Volume 35 summer 2004
Political Participation Ukraine's Orange Revolution Yelizaveta Myronenko ‘02 Nikopol, Ukraine/Claremont,CA linalm85@yahoo.com
“re-election” is going to be fair and honest. What happened on November 21 was simply unacceptable. There is an old saying, “the winner is not judged.” However, I believe a man can’t be a winner, if he plays a dirty game. Another saying truly describes the nature of competition: ”It doesn’t matter whether you win or lose, what counts is how you play.” When the Central Election Committee announced the final results, I felt betrayed and deceived. It was crystal clear that the elections had been stolen. I couldn’t believe that the government would so openly support Alumni from across Ukraine Join Demonstrations in Kyiv. corruption. I’m not saying that Mr. Yuschenko is a saint or the most righThe most important event in Ukraine’s demoteous person on Earth. I simply believe that cratic history happened in November. It wasn’t the people should decide. Those thousands the elections themselves, but the fact that of people on Independence Square felt their people showed the government that their voicvoices were not heard. The Orange Revolution es count. “The Orange Revolution” is a major is a symbol of people’s power and their ability step toward democracy. It’s not enough to to say “NO” when the government tries to take have a constitution that guarantees people’s away their freedom of choice! rights and freedoms. The most important part of democracy is the nation’s awareness that its rights can and should be exercised. Last month the Ukrainian nation stopped being quiet. I am so proud to be a part of all this! My nation showed the government and the entire world that we are tired of being tricked and ignored! We vote for our government officials and they must work for us. We will not be used in their political games. On December 26, we’ll make our Ukrainians Take to the Streets to Demand Fair Elections. final decision. I truly hope that this
Read About American Youth Voters' Participation in U.S. Presidential Elections on page 3.
FUTURE LEADERS E X C H AN G E ALUMNI NEWSLETTER Contents: 1 7 Theme of the Issue Political Participation Ukraine's Orange Revolution Letter from the Editor Infecting Youth Young Voters Make their Mark 2004 U.S. Presidential Elections Disabled People in Russia: Understanding the Problem Global Village Students Formulate Youth Policy Who is Our True Enemy? English Language Camp in Ufa 8 11 Alumni Beat Global Youth Service Day 2005 FLEX Alumni Grants Program 12 13 Bradley Bits Individual Alumni Successes 14 Essay 15 Profiles Raihon Izimbetova ‘98 Nukus, Uzbekistan Tahmina Khakimova ‘96 Khujand, Tajikistan In Memorium
Uzbek Alumni Take a Hands-on Approach to Global Youth Service Day.
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Letter from the Editor Dear Alumni, Which word associations come to mind when you read the theme of this issue: political participation? For many, voting and elections are at the top of the list, especially given the dramatic presidential elections in Ukraine. Parliamentary elections are about to take place in Uzbekistan, and earlier this fall voters in the U.S. and Kazakhstan also took to the polls. In 2005 elections are planned in Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, and Tajikistan. As you read this edition, though, you’ll find that our alumni authors take the responsibility of political participation more broadly. Pavel Khizhnyak ’96, in his article about the Beslan tragedy, challenges us all to consider how we can address the underlying problems, which give birth to acts of terrorism. The Alumni Beat section highlights incredibly creative alumni 2004 Global Youth Service Day initiatives, which took place across Eurasia. They demonstrated through their projects the power of youth activism. Don’t miss the announcement about the 2005 FLEX Alumni Grants Program. The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs again has designated funds for FLEX alumni to initiate social, economic, and civic development projects of your own design in your home countries. With a February 15, 2005 deadline, you have time to develop grant proposals for projects that may be conducted on your own, or with classmates, co-workers, or other like-minded people in your communities. In August, a group of Moscow alumni with media and journalism expertise challenged The Bradley Heraldd Editorial Board to give the publication a face-lift. They asked us to publish more good photos, add new columns, including hot topics being discussed in the U.S., professional advice, and English language vocabulary building, among others. They also confirmed alumni popular opinion that the Bradley Bits section is the one they read first, and asked that we include alumni email addresses so people can get in touch. We’ve started incorporating these ideas and hope you’ll let us know what you like! The next issue’s theme also offers a new twist: Creative