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IATP News for December 2005
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KAZAKHSTAN
Assistant Attorney General David
Tartter (in blue) answers questions
at the IATP office in
Almaty, Kazakhstan
Vermont Assistant Attorney General Chats with Alumni about Protecting
Nations from Terror and Crime
On December 14, Vermont Assistant Attorney General David Tartter participated
in an online discussion on “Protecting Nations from Terror and Crime:
US Experience and Perspectives” at the IATP office in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
Tartter, who is in Kazakhstan at the request of the Embassy, met online
with more than 25 representatives of nongovernmental organizations, alumni,
and the general public accessed the online chat room from Kazakhstan,
Ukraine, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. The discussions covered many aspects
of the US Constitution and the war on terror, including the balance between
security and privacy rights and the role of young people in combating
terror. Students from Atyrau Law School in Kazakhstan asked, “Could
you describe briefly the experience of global youth in combating terrorism?”
to which he replied, “In the United States we have a number of exchange
programs… that allow young people from the U.S. and the rest of
the world to meet and exchange views and to learn about each other…
such knowledge is an important way to battle the ignorance of other cultures
that can contribute to an environment in which terror is possible.”
Then Tartter turned the tables and addressed a question of the participants:
“I would be interested to know if any participants feel that their
governments' initiatives in fighting terror have affected their personal
liberties?” Assel Kuatbekova (FLEX 94) from Almaty replied, “Privacy
is a concern of dishonest people. But privacy should be protected, if
it is at risk from anyone.” The chat helped alumni and other participants
increase understanding of American constitutional protections for civil
liberties in the context of increased national security concerns caused
by terrorism threats. This discussion of US experience and model was useful
and timely for the chat participants, dealing with similar challenges.
IATP frequently hosts online chats for local residents with US government
officials on a variety of topics, helping US officials discuss and clarify
aspects of US policy, and helping the local population learn the importance
that the United States places on freedom and democracy.
The new website depicts Gulmira
Batpakulova singing during a
contest in Atyrau, Kazakhstan
Organization Supporting Disabled in Atyrau, Kazakhstan, Creates
Website
On November 25, Kulbarshin Nurjigitova posted the official website of
Mugedek Alemi (The World of the Disabled), a local nongovernmental organization
(NGO), after completing a week-long Web design course at the IATP access
site in Atyrau, Kazakhstan. Having been introduced to the basics of website
editing, dynamic structure, and developing user-friendly design for online
resources, Nurjigitova developed the NGO’s
website. She designed the website to share information about the organizations
mission, goals and objectives, activities, partners, sponsors, photo gallery,
and contact information. Nurjigitova remarked, “These individuals
[with physical impairments] need support and help constantly. We hope
to attract more volunteers and donors through the website.” Since
June 2002, more than 10 disabled people and six employees of the NGO have
attended IATP courses through IATP’s Step-by-Step program, which
uses modular courses to guide people and organizations from the basics
of computer use through advanced Web design, culminating in the creation
of their own sophisticated websites. Nurjigitova applied the skills and
knowledge obtained during IATP courses since 2002 to attract local and
international donors to help people with physical disabilities assert
their civil rights. The new website brings the total number of resources
hosted by IATP in Kazakhstan to 1,147, representing nearly 20% of the
Web content hosted in the country.
