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Internet Access and Training Program (IATP)
IATP News for February 2006
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AZERBAIJAN
Ambassador Harnish fields
participants’ questions during
an online forum from the US-
Azerbaijan Education Center
in Baku, Azerbaijan
Ambassador Harnish Discusses US-Azerbaijan Relations in Online
Forum
On February 14, US Ambassador to Azerbaijan Reno Harnish visited the US-Azerbaijan
Education Center in Baku to deliver an online press conference for more
than 40 people throughout the country, including students, journalists,
alumni of US government-sponsored exchange programs, and representatives
of government agencies and nonprofit organizations. Participants accessed
a forum from IATP acess sites and
Regional Library Information Centers (RLIC) across Azerbaijan. The online
forum collected nearly 200 postings from citizens touching on various
aspects of US-Azerbaijan relations, including US policy in Azerbaijan
and US assistance for education, the military, civil society, and business.
For 40 minutes, Ambassador Harnish answered questions regarding US policy,
the political and economic situation in Azerbaijan, the democratization
process in the South Caucasus region, and Azeri culture and cuisine. The
lively discussion included an exchange with Natavan Babayeva, a journalist
from ANS TV in Baku, who asked the Ambassador to comment on the recent
meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents in Rambouillet, France.
Ambassador Harnish replied, “The US government nourished hope and
progress in negotiations and expected an agreement to be signed, but the
result was unexpected. So we will analyse consequences, meet with other
co-chairs in March and declare our final conclusion.” ANS TV in
Baku broadcast a short report on the event during the evening news. Due
to the online forum and subsequent media coverage, thousands of Azeri
citizens heard about US policy from the country’s most reliable
source. IATP frequently organizes online forums with US Embassy officials
on a variety of topics, helping them discuss and clarify aspects of its
mission with people throughout the country.
Azerbaijani educators exchange
ideas with Ukrainian colleagues
from the IATP access site
in Baku, Azerbaijan
Educators from Azerbaijan and Ukraine Exchange Experience Online
On February 10, more than 30 educators gathered online at IATP access
sites throughout Azerbaijan and Ukraine to share experience and discuss
methodological tools, resources, professional development, and curriculum.
During the online discussion, participants asked questions regarding various
aspects of the educational systems in their countries, including primary
and secondary education, elective courses, interactive teaching methods,
and criteria for evaluation of academic achievements. Ilhama Sultanova
from the Institute of Educational Problems in Baku, Azerbaijan, noted,
“We prepared the National Curriculum project, which includes elementary
and middle school education. Now there are individual programs on the
subjects of art and world culture in schools of Baku encompassing the
first to eleventh grades.” Natalia Malahova, a representative of
the Education Department of the Samara Regional Council in Dnipropetrovsk,
Ukraine, described several newly developed educational programs from the Ministry of Education and Science of
Ukraine such as Step-by-Step, which emphasizes individualized instruction
in elementary schools. She recommended that participants use Modern Lessons,
a book written by Olena Pometun and Lyudmila Pirojenko, about interactive
methods of education. Participants also discussed the prize winners of
the All-Ukrainian and International Olympiad in various subjects, and
the high rate of college enrollment of high school graduates as a result
of high quality trainings. At the end of the discussion, the educators
exchanged e-mail addresses and websites to continue communication and
explore opportunities for greater cooperation in the future. IATP frequently
holds online chats to foster the free flow of information and knowledge
sharing to promote cooperation and democratic values throughout Eurasia.
TAJIKISTAN
The Caftar Web Studio in
Dushanbe, Tajikistan launched
the official website of Tajikistan’s
President (www.president.tj)
FLEX Alumnus in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, Launches Official Website
of Tajikistan President
On February 2, Jafar Asimov (FLEX 94), the director of Caftar Web Studio
(CWS), shared the good news with IATP staff that his organization had
completed and published the official website of the President
of Tajikistan last month. CWS, IATP’s partner organization that
hosts the Independent Internet Center (IIC) in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, is
a leading professional Web development group in the country. CWS now runs
the IIC independently, which is financially viable with the income generated
from modest fees charged for the design and promotion of websites and
multimedia projects, a wide range of computer and Internet courses, and
access to the Internet. In addition to the paid services, the IIC continues
to provide 20 hours of free Internet access and trainings each month for
local residents. The newly-created website contains information about
President Emomali Rahmonov’s speeches, statements, meetings, decrees,
policies, and plans, and includes a photo gallery and a list of downloadable
publications. Several state and local media outlets, including Tajik State
TV and Safina TV, broadcast stories on the official opening of the President’s
website, reaching a majority of the population. Since August 2005, the
IIC has trained 120 users, provided 160 hours of free training, and offered
over 120 hours of free Internet access. The IIC successfully continues
empowering local residents, providing computer trainings and Internet
access promoting the development of information technologies and contributing
to democratization.