SelfExpression. Please tell alumni about your vehicles for self-expression. We are ready to print works of fiction, poetry, photographs, sketches, cartoons and other expressions of your creativ creativity ity.. If you express yourself through motion or music or other mediums that don’t lend themselves to our publishing possibilities, we are open to exploring ways to help you share your activity with other alumni. Send your submissions and questions to bradleyherald@actr.ru by January 31, 2005. The issue after that will focus on the international higher education experiences of FLEX alumni. Many of you are pursuing or have already obtained post-graduate degrees outside of your home countries. Some of you chose to continue post-graduate studies immediately, while others worked for several years before making this decision. We invite you to write about those international academic experiences: why you took the step, what did you gain, how you evaluate the benefits and drawbacks, what were the challenges, what advice might you offer other alumni considering graduate studies. The deadline for submission is April 15, 2005. We look forward to hearing from you. As this issue should hit your mailboxes during the holiday season, we send you our warmest wishes for a peaceful and prosperous New Year! Stay in touch! Sincerely, Mary Shea Editor
Infecting Youth Mairambek Baataev ‘01 At-Bashy, Kyrgyzstan/Indianapolis, IN mairambek@yahoo.com A group of FLEX alumni who are students at American University – Central Asia (AUCA) won a FLEX Alumni Grant to conduct a week-long seminar in southern Kyrgyzstan’s Osh. Alumni, together with AUCA classmates, designed a seminar, the aim of which was to educate young people to participate in the socio-political life of the country. Organizers found it interesting to listen to the discussions of the participants – college students from three regions of Kyrgyzstan. Certainly, they expressed a variety of viewpoints and debated lots of issues. It must be stated, though, that from these first debates and discussions, too often one heard opinions such as ‘anyway my voice does not solve anything’ or ‘there is no effect from them [voice]’ or ‘my vote won’t be counted.’ You might say that there was a bit of leftover Soviet culture in their perceptions. They were enthusiastic and active in many things, but they showed no interest in participating or taking real steps in the social and political lives of the community. The trainers viewed these attitudes as an interesting challenge. We began to tell them real stories to break their distrust in politics, stories that were mostly taken from FLEX alumni and AUCA students’ lives. We told how we raised funds to help orphans by inviting people on Bishkek streets to put money in our donation boxes; how FLEX alumni
FLEX Grant Brings Together Students from Southern Kyrgyzstan to Define Democracy.
gave the gifts of "smiles" to sick kids at the Children’s Cancer Center in Bishkek; how FLEX alumni and AUCA students made personal visits to different companies to raise funds to address social issues. Moreover, we gave examples of young people in Kyrgyzstan working in public organizations and helping different political groups to achieve their interests; we named young activists who lobby youth interests on the national level. We built our lectures on real stories and achievements. It seemed as if our slogan was ‘Everything is achievable, just act.’ It was energizing and moving! Participants began asking how we did this or that, and asked us to tell more stories with real achievements. Perhaps there is a lack of information in these regions, but these young people were so active, we just needed to show the way. As a result, participants proposed an important idea – to build an e-network. They wanted us to provide them with activities, plus share information with each other. But more importantly, these young citizens began to raise issues in their communities and search for solutions by discussing them and consulting continued on p. 3
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Summit Agenda from p. 2
with other participants; some of them offered lists of non-governmental organizations in their cities and expressed the desire to volunteer and see real results. They sparked, infected each other, brought up crazy ideas, and were full of enthusiasm in developing their communities in social and political terms. We saw in them future leaders! We believe that they will be the ones who will build a strong civil society, the ones who will solve problems of their communities, and the ones who will contribute to the development of the country. They can do many things and together, by networking, they will achieve results similar to those of their FLEX fellows. Editor’s Note: Parliamentary elections in Kyrgyzstan will be held in February 2005, and Presidential elections in October 2005. “Active Young Citizen” Trainees Take a Break with their Alumni and American University-Central Asia Training Team.