KYRGYZSTAN
Adyljan Shamshiev types his
comments on constitutional reform
at the Independent Internet Center
in
Kerben, Kyrgyzstan
Citizens of Kyrgyzstan Discuss Constitutional Reform Online
On December 13, constitutional reform in Kyrgyzstan IATP hosted an online
discussion, bringing together 27 citizens at eight access sites throughout
the country, including local government officials, educators, students,
and representatives of civil society and the media. Gulzat Japar kizi,
administrator of the Independent Internet Center in Kerben, moderated
the online discussion intended to provide an opportunity to all interested
citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic to comment, deliver their recommendations
for improvement, and simply express their opinions concerning the proposed
amendments to the Constitution of the Kyrgyzstan. The majority of the
chat participants welcomed a proposal to abolish the death penalty in
Kyrgyzstan and transfer the power to arrest from the Prosecutor's Office
to the judiciary. The participants also discussed human rights, distribution
of authorities among branches of government, election vs. appointment
of officials, judicial independence, and procedures for constitutional
reform. Adyljan Shamshiev, a leader of the youth movement Bingo in Kerben,
commented, “Abolishment of the death penalty in the country is welcomed
by the OSCE and the European Union, and this is one of the international
norms, which we should respect.” Lastly, Ayjamal Abdullaeva, a coordinator
of Peremena, a local youth organization in Jalalabat, noted, “As
Article 96 says that amendments and supplements to the Constitution shall
be adopted by referendum called by the President of the Kyrgyz Republic,
I think NGOs should actively participate in the country’s processes
by disseminating information about amendments to the Constitution in rural
areas.” The 120-minute online discussion brought people interested
in building a strong democracy in Kyrgyzstan together to promote a healthy
discussion of the proposed amendments to the Constitution and provide
constructive recommendations, suggestions, and changes. Japar kizi compiled
the participants’ recommendations and forwarded them to the Constitutional
Assembly, the body that will decide on changes to the Constitution.
Workshop participants learn how to
build organizational strategic plan
at the IATP access site in
Karakol, Kyrgyzstan
IATP Access Site in Karakol, Kyrgyzstan, Takes Step toward Sustainability
On December 15, Aydar Mambetov, a financial sustainability expert, conducted
a course on strategic planning and financial sustainability as part of
a series of capacity-building courses at the IATP access site in Karakol,
Kyrgyzstan. The trainees included Banur Abdieva (CC 99), seven employees
of Leader, IATP’s partner organization, and IATP staff. Leader’s
primary goal is to promote civil society in Kyrgyzstan by helping local
nonprofit organizations develop the population’s capacity to increase
its active participation in economic, political, and social decision-making
processes. Mambetov, who is the financial sustainability coordinator for
the Association of Civil Society Support Centers and has extensive experience
in organizational strategic planning, covered analysis of strength and
weaknesses of an organization and business ideas, defining and categorizing
organization’s assets, prioritizing opportunities, factors in business
success, and evaluation and monitoring, among other issues. Leyla Salimova,
a program coordinator at Leader, commented, “We did not know how
to use the center’s resources for maximum benefit. Mambetov’s
seminar helped us build the center’s financial strategy for 2006
to attain full sustainability using strategic planning.” The staff
of Leader use the IATP access site after working hours to conduct paid
courses on computer and Internet basics and Web design for local residents,
including staff of nonprofit organizations. As a part of the plan, Leader
generates income after hours to support free access to the Internet and
training during IATP’s working hours. The 10 Independent Internet
Centers across Kyrgyzstan, all former IATP access sites, provide 150 hours
of free training in computer and Internet basics and over 110 hours of
free Internet access per month.
UKRAINE
Oleksandr Tkachenko explains
how to search for information online
Employees of Ministry of Finance Learn to Work with Internet
in Kryvy Rih, Ukraine
On December 12, IATP Site Administrator Oleksandr Tkachenko conducted
a seminar entitled “Ukrainian Legislation Online” for seven
employees of the local Control-Revision Administration at the IATP access
site in Kryvy Rih, Ukraine. The Control-Revision Administration was set
up within the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine in 1956; it is the rough
equivalent of the US General Accounting Office, responsible for auditing
the accounts of government agencies and private organizations entrusted
with state funds. Because knowledge of the latest changes in Ukrainian
legislation and access to statistical data are essential for the work
of the employees of the Administration, Anatoliy Karpov, head of the Kryvy
Rih City Branch of the Control-Revision Administration, requested IATP
trainings to equip the staff with Internet skills. From December 2 to
7, the government officials learned to work with Internet resources and
search for information online. At the seminar they had the opportunity
to practice their newly acquired skills; in particular, they searched
online for information on the most recent laws, lingering at the website
of the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine’s
parliament, which contains the full text of all laws passed by the chamber.
As a result of the seminar, they found document classifiers, inflation
and currency exchange rates of the previous years, and other information
of professional interest to them. By using skills and information obtained
at IATP trainings, the Administration employees successfully passed their
state qualifying exams and impressed the Central Attestation Commission
with their knowledge. IATP contributed to the professional development
of the local government employees and helped them increase the efficiency
of their work. Also, by demonstrating the value of IATP trainings to local
government, the IATP access site in Kryvy Rih promoted IATP services and
emphasized the importance of continuation of the program’s activities
after termination of IATP grant. Over 1500 Ukrainians attended IATP trainings
in November.