Professor Bill Darrow exchanges
views on religion and globalization
with Tajik citizens from the IATP
office in Dushanbe, Tajikistan
American Professor Discusses Religion and Globalization with
Tajik Citizens Online
On February 1, Bill Darrow, professor of religion at Williams College
in Massachusetts, participated in an online discussion entitled, “Religion
and Globalization” at the IATP office in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. Darrow,
who is in Dushanbe investigating the history of Tajik nationalism and
identity, met online with more than 15 representatives of nonprofit organizations,
journalists, students, and the general public, who accessed the online
chat room from IATP access sites in Kulyab, Khorog, Garm, Dushanbe, and
the Independent Internet Center in Kanibadam, Tajikistan. To start the
online discussion, Darrow described his own vision of new trends in religion
and globalization, and emphasized that the recent increase in the power
of religion politically serves the interests of globalization by articulating
forms of religion that are global rather than local. Then Darrow asked
participants a few questions about the role of religion in conflicts around
the world, the effects of Soviet policies on religion, and the importance
of religion in Tajikistan today. The discussions covered a wide range
of topics, including religious fundamentalism, secularization, and the
life of Muslims in the United States. When asked by Abdullo Sharipov from
Garm to define religious fundamentalism, Darrow answered, “The English
term applied to movements in Christianity at the beginning of the twentieth
century… it referred to a movement that was returning to the fundamentals
of Christianity. The first effect it had in America was the outlawing
of alcohol in the 1920's. I obviously think we can apply it to all religions,
though we should recognize differences as well as similarities.”
Solijon Hakimov from Kanibadam asked, “Are there Muslim students
in your college, and how are they treated?” Darrow replied, “There
are Muslim students at my university and my college has built a prayer
room for them. I think they are respected by the other students.”
The chat helped participants increase their understanding of modern trends
in religion and globalization and learn about religious issues from the
perspective of an American citizen and professor. The chat also served
a useful purpose in providing Professor Darrow with valuable information
and insights for his research work in Tajikistan.
KYRGYZSTAN
IATP Partner Opens New Internet Center in Aravan, Kyrgyzstan
On February 16, Abdilboki Tolipov, the director of the Civil
Society Support Center (CSSC) in Nookat, Kyrgyzstan, announced the official
opening of a new Independent Internet Center (IIC) in the village of Aravan.
CSSC already hosts an IATP access site, but Tolipov and his staff used
the organization’s own funds to open an additional center in Aravan
to address a pressing need for access to information in the isolated village,
55 kilometers from Nookat and 38 kilometers from the Uzbekistan border.
Aravan has an undeveloped infrastructure, and agriculture is the only
source of income for the population. National newspapers arrive in the
town two weeks after publication, and the only broadcast news available
is television broadcasts in Uzbek from Uzbekistan state television. Independent
Internet Centers (IIC) operate independently and provide at least 20 hours
of free Internet access and training each month, but charge modest fees
for other services to sustain the high costs of Internet, labor, and maintenance.
The costs for opening of the new access site in Aravan were over $1,400
in total, which were covered by the CSSC’s savings from previous
grants and revenue from paid services. In February, Aravan center administrator
Dinara Matkasymova convinced Dostuk, a local newspaper, to publish a free
advertisement of the IIC’s resources and services. From February
20 to 25, Matkasymova conducted the first paid courses in computer and
Internet basics for ten local residents, each of whom paid 30 soms (80
cents) for week-long courses. More local residents have already lined
up for the IIC’s computer courses, as it is the only place in town
offering such services. CSSC director Tolipov remarked, “I am really
happy to see how we are growing in terms of educating local residents
in computer literacy. We will be further developing the site in Aravan
by expanding services available to people and equal the productivity of
the Nookat site.”