Young Voters Make Their Mark 2004 U.S. Presidential Elections Tom Toomey Brooklyn, NY twt202@yahoo.com Earlier this year, MTV issued a challenge to young voters: to become 20 Million Loud in 2004. Getting there would be difficult; voter turnout among Americans aged 18-30 had been in steady decline, percentage-wise, since its peak of 47.9 percent in 1992 (according the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, an organization that researches the civic and political participation of young Americans). The logic purported by political theorists was that those numbers would continue to fall. Young voters, they said, couldn’t be bothered to care. Democrats and Republicans did all they could to motivate this group of voters, notorious for being reluctant to show up at the polls. Celebrities came out in droves to communicate the idea that it was cool for young Americans to be politically engaged. The Democrats had stars from Bruce Springsteen, Leonardo De Caprio, Ashton Kutcher and Whoopi Goldberg to carry their message while the Republican party had Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Dennis Miller, and Britney Spears aiding their cause. In the end, young voters gave everyone a surprise. According to a CBS News analysis of exit polls, more than 21 million young Americans voted on November 2, the highest number in more than a decade. In key states like Ohio and Florida, one in every five voters was under the age of 30. Overall, nearly 52 percent of all eligible 18- to 30-year-olds in 2004 pulled the levers and punched the cards, compared to just 42 percent in the 2000 election. “Yesterday was one of the most inspiring days of my life,” said Russell Simmons, Chairman of The Hip-Hop Summit Action Network (HSAN). “I saw young people voting for themselves, internalizing the idea that they know their voice matters and that they have everything to do with that kind of investment in themselves and their future. This is the first step in personal empowerment for young people and I’m proud to be part of it.” The outcome of the U.S. Presidential Election of 2004 is already clear, George W. Bush won reelection for another four years. Voters aged 18-30 supported John Kerry over George W. Bush, 54 percent to 45 percent, the only age group to do so. While many Americans have expressed shock, anger, depression over the outcome of the election, are young voters less likely to remain politically active? Was the sting of defeat too great for those who supported Kerry? Or can the 21 mil-
lion young voters carry the momentum of the 2004 election into the future? It all depends on whom you ask. “There was so much hype for change on Election Day, and it was disappointing that it didn’t happen,” said Juan Bonilla, a 25-year-old voter from Hoboken, New Jersey. “If anything, that inspires you. I know a lot of people are going to be disgruntled, and don’t believe in the election process anymore. But if anything, I think it’s a call for youth to get even more involved.” “The aftermath of the 2004 elections presents an environment where young people are challenging the established political order in the most profound and substantive manner,” declared Dr. Benjamin Chavis, President/CEO of HSAN. “The surge in the youth vote is the beginning of a new movement led by young people to transform American society.” While many young voters may not be happy with the outcome of the election, they do agree that the 2004 election should be seen as a rallying point. They realize the power they possess as voters. The voice of 21 million voters is too loud for politicians to ignore, regardless of party affiliation. They see opportunities to do more, become educated about government, they mention getting involved in state and local politics. “Democracy depends on an active body of citizens, said Cornell Woodridge, a 26-year-old campaign manager from Arlington, Texas. “And when those citizens become lazy and complacent about standing up, fighting for their rights and letting their voices be heard, democracy dies—and with it, a part of the ‘American Dream.‘” According to MTV’s “Choose or Lose” web site, many young voters cite former Democratic candidate Howard Dean’s grassroots manual, “You Have The Power: How to Take Back Our Country and Restore Democracy in America,” as inspiration. They also hypothesize that if the 2004 election was enough to mobilize 21 million young voters, imagine what will happen in 2008, the year of the next Presidential election. How about “40 Million Loud”? Let’s wait and see. http://www.mtv.com/chooseorlose/ Editor’s note: Tom Toomey has worked on the FLEX program for over 10 years throughout the former Soviet Union. He ran the ACTR office in Yekaterinburg from 1994-1997, conducted PDOs in all but two republics of the former Soviet Union, and continues to do a variety of work on FLEX. This past summer, he was camp director for the Youth Exchange and Study Program (YES) in Kyrgyzstan, a FLEX-like program, also funded by the U.S. Department of State, working with 40 students from Afghanistan. When not working on FLEX, Tom is teaching art and English as a Second Language in New York City where he lives with his three adopted Russian cats.