Sviatoslav Vakarchuk answers
questionsfrom participants as
IATP Site Assistant Lilia
Levandovska types
IATP Users Communicate Online with Singer of Famous Ukrainian
Rock Band
On December 28, IATP access sites throughout Ukraine hosted over 60 ECA
alumni, journalists, musicians, and other interested people for a nationwide
online chat with Sviatoslav Vakarchuk, the lead singer of Okean Elzy –
one of the most famous rock bands in Ukraine. The band is popular throughout
Eurasia despite the fact that the lyrics to their songs are in Ukrainian,
not Russian or English. The online discussion was dedicated to the group’s
new album, entitled “Gloria,” and the mission of Vakarchuk
as United Nations Devopment Programme Goodwill Ambassador. Vakarchuk answered
questions from participants about his current tour of cities in Ukraine
and Russia, which is to be concluded on February 25, 2006, and about his
future plans, including the establishment of a charitable foundation.
Kateryna Biletska from Lutsk, Ukraine, asked, “Does your work as
Goodwill Ambassador hamper your singing career?” Vakarchuk answered,
“The work as Goodwill Ambassador does not hamper, on the contrary
– it helps.” He also remarked, “Duties include showing
by your own example how people should help other people and fight against
global problems in society.” Vakarchuk also stated that his first
action as Goodwill Ambassador was participation in the Forum of Youth
Government in Kharkiv, Ukraine. By sponsoring this online chat, IATP promoted
Ukrainian culture through the Internet and demonstrated to the local young
people the possibilities of Internet usage for their hobbies, study, and
professional development.
Ihor Matkovsky (right) answers
questions from chat participants.
IATP Site Administrator
Oksana Bondar assists
ECA Alumnus from Vinnytsia, Ukraine, Leads Online Discussion
on AIDS
On December 2, Ihor Matkovsky (CC 02), deputy head physician of the Vinnytsia
Regional Center for AIDS Prevention, and head of Pozytyv (Positive), a
charity fund working with HIV-affected people, visited the IATP access
site in Vinnytsia, Ukraine, to moderate an international online chat dedicated
to World AIDS Day. Over 50 participants, including social workers, students,
physicians, and staff of nonprofit organizations working with HIV-infected
people, gathered in seven IATP access sites throughout Ukraine and other
countries of Eurasia—Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan,
and Kazakhstan—to discuss methods of preventing the spread of HIV
and AIDS. Matkovsky started the online discussion with a presentation
of statistics about HIV-infected people and people living with AIDS in
Ukraine and the Vinnytsia region. In particular, he stated that in Ukraine
there are an estimated 288,000 to 450,000 HIV-infected people. He also
gave an overview of international organizations fighting against AIDS,
such as UNAIDS, and described some methods for treating HIV-affected people.
Then the participants posed questions to Matkovsky about symptoms of HIV
infection, means of transmission, methods for social adaptation of HIV-affected
people into society, and measures for protecting their rights. Maryna
Annenkova, a fourth-year student of Ukraina University from Zhytomyr,
Ukraine, remarked, “This online discussion was a wonderful opportunity
for me, as a future social worker, to communicate with my colleagues and
get information and knowledge that I did not have before. And I plan to
share this information with my friends and fellow students.” The
network of IATP access sites throughout Eurasia facilitated cooperation
between professionals from different countries of the region and contributed
to AIDS prevention.