Tashalieva shows participants
how to use computers at the IATP
access site in Nookat, Kyrgyzstan
IATP Trainee Introduces Uzbek Residents to Computers in Nookat,
Kyrgyzstan
On February 3, Salamat Tashalieva completed a week-long computer basics
course in the Uzbek language for 10 Uzbek residents at the IATP access
site in Nookat, Kyrgyzstan. Comprising roughly 13 percent of Kyrgyzstan’s
overall population of 5 million, Uzbeks are the country’s largest
ethnic minority group, which is mainly concentrated in the southern regions
of Osh and Jalal-Abad. In recent years, Uzbeks have worked for broader
civil rights, for greater Uzbek representation in the judiciary and law-enforcement
agencies, and for greater state support of Uzbek-language cultural activities
and education. In June 2004, Tashalieva attended a course at the IATP
access site after she learned about free courses from her cousin. Since
completing the course, she has been continuing her studies while serving
as a volunteer alongside IATP Administrator Aida Ajibekova in registering
new visitors and organizing events. Tashalieva’s fluency in Uzbek
is of great help to Ajibekova, whose native language is Kyrgyz and whose
Uzbek is not sufficiently strong to conduct a course. Tashalieva taught
six high school students, two teachers, and two unemployed residents how
to edit text documents, save images, copy and paste objects, manage files
and folders, create tables, and keyboard shortcuts. Having completed the
course, the high school students are able to conduct research on the Internet
for their academic work, the teachers are able to enrich their teaching
materials, and the unemployed residents are able to gain job skills and
search for vacancies online. Student Hanafa Ismailova from Beruniy High
School remarked, “I can barely speak Kyrgyz and Russian. However,
Salamat helped me learn how to work on computers using Uzbek. I am really
happy that she helped me.”
UKRAINE
Lyudmyla Voznyuk shows pictures
of disabled children
Teachers Working with Disabled Children Discover Internet in
Lutsk, Ukraine
On February 17, the IATP access site in Lutsk, Ukraine, hosted three employees
of the Children’s Development Center of the Volyn Regional Education
Board, a nonprofit organization working with disabled children, to explore
websites dedicated to work with children with special needs. Previously,
at the request of employees of the Center, Vitaliy LIpich (UGRAD 04) and
Peace Corps Volunteer Nathan Houston prepared a list of the resources
on work with disabled children, for example, http://e-bility.com/links/software.php,
which contains free software for people with disabilities. This visit
was a result of a roundtable discussion on integration of disabled children
into general society on February 10 at the IATP access site in Lutsk.
Eight local alumni of US government-sponsored programs, seven Peace Corps
volunteers, and three employees of the Children’s Development Center
took part in the discussion. Speech therapist Lesia Kozak started the
roundtable discussion with a presentation depicting the lives of disabled
people in the city, their problems and achievements. Then Tetiana Kokhanchuk,
the mother of a disabled girl, followed Kozak’s speech with examples
taken from her own life and the life of her daughter. Lyudmyla Voznyuk
(CC 02), art director of Zabavlianochka, a disabled children’s theater,
showed participants pictures from a photo exhibition organized last year
and aimed at showing to the local community how much the children want
to associate with their peers. She also presented a new project entitled,
“Let Us Say ‘No’ to Architectural Barriers,” aimed
at making all buildings in the city accessible for people in wheelchairs.
Participants shared their ideas for organizing a fundraising campaign
for the project. Thanks to the two events sponsored by IATP, local educators
dealing with disabled children discovered new methods for work with this
audience by using computer and Internet technologies. They also had an
opportunity to promote their charitable initiatives and involve more people
in their implementation. Over 900 disabled people have benefited from
IATP services in Ukraine.