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Political Participation
Disabled People in Russia: Understanding the Problem Egor Solopov ’98 Volgograd, Russia / Bremerton, WA georgebest@mail.ru I was greatly impressed, reading the article “Learning about the U.S. Disability Rights Movement” by Alfiya Battalova in The Bradley Herald, d vol. 33, summer 2003. The problem she decided to mention is one of those, which is very important to discuss in terms of building a democratic society in the Russian Federation. I have a great concern, because I was one of the very first disabled FSA students from my region. While Alfiya has covered many major aspects of this case, Egor Solopov ’98 I want to add some things, which explain some differences between the U.S. and Russia, and to tell about my experience.
are the special sort of people – “cripples,” “God’s fools” etc. – and should be treated well, because who ever does anything good for them, will be blessed. “Negative” attitude is typical for ill-bred people with poor ethics and a low level of education. There are not many of them, but they can be met too often. They always laugh and point. Sometimes their aim is simply to take advantage of disabled people. “Positive, liberal, progressive, enthusiastic” people show much respect and admiration for disabled people. They’re always willing to help, if needed. People with a liberal and modern way of thinking believe that the disabled should get out as much as possible. They consider handicapped people as equal members of the society, and they have no psychological problems dealing with such people. The main point of this approach is that a disabled person should be active, attempting to integrate into the society. Not just sitting and waiting for help, but searching for ways to do what is possible, and integrate. Help is needed. In another words, the society should provide help only to those who wish to change the situation. I would like to describe the attitudes of the disabled to their problem. There are three basic types. The first one matches statements above. Disabled people with progressive thinking look at their problem with optimism. Of course, they understand that they won’t be able to change anything without the help and understanding of others, but they realize that they must take the first steps in this direction. The second behavior model is that the society is to blame. They consider themselves as offended by life. These kinds of people think that they don’t have to make an effort. They don’t act and demand more and more rights. This is a consumer point of view.
For many years in the Soviet Union it was considered, that there were no such people – handicapped, blind, deaf or mentally disabled. The Soviet The last model is like the one right above, but here people don’t demand government understood that actually there is such a problem, but they anything from the others. They never ask for anything at all. They believe never admitted its existence. Throughout the whole Soviet period of that they’re on their own, and they don’t need anyone’s help. Even if Russian history, handicapped people were isolated and kept at special someone offers assistance, they always refuse to accept it. “hospitals.” Society didn’t have any idea that there were such people in our country. So, this fact had a great influence on the common people’s The last two types of behavior are wrong, because in both groups attitude to disabled people now. It also formed the disabled citizens’ disabled people separate themselves from the rest of society. They attitudes toward themselves. With the fall of Soviet rule, the problem don’t think that they’re equal to others. was finally discovered. But still, when Russia had economical, political, I believe this is where civil society starts. If we convince people that moral, and other problems, this issue they’re all equal, and part of one society, somehow was forgotten. Since 1995, 160 students with disabili- it’ll solve lots of problems. Of course, since those times the governties have participated in the FLEX program. My stay in the U.S. was just a wonderful ment had established some social priviStudents’ disabilities include sight impair- experience. For the first time, I had the leges for the disabled, but it didn’t do ments, hearing impairments, and movement chance to try being on my own. Going much good. The legislative base wasn’t to school every day, getting to know and other physical impairments that impede many people, communicating widely solid at all, and it wasn’t always exetheir ability to participate in society. cuted properly. And laws can’t change – all of which was very unusual for me. people’s attitude. If a disabled person In the States, I surprised myself. The comes to claim his rights, he will get a negative impression, when a silent and grumpy person I thought I knew turned to be a ‘funny social worker or a statesman has a bad opinion of him. The reason guy’! In the company of people, I’ve started being silly, telling jokes, for it is Russian mentality, specific national character. The emotional playing tricks. I didn’t care what people would think of me. Everybody factor, personal feelings, likes or dislikes are more important than considered me a normal person, no matter how I looked. That’s why I laws, rules or ethical principals for Russians. No matter how much felt so free. I learned for the first time in my life how to be a terrific money I have, and how much I buy in the store, the shop assistant will guy, how to be useful to others, how to be a good friend and break never be nice to me, if he doesn’t feel good about me. the stereotypes. But still, the attitude may be positive as well. There are people who I’ve just graduated from the Pedagogical University with a Master’s are always ready to give a disabled person