GEORGIA
Helmut Schramke (front) introduces
the distance learning project via
online discussion
Georgian Citizens Discuss European Union’s Distance Learning
Project
On December 22, more than 40 participants, including college professors
and students, gathered at the IATP access sites in Khashuri, Zugdidi,
Telavi, Rustavi, Gori, Tbilisi, and Batumi, Georgia, to discuss the European
Union’s Distance Learning Project (EUDLP) with its expert Helmut
Schramke. Moderated by Nino Matiashvili (FLEX 04), the main goal of the
one-hour online event was to introduce Georgian residents to e-learning
opportunities that the program aims to support in Azerbaijan, Armenia,
and Georgia. According to the EUDLP’s objectives, there will be
resource centers in the region within the next six months, which will
be equipped with the latest information technologies. In the course of
the chat, Schramke talked about the opportunities that the program will
provide, including distance learning courses to be developed by local
professors. Schramke said that EUDLP will train the educators of interested
institutions to develop their e-courses. The program will not support
colleges financially, but rather train them to acquire all necessary skills
in course design. Later, Schramke answered questions on Information Technology
distribution and university selection procedures. “I completely
support this program and its objectives. Educational institutions have
a chance to sit down and think of how to better implement their intellectual
resources,” said Tea Maxatelashvili (CC 99). Thanks to the online
discussion, IATP encouraged the educators to take an active part in the
effective program implementation in the institutions, and assisted EUDLP
in announcing programs to a wider audience. The new project is an excellent
follow-up to IATP’s major distance learning development initiative,
which was implemented last year and resulted in dozens of new courses
posted online.
TAJIKISTAN
Mansur Sharipov (front),
consultant on labor migration at
the NGO Akhtari Bakht, posts
comments in the online chat from
the IATP access site in Kurgan-
Tube, Tajikistan
Citizens Across Eurasia Discuss Problems of Migration in IATP
Online Chat
On December 16, IATP staff moderated an international online chat on the
problems of migration in Eurasia in honor of International Migrants Day.
Over 40 representatives of local and international NGOs, students, teachers,
and professors gathered in IATP access sites throughout Tajikistan and
six other countries of Eurasia to discuss the reality, problems, and prospects
of migration in their countries. The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991
and poor economic conditions over the past decade have forced millions
of people from the South Caucasus and Central Asia to migrate to Russia
in search of better jobs. This phenomenon has been associated with many
problems, including brain drain, loss of jobs for citizens of host countries,
and human trafficking. To begin the online discussion, representatives
of local NGOs and the International Organization for Migration posted
brief presentations about the problem of migration in their countries.
During a question and answer session, each participant had the opportunity
to ask follow-up questions and share knowledge with people from other
countries. Muzaffar Zaripov, director of the Information Resource Center
for Labor Migrants in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, remarked, “Economic
migration has a great effect on the development process of Tajikistan.
With large foreign capital investments underway, there are hopes that
the population’s dependency on migrants remittances will reduce.
Our center has been operating for two years now, contributing to better
awareness of potential labor migrants in the capital and the regions.”
Anna Mikhailova, a chat participant, commented, “Labor migration
is not always bad. People need to approach this process seriously. If
a person is educated and has adequate information to settle disputable
aspects with the hiring company, then everyone will benefit from it. There
are many examples of how people with higher education have found good
employment opportunities in neighboring countries.” By sponsoring
this online chat, IATP helped people throughout Eurasia working on migration
issues exchange information and share knowledge in order to raise public
awareness of the issue.
Otabek Sultonov (UGRAD 97)
(standing) introduces seminar
participants to online resources on
human rights issues at the IATP
access site in Kurgan-Tube,
Tajikistan
Alumnus Educates Local Youth on Human Rights Issues in Kurgan-Tube,
Tajikistan
On December 9, Otabek Sultonov (UGRAD 97) conducted a two-hour seminar
on human rights for 17 college and high school students at the IATP access
site in Kurgan-Tube, Tajikistan, in honor of Human Rights Day, a UN holiday
observed annually worldwide on December 10. Sultonov provided an introduction
to contemporary theory of human rights and democracy, described the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights and other international agreements signed
by Tajikistan, explained some reasons for human rights violations, and
advocated use of the Internet as an effective instrument for increasing
knowledge on the topic. Participants discussed how to defend the rights
of citizens in situations when the national justice system is incapable
of doing so. As many Tajik citizens are unaware of their rights and it
is often difficult to obtain correct information about legal issues from
the appropriate governmental institutions, many international and local
organizations work to fill the information gap by providing timely consultations
and reliable assistance. After the introductory lecture and discussion,
participants were introduced to several online resources such as the websites
of Human Rights Watch and
the United Nations
High Commissioner for Human Rights, where they were able to learn
more about the subject. Realizing the importance of an educated public,
the participants pledged to inform their friends and families about these
resources and to give them advice on how to receive assistance when dealing
with human rights violations.