Zoya Kovalenko explains how
to search for information online
ECA Alumna Introduces Local NGO Employees to Online Resources
on Voter Education in Poltava, Ukraine
On January 27, the IATP access site in Poltava, Ukraine, hosted a seminar
entitled “Political Parties on the Internet,” conducted by
Zoya Kovalenko (CC 01) for 10 employees of local nonprofit organizations
working in the area of voter education. Parliamentary elections in Ukraine
are scheduled for March 26, and 45 political parties are contending for
places in the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine’s parliament. The aim of the
seminar was to provide information about Ukrainian political parties and
election procedures available online to local nonprofit organizations
to enable them to conduct information campaigns on the upcoming parliamentary
elections for voters in the Poltava region. Kovalenko explained to participants
how to work with Internet resources and search online for information
of professional interest to them. Then the attendees had the opportunity
to practice their newly acquired skills by searching online for Ukrainian
election legislation. Kovalenko showed participants the websites of nonprofit
organizations working in voter education, Ukrainian political parties,
and the Central Election Commission.
Based on the online materials, participants prepared leaflets and other
materials for public dissemination. Oleksandr Kelym, an employee of the
Poltava branch of Social Service of Ukraine, remarked, “Our organization
works on projects for voter education, and information about electoral
lists of candidates from all political parties participating in the parliamentary
elections and their programs is very important for us. Due to the seminar,
we will be able to provide to voters all the information they need.”
IATP encourages employees of local nonprofit organizations to use the
Internet in their everyday work.
TURKMENISTAN
Participants from Balkanabat,
Turkmenistan, discuss sports issues
Athletes and Coaches Discuss State of Sports in Eurasia Online
On January 24, forty-five athletes, coaches and other members of the athletic
community of Eurasia gathered at IATP access sites in Turkmenistan, Armenia,
Moldova, Ukraine, and Tajikistan for a two-hour online discussion of the
status of sports in post-Soviet countries. Moderated by IATP Volunteer
Darya Chikaidze from the IATP access site in Balkanabat, Turkmenistan,
the main goal of the chat was to discuss the role of sports and status
of athletes in post-Soviet countries. After the collapse of the Soviet
Union, the status of sports and physical education in general has changed
in different countries. To begin the online discussion, each country posted
a brief presentation focused on the level and importance of sports at
educational institutions, for the government, and to the general public.
In the course of the chat, participants discussed the 2006 Winter Olympic
Games held in Turin, Italy, and participation of their countries in the
games. Jennet Orayeva from Turkmenistan commented, “…Turkmenistan
doesn’t have representation at the winter Olympic games; however,
soon a new Ice Palace will be opened in Ashgabat that will serve 150 people
at once. This will be a good opportunity for Turkmen athletes to develop
skills in sports such as ice hockey and figure skating.” Chat participants
discussed athletic achievements and the growth of sports such as basketball,
karate, and soccer in their regions. To the question of the chat moderator
as to whether amateur sports is more important than professional sports,
participant Oleg Belochkin replied, “…both of them are important
…amateur sports is the nation’s health and professional is
its pride.” In conclusion, the athletes wished success to each other
and exchanged email addresses. Thanks to the online discussion, concerned
citizens received access to information on the status of sports in post-Soviet
states, and exchanged ideas on the issue.
Participants access websites on
marketing at the IATP access site
in Turkmenabat, Turkmenistan
Employee of Partner Organization Conducts Training on Marketing
in Turkmenabat, Turkmenistan
On February 11, Nellya Kazina, the local manager of the Hemayat Economics
Association, IATP’s partner organization, conducted a workshop on
marketing for 13 entrepreneurs at the IATP access site in Turkmenabat,
Turkmenistan. Kazina has broad experience in teaching business courses
such as management and marketing. Since March 2004, when the IATP access
site first opened in Turkmenabat, Kazina has accessed numerous online
resources in Russian to enrich her knowledge and improve her teaching
methods. To start the workshop, Kazina explained that the goal of marketing
is to understand customers' needs and then develop products. Later, she
walked the participants through websites on marketing analyses and marketing
research at the International
Marketing Group, and tips for small businesses at Softwerk.
Participant Murad Hodjaberdiyev remarked, “Thanks to this seminar,
I gained useful information to make my photo editing business successful
through marketing concepts; I also learned how to access online resources
about marketing, which I will definitely use at work.” Business-related
training is in great demand in Turkmenistan, as entrepreneurs do not have
access to international information and contacts except through the Internet
access offered by IATP.