a hand. Here are the most degree. During my studies, I acquired great knowledge of pedacommon attitudes. gogic science and psychology. With my full personal background and “Indifferent” or “ignorance” attitude is the most common. A person together with progressive, professionally educated people, I feel free avoids any contact with the disabled. Sometimes he’s afraid or he just to help people with disabilities to overcome all possible problems. Together we can somehow turn the problems to a breaking point, doesn’t care. Most of them think that the disabled should be isolated. because this problem really exists in people’s minds. For 24 years “Orthodox Christian” attitude is typical for some of the Russian of my life, I’ve met plenty of people, whose minds have changed Orthodox Church priests and for dedicated Orthodox believers, but not greatly. all of them. They support the religious belief that all of the disabled
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We all have experienced the year-long program as high school students in the U.S., which widened our horizons and changed our life interpretation. Thanks to the FLEX program, upon return from the U.S., students got actively involved in social community service back in their countries, as well as in busiLeyla Habibova ‘00 ness development and government sectors. Turkmenbashy, Turkmenistan/Belfair, WA With knowledge and skills obtained, there leyla2001us@yahoo.com is another opportunity for FLEX students to Nadezda Yuzhannikova ‘98 advance. FLEX supports its alumni – this year Krasnoyarsk, Russia/Arlington, TX eight from eight countries of the former USSR nad1981@mail.ru to participate in an intense six-weeks summer program “Global FLEX Global Villagers Meet at American Councils Washington, D.C. Office. Village for Future Leaders of Business and Industry,” which is organized by the Iacocca Institute at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA. Founded by the wellknown American manager, Lee Iacocca, it provides an opportu-
Opportunity to Participate in Global Village Program
Global Village – Pieces of a Puzzle Karina Makarenko ’98 Kyiv, Ukraine/Asheville, NC karinamedik@yahoo.com I unexpectedly gained more than 80 new family members recently. Can you believe it? Coming to the Global Village, I didn’t even realize how important this experience would turn out to be for me. Global Village gave me a lot of new impressions, knowledge, deeper understanding of other cultures, and valuable experience. The atmosphere is unique, and makes you feel at home right away. The welcoming staff was highly professional and extremely friendly. They helped introduce us to people from all over the world whom we were seeing for the first time. Different as we all were, we somehow fit together like the pieces of one puzzle, a fun and diverse one. During the classes and discussions with the executive visitors, I acquired an understanding of modern international business concepts and peculiarities. While working on the project and country presentation, I mastered conflict management skills, improved my public speaking skills, and met an enormous number of interesting successful young people from all over the world. During the
nity for FLEX alumni to enhance their skills and knowledge and broadens the scope of FLEX impact in the business sphere, with more concentration on business and industry development. One has an opportunity to attend various classes, to interact with business professionals from American and international companies, and to take part in a multicultural team working on a real life project. The program brings together over 80 representatives from more than 40 countries each year. Upon completion of the program, one becomes an official Lehigh University alumnus/a and also joins a very active and exciting family of over 500 former Global Villagers from more than 80 countries all over the world. We encourage all FLEX alumni to apply. This is an amazing experience that will impact not only your professional growth, but LIFE in general. Best regards and good luck. Application available: http://www.iacocca-lehigh.org/globalvillage//
meetings with the executive visitors, I obtained a lot of useful information – how to plan and manage a career, how to balance career and a personal life, and the role of a woman in business. It is hard to think where else I would have been able to take classes like Creativity or Emotional Intelligence, or that going to a business school, I would learn Karina Makarenko ’98 and Kenyan Friend Display National Costumes. about the management of medical institutions. I had the good ECA support: U.S. Department of State made fortune to visit both a local hospital and a special tuition grant for the FLEX alumni. OraSure Technologies, a Pennsylvania medi- My outstanding FLEX experience helped to cal diagnostics company, about which I’d shape my personality and reinforce my desire to contribute to my country. On my return, heard so much. My family is all over the globe now. I feel that I have felt support for my efforts to be an a part of my heart will definitely stay with my active citizen. I still feel the program cares GV friends, but in return I’m taking a part of about me and helps me to succeed. ECA was theirs. When Ukraine had the first round of the one that I should thank for helping such our presidential elections (I told my fellow wonderful thing as GV happen in my life. GVers about it and about how important they were for our country right now), I had quite a few people writing me or calling, asking how it went. It was amazing to feel this support. This all would not have happened without
GV was just the beginning of a new exciting period in my life. I am open to new opportunities and what life has to offer. For I know, I can change the world, and you can, too, if you try.