TURKMENISTAN
Gorjiy talks about the importance
of residents' awareness of
ecological issues at the IATP
access site in Balkanabat,
Turkmenistan
Residents of Turkmenistan Discuss Ecology of the Caspian Sea
Online
On November 24, more than 10 environmental experts and activists, including
five alumni of US government- sponsored exchange programs, visited the
IATP access sites in Ashgabat, Dashoguz, and Balkanabat, Turkmenistan,
for a two-hour online discussion on the “Ecology of the Caspian
Sea.” Svetlana Gorjiy, a journalist from the State Information Service
(SIS) of Balkanabat organized the chat to increase Turkmen residents’
awareness of the ecological problems of the area caused by irresponsible
human activities such as non-sustainable use of natural resources as well
as industrial pollution. To start the online discussion, Gorjiy described
the sea’s resources and emphasized the importance of keeping the
sea environment safe to avoid degradation of the coastal landscape and
extinction of aquatic life. In the course of the discussion, chat participants
agreed on the necessity of including a special course in school curriculum
on the ecology of the region, publishing and posting posters at educational
institutions calling for clean environment, and volunteering on the local
beaches. Special guest Oleg Guchgeldiev (Muskie 95), a former Matched
Small Grant Program and Public Participation Coastal advisor at the Caspian
Environmental Program (CEP), gave an overview of his program, its mission
and goals. CEP was established in 1998 by five Caspian States (Azerbaijan,
Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia and Turkmenistan) and aims to halt the deterioration
of environmental conditions of the Caspian Sea and promote sustainable
development of the area. At the conclusion of the chat, Gorjiy informed
the participants about a contest sponsored by CEP and Global Ecology Foundation,
for the best article on ecology of the Caspian Sea, and called for papers
from the chat participants. The online chat enabled the participants to
share ideas about keeping the Caspian Sea environment safe, ask questions
from experts, and share their contact information to keep in touch and
work together on various issues related to the sea’s ecology.
Ian Reynolds answers the chat
participants' questions at the IATP
access site in Turkmenabat
Peace Corps Volunteer Conducts Online AIDS Quiz in Turkmenabat,
Turkmenistan
On December 21, 30 young participants from Mary, Dashoguz, Turkmenabat,
and Balkanabat, Turkmenistan, joined Peace Corps Health Volunteer Ian
Reynolds for an online quiz on HIV/AIDS. The main goal of the online event
was to check the teenagers’ knowledge and awareness of HIV/AIDS
and its prevention. To begin the online event, Reynolds posted statistics
on HIV infected people in the world Then, Reynolds began the quiz. He
asked questions ranging from variations of the infection and its transmission
to prevention methods. Reynolds questioned the participants on the difference
between HIV-1 and HIV-2, but no one could provide a detailed answer. The
guest speaker then explained that both HIV-1 and HIV-2 have the same modes
of transmission and are associated with similar opportunistic infections
and conditions. However, in persons infected with HIV-2, immunodeficiency
develops more slowly and is milder than that in persons infected with
HIV-1. HIV-2 also appears to be less transmissible than HIV-1. Unfortunately,
few educational institutions in Turkmenistan conduct activities or events
aimed to provide information on HIV/AIDS, creating an educational gap
among residents. To conclude the chat, Reynolds posted his email address
to enable the participants to keep in touch with him and ask questions
regarding HIV/AIDS. Elena Artyunova, a Red Cross volunteer from Turkmenabat,
remarked, “Thanks to this event I was able to see how my peers from
other regions answered questions regarding HIV/AIDS. I gained more information
about this issue and was able to make contacts throughout the country.”
Through IATP’s events with AIDS experts and its Internet resources,
citizens of Turkmenistan have access to information that is not available
from schools, libraries, or state-owned TV.
