regime change in Kyrgyzstan will affect the world’s policy and economy. One participant considered, “Could [the revolution] be an example for other opposition parties elsewhere?” As a result of the seminar the participants are better informed about the latest political events in Kyrgyzstan and the rest of the world and can develop more well-rounded opinions about the activities of societies and their governments.