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Political Participation
Anna Milutina ‘01 Kirov, Russia/Gig Harbor, WA amil23@yandex.ru
branches of power. Of course, such “government” will have power just to solve problems concerning youth and work on some youth projects, helping the city duma to formulate policies relating to students, but it is a great way to teach students how elections are held, how government works, and what role courts play in defending people’s rights.
We can read in the newspapers and hear on TV and radio people answering the question - how can Russia become a really democratic country where all the citizens obey law and respect each others rights according to what’s written in our constitution? But I think there is only one way for it to happen: to teach people how democracy works. After coming back from the States, I became interested in politics and joined the Youth Parliament Club in my city. This club attracted me as a future lawyer because the members of the club can watch the lawmaking process closely and have contacts with the city duma. I made many friends in that club, sharing opinions on politics in our country and city, discussing law-making techniques. I became involved in different activities; one of the most interesting projects is the “Youth State of Kirov.” Yes, it may sound utopian, but the club members want to build “a model democratic state” with three
According to the project, as many student governmental bodies as possible should be formed in Kirov educational establishments. With the help of the representatives from each one, the City Youth Parliament, Government and “Judicial branch” will be formed. We plan to hold the elections this autumn. We also decided to take part in the Second Youth Parliamentary Assembly in St. Petersburg to see if any other Russian regions can share their experience with us. As a delegate from the Kirov region, I made a report about the project and the work that had been done so far. All the members of the conferences agreed on the point that students should take part in governing their educational establishments and in solving their own problems; it seems like no one will argue with that. The coordinators of the Assembly also offered a project called Student World (www.studentworld.ru) as an international student union, or even
Students Formulate Youth Policy
Who is Our True Enemy? Pavel Khizhnyak ‘96 Blagoveshchensk, Russia/Virginia Beach, VA pavel_khizhnyak@mail.ru September 3rd. I remember returning that night to my apartment after a long and exhausting day in the office. It was 8:30 p.m. Vladivostok time. Two days before I’d heard on the news about the terrorists taking hostage of some 1,200 people in a school in North Ossetia. Like many others that night, filled with empathy about the destiny of the school children, their teachers and parents, I was anxious to watch the news. The human tragedy unfolding in the small Russian city of Beslan glued me to the TV and I stayed up until 4 a.m. I was flipping though the channels til the end of TV transmissions, occasionally verifying the information on the Internet trying to catch every word and image in the brief news reports that to me resembled a newsbreak from the inferno of the war front line. I realized that this was no longer a single act of terror. It was an ultimatum, a challenge cast to the entire global society. Terrorists had declared a total, cruel and full-scale war against our values and our way of life.
an international student state. Actually, it seems to me an even more utopian idea than ours, but you never know, maybe in 10-15 years something like that will take place. From my point of view, now it is too early to talk about such things, and it’s better to start solving the problems at the local level. The reports made by delegates from Pskov, Karelia, Nizhniy Novgorod and Kurgan told us about student unions, councils and governments in their regions. And of course special thanks to Vladimir Vorobyev - the president of charity fund “Student”- who organized and sponsored the Assembly. Too bad that because of visa problems some guests from other countries couldn’t participate. It is a good thing that more and more people get involved in politics or at least understand that they won’t gain anything being passive citizens who don’t care what’s going on in the political life of their country. I believe that clubs like ours help students to get political education and form their political opinion, which is the first step to having the democracy where the citizens are responsible for the choices they make. Dear alumni, if any of you are interested in our project or in the work of our club or have any information to share please contact me: amil23@yandex.ru.
Then I asked myself – why? Why did it happen? What did we do to prevent it?
we must eliminate first and foremost inside of ourselves.
My answer was - we did not do enough.
The only chance for our victory in the fight with terror is for all of us to unite and feel responsible for the lives of people living next door and across the street.
In the face of the new threats to our lives we need to rethink our strategy. Terrorism cannot be defeated and eradicated completely through the use of brutal military force. In this battle it is vital to understand that we need to cure the roots and not the branches. Terrorism is not the cause, it is a mere effect! Omnipresent corruption, wide spread ignorance and indifference to the poverty and social problems that surround us – these are the true enemies of the global society. This is what Moscow Alumni Gather Cards and Gifts from America for Beslan Victims in Moscow Hospitals.