ARMENIA
Artashes Mirzoyan (left) and
Karen Aghababyan (right) answer
participants’ questions during the
online chat from the Independent
Internet Center in Yerevan, Armenia
Eurasian Residents Engage in Online Discussion on the Danger
of Bird Flu in the World
On February 7, forty-five representatives of government and nonprofit
organizations, educational institutions, students and the general public,
including alumni of US government-sponsored exchange programs, gathered
at IATP access sites in Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan,
and Ukraine to participate in an online discussion on recent developments
in the bird flu risk in the region. The two-hour online chat moderated
by Liana Tadevosyan, IATP Armenia Program Assistant, had the main goal
of raising public awareness of the possible threat of avian influenza,
also called the bird flu, discussing prevention methods, and providing
an overview of government actions to eliminate or control the epidemic
in at risk countries. To begin the online chat, three Armenian experts,
including Dr. Artashes Mirzoyan from the United Nations Development Programme
in Armenia, Arsen Chasabyan from World Vision Armenia, and Karen Aghababyan
from the American University of Armenia, delivered brief presentations
on the topic and opened the floor for discussion. Abdurasul Boltaev, a
student from Dushanbe, Tajikistan, asked how the infection develops in
the human body and if the symptoms are the same as ordinary flu. Mirzoyan
answered, “The symptoms are almost the same as in seasonal flu.
However, this infection lasts longer and is more severe, with a high probability
of clinical complications, such as acute respiratory insufficiency and
pneumonia.” Aghababyan noted, “Online chats are a good way
to disseminate information to the public and provide answers to specific
questions people might have about this serious and urgent issue. The more
information we disseminate to the public, the less will be the risk of
an epidemic.” The online chat enabled participants to disseminate
timely and useful information, exchange opinions and experience and raise
public awareness of a current issue throughout Eurasia.
Anna Minasyan demonstrates online
resources to students during a
workshop at the IATP access
site in Kapan, Armenia
Armenian Students Acquire Management Skills Online
On February 10, IATP volunteer Anna Minasyan conducted a two-hour workshop
entitled “Online Management Resources,” for eight economics
majors from Kapan State Engineering University at the IATP access site
in Kapan, Armenia. Minasyan organized the workshop at the students’
request to introduce them to various online libraries and educational
search engines that they could use for term papers and research projects.
She introduced participants to the websites of Modern
Management Technologies and the Economic
Data Bank, created by IATP users, which contain large amounts of information
in Armenian and Russian on the topic. Participants also browsed the Management
Resources website, a resource in English that presents a wide range
of material on the study of management, and shares hands-on experience
of practicing managers. The newly discovered online resources will serve
students as an additional study tool in writing better term papers and
completing research projects. Participant Liana Aleksanyan commented,
“Using online resources is much more convenient, as it is easier
to find and access the information that one is seeking.'' As a result
of this workshop, IATP contributed to the improvement of the students’
knowledge and awareness of opportunities that information technologies
can offer them to make the learning process efficient and interesting.
GEORGIA
Seminar attendees browse through
online educational resources
indicated by Chiraqadze
College Professor Conducts Seminar on Distance Learning in Tbilisi,
Georgia
On February 14, Merab Chiraqadze, a professor at the Georgian
Institute of Public Affairs (GIPA), conducted a two-hour
seminar entitled “Distance Learning Opportunities at Foreign Universities”
for 12 college students and college staff members at the IATP access site
in Tbilisi, Georgia. Chiraqadze has broad experience in distance learning
at GIPA, where he has taught an online course in economics for two years.
Chiraqadze noted that distance learning is a growing educational medium
that utilizes the Internet to provide the same quality of instruction
that one would receive in a normal classroom, but with more flexibility
for the student. However, he added, “…the only disadvantage
of e-learning is lack of face to face interaction between a professor
and a student.” He then walked the participants through websites
of colleges such as The Open University, Chadwick University, and Barrington
University, which offer distance-learning courses for relatively low
prices. Chiraqadze suggested that participants browse through websites
such as International
Scholarship and Scholarship
Guide that list funding opportunities for those who would like to
continue their education. Later, participants discussed prospects of distance
learning in Georgia. Chiraqadze believes that distance learning will be
successful in the future because there are many interested students in
the country. Thanks to the workshop, the participants learned about alternative
methods of study and about financial aid opportunities.