ARMENIA
Arzumanyan guides participants
through HIV/AIDS-related websites
Residents Discuss HIV/AIDS Situation in Kapan, Armenia
On December 12, the IATP access site in Kapan, Armenia, hosted a two-hour
seminar on “Struggling Against HIV/AIDS” for NGO representatives,
local government officials, teachers, and students. The purpose of the
seminar was to provide the public with information about HIV and AIDS,
describe prevention methods, and introduce participants to extensive online
resources on the topic. The seminar started with a presentation by Smbat
Orbelyan, head doctor of the Kapan Hospital, who described the current
state of affairs regarding HIV/AIDS in the region and described efforts
that have been made to disseminate information about preventing the disease.
Orbelyan noted that during the last year, 2,246 people were screened for
HIV/AIDS at the Kapan Hospital, and some had positive test results. Armenak
Davtyan, director of the Kapan Center for AIDS Prevention, Education and
Care, also delivered a presentation about the ongoing activities of his
organization, including free medical services and training and informational
brochures they have published and distributed. At the conclusion of the
seminar, IATP Access Site Trainer Karen Arzumanyan introduced participants
to several Web resources on HIV/AIDS, such as the websites of the Armenian
National AIDS Center and the United
Nations Development Program in Armenia, where they learned statistics
about the disease and became acquainted with the National Program for
Treatment and Prevention of AIDS. The event was useful in raising public
awareness about the HIV/AIDS problem and prevention methods, and introducing
websites that can serve as continuing sources of up-to-date information
in the future.
Anna Minasyan (FLEX01) (standing)
explains the advantages of online
shopping to local entrepreneurs
at the IATP access site in
Kapan, Armenia
Alumna Teaches Online Shopping Skills to Entrepreneurs in Kapan,
Armenia
On November 23, Anna Minasyan (FLEX 01) conducted a two-hour workshop
for four local entrepreneurs on online shopping resources at the IATP
access site in Kapan, Armenia. The purpose of the workshop was to introduce
retail entrepreneurs to online stores that can help them develop their
businesses. Minasyan taught the participants, who already had basic computer
skills, how to work with Web browsers, use search engines, and navigate
through Web pages to find the information. She demonstrated several websites
that offer online shopping services, including product search, selection,
payment systems, and shipment. Putting their newly obtained skills into
practice, the entrepreneurs explored the websites of Zigzag
Online Store and the ARAY Group of Companies,
where they searched for products that interested them and learned useful
information about brands, prices, and quality standards. Minasyan also
showed participants the website of the Armenian
Electronic Payment System, where they learned how to make payments
online and registered for the service. As a result, local retail entrepreneurs
acquired the necessary Internet skills to find information on different
types of products in the most popular online stores in Armenia, as well
as purchase them online.
AZERBAIJAN
Students browse Internet for
information on reproductive health
issues at the IATP access site
in Baku, Azerbaijan
Alumna Introduces Students to Online Resources on Reproductive
Health in Baku, Azerbaijan
From November 21 to 23, Mehriban Mammadova (Muskie 03), Instructor at
the School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Public Health of Khazar University,
conducted a workshop for a group of five students on the role of information
technologies (IT) in educating people about reproductive health issues
at the IATP access site in Baku, Azerbaijan. The purpose of the workshop
was to introduce participants to Web resources with information on reproductive
health, stabilizing world population growth and improving maternal and
child health. Mamadova spoke about the lack of new opportunities for people
to enhance knowledge, especially in rural areas, and emphasized the growing
importance of IT in filling this gap by providing access to up-to-date
curriculum on compact discs, distance learning courses, and websites.
She introduced participants to the websites of Reproductive Health Outlook and Reproductive
Health Gateway which offer a wide variety of information on reproductive
health programs, including multimedia tools with HIV-prevention messages
in local languages. IATP Access Site Administrator Lyaman Aliyeva commented,
“Reproductive health researchers are using the Internet extensively
during the research process, which includes identifying research issues,
using databases for literature searches and websites for conducting surveys
and clinical trials, and publishing research results.” Mammadova
acquainted students with programs of the United
States Agency for International Development that are focused on increasing
public access to information about family planning and other selected
reproductive health information and services, communicating the availability
of new technologies and approaches for contraceptive methods and family
planning programs. The workshop increased participants’ awareness
and ability to use online resources to improve their knowledge of reproductive
health.