That’s what I thought next morning, when I woke up to realize the rules had changed. I wondered how many felt the same way I did and asked the same question I did. How many more lives of innocent people can we sacrifice to learn what seems to be a very simple lesson -- when will we stop looking out the window in a desperate attempt to find a scapegoat to assign the blame? The primary condition to start this change is for us to look into the mirror and ask ourselves – what did I personally do to stop terror and to make this world better? This is not easy. It takes courage, true patriotism and consciousness. Ultimately it takes a civil society. But unless each one of us will have something to say to answer this question, there is no guarantee that Beslan tragedy will not come to your town.
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English Language Camp in Ufa Gulnara Salikhova Stover ’99 Ufa, Russia/Reedley, CA gulnara392000@yahoo.com I’m writing to The Bradley Heraldd for the first time. Does it mean that something exciting happened to me?… Yes!! And this “something” didn’t happen only to me, but to at least 100 people from my hometown. I returned home from my FLEX year in Reedley, California in 1999. I served as the local FLEX representative in Bashkortostan, entered university, went to the U.S. again and finally was invited to teach Business English at Bashkir-American InterCollege (BAIC) in Ufa. One day the director of the college started talking to me about an English language summer camp. He had ideas about creating a camp in or near Ufa, where children who are motivated to learn English could do it. All of our English
During that camp we also started working with Junior Achievement, a not-for-profit organization, which contributes to the business and economics education of young people throughout the world. We used their materials, which we all found very interesting. In the middle of the second week of our camp, we received information from Dr. Gersten that a videoconference with Assistant Secretary of State Patricia Harrison and Moscow Public Affairs Officer Larry Wohlers would take place. Several kids were selected to participate in the July 20 videoconference. I was selected to escort the children. The campers were very nervous, as they didn’t want to make mistakes while they were speaking, but they did very well. Dr. Gersten and General Consul from the U.S. Consulate in Yekaterinburg Scott Rauland also were at the conference. Another exciting event that happened during the camp was our boat trip on the Belaya river on a big steamboat. All the campers, teachers and counselors enjoyed singing songs, taking pictures and playing different games on the river. The very last day of our camp was a very happy and a very sad day at the same time. Very happy – because the project of that camp turned out to be very successful and all of us found many new friends, shared our experience with others. Very sad because it was over. The last day was busy and full of activities, including regular classes for the kids, a press conference with Dr. Gersten, the director of BAIC Dr. Shvaiko, Mr. Scott Rauland and some of the teachers and counselors; the final show with a concert; and the awards ceremony, during which all the students, teachers and counselors were given certificates of camp participation. About 50 students will be chosen to continue their study of English at BAIC as a part of the Department of State “ACCESS Microscholarships” program, administered by the Office of English Language Programs at the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Dr. Gersten will coordinate this project for two years.
Gulnara (Salikhova) Stover ’99 and her Ufa Campers Enjoy a Boat Trip.
teachers at BAIC were involved in the brainstorming. Finally the decision was made! With the support of the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, and particularly Dr. Bridget Gersten, and Mr. Eric Lundell, English Language Fellow, the camp plan was agreed upon. The summer camp ran from June 21- July 9 at a bilingual BashkirRussian school in Ufa. Seventy kids, mostly 7-10th graders from low-income families, were selected to study there. Seven teachers and seven counselors from among former participants of FLEX, the Community Connections USA Program, and the Fulbright programs were selected to work with the campers. Yuliya Polyanskaya ’04, Alla Mineyeva ’04, Maxim Kaledin ’96 and I represented the FLEX program. Each of the seven groups of ten students had “their own” counselor. By the end of the first week of the camp, each group had its’ own name -- spiders, pirates, cool dudes, funny city, etc - a slogan, a song and a newspaper. During the first few days of the camp most of the kids were scared, some of them even seemed afraid of us because we were so different from their regular teachers. As the days went by, our kids were becoming more and more open, they started smiling just like “real” Americans, and became more active. Every day each group of students had seven classes: English through Communication games, Geography of the USA, English through English and American songs, Grammar, English through Computer Games, English through video and movies, and English with a native speaker of English. During special “counselors hours” kids spent time with their counselors discussing problems, playing games, preparing for the Talent Show, etc.
