Internet Access and Training Program (IATP)

IATP News from Western Eurasia

June 2005

UKRAINE

chat
Joe Moone (center) answers
questions from chat participants

Ukrainian Citizens Discuss US Visa Procedures with Vice Consuls Online
On June 29, five IATP access sites throughout Ukraine hosted over 20 ECA alumni, students, journalists, and other interested people for an online chat with representatives of the Consular Section of the US Embassy in Ukraine. The aim of the chat was to help participants better understand the new visa process, the so called “Drop-Box,” simplifying the process of renewing US visas for Ukrainians. Vice Consul Joe Moone, Vice Consul Margaret Bula-Duane, and consular assistant Tetiana Bratkovska visited the IATP access site in Kyiv to answer the questions of the online chat participants. Moone and Bula-Duane began the chat by answering a series of questions that had been submitted in advance. Bohdana Dolna (FLEX 98) from Kyiv asked, “What kinds of visas can be obtained through the Drop-Box procedure – short-term, long-term, business visas?” Moone answered, “You can get only the same type of visa that you already had, such as B, F, J or H. Some are longer terms than others.” The consular representatives also pointed participants to the website of the US Embassy, which has full information about visa requirements and procedures. The online chat was the fourth in a series on US visa issues sponsored by IATP. On January 27, IATP hosted an online chat on non-immigrant visas, on March 31, a second chat on student visas, and on April 13, a chat dedicated to the US immigrant visa process. In hosting the series of chats, IATP assisted the Consular Section in its outreach efforts and helped the population get access to reliable information about the visa process.

training
Illia Shvets (right) gives
recommendations on website
development

Youth Learn Website Development in Odesa, Ukraine
On June 20 and 21, IATP Web Content Development Manager Illia Shvets conducted a seminar on Web design basics for seven students and teachers from local universities, including two ECA alumni, in the IATP access site in Odesa, Ukraine. Shvets explained to the audience how to optimize websites for search engines and how to create a user-friendly design. He also covered the main concepts of Web design, including a common programming language, website structure, and visual website editors. Participants learned how to use tables in Web pages and how to post resources to a server. Shvets gave recommendations on scanning and editing images and demonstrated the IATP Hosting Content Management System, used for facilitating Web development for users without knowledge of HTML. As a result of the training, participants started working on their websites, which will be posted on the IATP server. Yulia Harmash, a physics teacher from local School No. 114, started developing her institution’s official website. The IATP network of access sites in Ukraine provides more than 250 trainings to over 1400 citizens every month.

MOLDOVA

DL training
Marcela Calchei (JFDP 04) explains
distance learning to local educators

Educator in Chisinau Shares DL Experience
On June 6, Marcela Calchei (JFDP 04), a professor at Moldova State University in Chisinau, conducted a seminar for 12 educators at the local IATP access site to share her experience of taking a distance learning (DL) course at the University of California at Berkeley. From January to June, Calchei participated in a DL course on Web design for educators thanks to the IATP DL Support Fund for alumni of US government-sponsored exchange programs. The IATP DL Support Fund covered the larger part of the tuition for DL courses offered by US universities, thus making them accessible for Moldovan alumni. To register for the course, Calchei needed basic knowledge of Web design, so she attended an IATP web design course in January and built a website hosted by IATP at www.iatp.md/mcalchei. Calchei explained how the DL course offered by the University of California gave her the skills to develop her website further; she also stressed the advantages of DL courses over traditional in-person instruction in low cost and convenience. The attendees learned that DL allows dynamic interaction among course participants and enables them to acquire new skills in a short period without needing to interrupt their work schedules or leave home. An online version of Calchei’s presentation is hosted by IATP at e-training.iatp.md/presentations. The IATP DL Support Fund enabled six Moldovan alumni to take DL courses offered by various universities in the United States, making educational opportunities available to them that they would not otherwise have.

training
Carolina Cumpana (second from
left) assists IATP users in
designing the directory structure of
a website

High School Students Contribute to Sustainable Development of IATP Access Site in Orhei, Moldova
During the month of June, Violeta Cumpana, Angela Bors, and Carolina Cumpana, students at Alecu Russo High School in Orhei, Moldova, served as interns at the local IATP access site to make good use of their summer holidays. The three teenagers assisted visitors in using the Internet for academic and professional purposes. Bors checked the computers for technical problems and updated antivirus software. Violeta Cumpana assisted IATP staff in conducting courses on basic Internet use, and provided individual consultations to trainees. Carolina Cumpana worked with IATP users to help them improve their own websites. On average, two interns are working at each of the eight IATP access sites in Moldova, setting the tone for the development of a sustainable model at IATP. In helping IATP, the interns are improving their management and technical skills and giving back to the community.