Aynur Aliyeva browses websites on
writing effective CVs at the IATP
access site in Guba, Azerbaijan
IATP Users Learn How to Write Competitive CVs in Guba, Azerbaijan
On December 19, IATP Access Site Administrator Faig Bekirov conducted
a two-hour workshop on writing competitive curriculum vitae (CV) for seven
users at the IATP access site in Guba, Azerbaijan. International nonprofit
organizations and other international businesses require professional
CVs, which are not common in Azerbaijan. Bekirov stressed that having
a single type of CV might not effective in a today’s tough job market,
and advised participants to write two types of CVs, a static CV with comprehensive
information to cover all categories of information, and a dynamic CV that
is custom-tailored to emphasize certain points to fit specific jobs. Participants
discussed good and bad CV examples and learned the guidelines for flexibility
and creativity when writing an effective CV. Aynur Aliyeva, a student
at the Guba Branch of the Teacher Training University, noted, ”A
CV is an individual record and a personal description to present us well
to employers. Writing a CV is a good way of making us think about our
skills, achievements and interests, preparation that will be critical
to our success when applying for any job.” Participants browsed
related websites on the topic such as Exceptional
CV Services, CV Tips and Writing
Effective CV and updated their CVs according to recommendations given
in online resources and shared during the seminar. Through this workshop,
IATP users obtained necessary skills and used information from online
resources to develop an effective tool for finding employment in the future.
MOLDOVA
Cozonac Gheorghe's website
on sepsis is hosted by IATP.
IATP Users Launch Online Presence in Chisinau, Moldova
From December 5 to 9, IATP staff conducted a training on Web design basics
for three IATP users: a physician, a college student, and a lawyer, at
the IATP Training Laboratory in Chisinau, Moldova. To help the trainees
create their own websites dedicated to their hobbies and work, the trainer
explained how to optimize websites for search engines and how to create
a user-friendly design. She 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. Buga also gave recommendations on scanning
and editing graphics and publishing them on the websites. As a result
of the training, the participants created their own websites and posted
them to the IATP server. Physician Gheorghe Cozonac created a website
dedicated to sepsis - a toxic condition resulting from the spread
of bacteria or their products from a focus of infection. Cozonac describes
symptoms of the disease, causes of infection and treatment methods. He
believes that this website will be useful for professionals and students
studying medicine. By sponsoring this training, IATP contributed to the
development of original online resources in local languages and encouraged
IATP visitors to use computer and Internet technologies for their professional
development. The new websites brought the number of websites hosted on
the Moldovan IATP server to 222.
Margareta Buga explains basics
of computer usage
Rural Schoolchildren Learn Computer and Internet Usage
From December 2 to 4, Margareta Buga, a mobile trainer based at the IATP
Training Laboratory in Chisinau, Moldova, conducted trainings on computer,
Internet, and Web design basics for 15 schoolchildren in Tatarauca Veche
village, Soroca district, Moldova. The training was organized at the request
of Maetonium, a local nonprofit organization, to provide local youth with
computer and Internet skills to enable them to benefit from the local
community center. Maetonium opened a community center for youth in 2004
with a grant from the US Embassy in Moldova and equipped it with four
computers. Tatarauca Veche is the largest of the six neighboring villages,
the total population of which is 3,500, so the only community center established
there is of vital importance for providing access to information via the
Internet to local young people. Buga explained to participants how to
manage files and folders efficiently; introduced them to the principles
of work with text: editing, choosing format and style, and inserting graphics.
She also demonstrated how to process data with spreadsheet programs by
entering and sorting data as well as creating and analyzing charts. Then
the participants learned how to search the Web for information of professional
interest to them and how to send messages, images, and scanned documents
via e-mail. Buga also touched upon the main concepts of Web design, including
common programming languages, website structure, and visual website editors.
Participants learned how to use tables in websites and how to post resources
to a server. As a result of the training, the participants began work
on websites dedicated to the history and life of their village with the
goal of developing tourism in the region. By using skills mastered at
IATP trainings, the attendees will be able to use computers and the Internet
for study and professional development.
IATP Training Statistics
- In the past six months, IATP has trained over 15,000 people in approximately 3,250 trainings;
- IATP has provided training to almost 600 people
in 40 mobile training courses since July;
- More than 1,000 government officials have been trained by IATP in the last six months.