MOLDOVA
Seminar attendees learn about
online tourism
Students Learn about E-Business for Tourism in Chisinau, Moldova
On February 10, the IATP Training Laboratory in Chisinau, Moldova, hosted
a seminar entitled, “E-Business and Foreign Languages for Tourism,”
conducted by IATP intern Olesea Calos for five university students studying
tourism and foreign languages, a scientist, and a leader of a local nonprofit
organization. The aim of the seminar was to demonstrate the use of modern
information technology to develop the tourism sector in Moldova. Calos
started the seminar with an interactive presentation showing how to use
websites to promote regions and assist tourists. She also explained how
online resources can provide instruction in the English language for tourism
professionals, a necessity in the global economy. Then attendees explored
websites dedicated to tourism and e-business, including www.turism.md,
which contains general information about the country, tourist routes,
sights, and a calendar of cultural events. At the conclusion of the seminar,
the participants discussed strategies for development of Moldova’s
tourism sector, in particular promotion of tourist routes through websites
and mailing lists. The seminar encouraged the participants to use the
Internet to increase the efficiency and impact of their work to develop
tourism in Moldova.
KAZAKHSTAN
Salykova shows how to insert text
into a presentation at the Independent
Internet Center in Petropavlovsk,
Kazakhstan
Alumna Leads Workshop on Multimedia Presentations for Students
in Petropavlovsk, Kazakhstan
On January 31, Tahmina Salykova (IV 04) conducted a two-hour course on
multimedia presentation software for 14 high school and college students
and two college faculty at the Independent Internet Center (IIC) in Petropavlovsk,
Kazakhstan. The students and faculty had attended computer and Internet
basics courses at the beginning of January, and had since become regular
users. The students had been assigned to research the history and context
of Valentine’s Day and deliver formal presentations on the topic.
To help the students and faculty complete their assignments, Salykova
taught them how to effectively deliver presentations, use computer-generated
visual aids, edit texts and images for presentation, incorporate audio
tracks, and how to combine multimedia elements for a complete presentation.
The students also conducted research on the topic on the Internet. Participant
Olga Gribovskaya remarked, “While creating the presentation, I learned
a lot about Valentine’s Day, and simultaneously gained skills that
will help me create another high-impact presentation on biology.”
Aymanova teaches netiquette in
Astana, Kazakhstan
IATP Trainee Introduces Local Residents to Effective Online Communication
in Astana, Kazakhstan
On February 8, Bahitzhan Aymanova completed a three-hour seminar effective
and proper online communication for six students and faculty of Astana
Humanities College (AHC) at the Independent Internet Center (IIC) in Astana,
Kazakhstan. Aymanovsa is an instructor in computer science at AHC who
got her start in the field of information technology with IATP courses
she took in the summer of 2003, including computer and Internet basics,
and Web design, at the IATP access site in Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan.
Now, Aymanova is teaching her students with curriculum she developed herself,
based on IATP training and resources she has found on the Internet. Aymanova
gave an overview of the various aspects of effective online communication,
such as avoiding orthographic mistakes, maintaining neutrality and respecting
other users’ opinions, being sensitive to other cultures, being
responsive, and staying on-topic in forums and chat rooms. The seminar
helped the students acquire Internet navigation and communication skills,
thanks to Aymanova’s willingness to share the knowledge she had
gained from IATP. Student Bahitzhan Bekjanov remarked, “I never
knew of Internet ethics and could not imagine that they exist. I received
skills, thanks to Bahitzhan’s seminar, which will help me chat and
share information with others while respecting their values and winning
their goodwill.”
IATP Trainings
- IATP has conducted 49,447 trainings, 16,152 of which were advanced trainings;
- More than 15,000 people were trained in 1,650 IATP Step-by-Step series;
- Alumni of US government-sponsored programs trained over 27,000 IATP users in 3,000 trainings.