Camp made me realize how helpful I might be to other people. Especially it’s great to realize that you can be helpful to children who may have never had such an opportunity to learn English. We are very proud that our camp was the first of its kind in Russia! If something like our camp will be organized in your city, I encourage you to take part in it. To see more pictures and read about the camp, visit: http://uscgyekat.ur.ru/v2/news/071204.htm Even though our camp has ended, I keep receiving calls and instant messages on my cell phone from the kids of the camp. They even offered to write to their school headmaster, asking him to let their favorite teachers and counselors work with them next year. I’m so happy to be among them. Isn’t that sweet?
Alumni Counselors Bring FLEX Spirit to English Language Camp in Ufa.
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Alumni Beat Global Youth Service Day (GYSD) projects, which alumni delegations first conceived during the 2003 Kyiv FLEX Tenth Anniversary Summit, and then carried out during April and May 2004, are the focus of this Alumni Beat. While alumni in more than 40 Eurasian cities led projects, 46 Uzbekistan alumni deserve special recognition. Working in Tashkent, Ferghana, Namangan, Andijan, Gulistan, Samarkand, Bukhara, Nukus and Urgench, they created a nation-wide effort, involving over 300 students and teachers from local schools and universities in projects that directly impacted 6,279 children, orphans, and students in their country. In the process, they also commemorated the Uzbek Year of Charity and Kindness, and demonstrated their resolve to work peacefully in the face of terrorist attacks, which took place in the spring. They created a website, which offers more details: http://gysd.freenet.uz. Don’t miss the chance to be part of this worldwide effort in 2005. Next GYSD is 15-17 April, 2005! See the site for updates and opportunities: www.gysd.net. All alumni are invited to join in. Think now about how to use this global action to promote youth volunteerism in your city or town.
Armenia Evergreen Future Tree Planting
protection. The tree-planting event involved members of the community as well as students from local schools. Through this event, the FLEX alumni promoted both cooperation and volunteerism in Yerevan.
Azerbaijan
Say No to Drugs Basketball Tournaments
Georgian Alumni Organize Chiatura Basketball Tournament “Say No to Drugs.” Minay Massimova ’96 from Baku Helps Build the Road to School at the Barda Refugee Camp.
Inspired by the 2003 FLEX Leadership Summit, the 15 representatives from Azerbaijan set out to help refugee children in the Barda region of Azerbaijan in their pursuit of an education. The rainy season in this region lasts nearly six months out of every year, making roads rough and muddy – often impassable. During 2004, these alumni researched the costs of road repair, held a charity auction in Baku to raise the required funds, and hired a construction crew to repair the roads between several refugee camps. They made the 7-hour journey from Baku to Barda several times to negotiate this effort and then traveled to Barda to participate in the actual gravel shoveling work. As of September 1, 2004, the targeted roads have been repaired, and the children who need to travel these roads to reach their schools are able to do so with much greater ease.
Connecting Generations
On April 16-18, 29 FLEX alumni planted 200 trees of six different types in Love and Faith Park of Malatia – Sebastia in Yerevan. The tree planting, which was organized by members of the Armenian delegation at the Tenth Anniversary FLEX Leadership Summit held in Kyiv in 2003, was organized in conjunction with the Yerevan Mayor’s office, and sought to beautify the park and encourage community involvement and environmental
Georgia
Bridge to Education
Belarus
Naira Astoyan ’02, Lia Avetisyan ’96 and Ani Hakobyan ’00 Plant a Tree in Yerevan’s Love and Faith Park.
pictures...will not only brighten the rooms of the elderly, but also bring light to their hearts.”
May saw the completion of the Belarus Global Youth Service Day project. The alumni team successfully combined an effort to support a local retirement home with an attempt to promote volunteerism among young people in Belarus. In response to a nationwide appeal to secondary schools, the team received over 420 pieces of artwork from school children across Belarus, all of which alumni framed and donated to the residents of the retirement home. “It’s so great to know there are young people in our country who are not afraid to be active, imaginative, and thoughtful,” said an administrator of the retirement home of the FLEX alumni efforts. Another administrator noted that, “These
On April 16-17, youth in Rustavi and Chiatura, participated in “Say No to Drugs” basketball tournaments, which were organized by FLEX alumni in an effort to combat drug abuse. During breaks in the tournaments, alumni gave speeches about the importance of staying drug-free, as well as messages concerning safe driving, the importance of volunteerism, and reflections about their communityservice experiences in the United States. In Rustavi, the youths also participated in an automobile and motorcycle rally. The two events encouraged the participants to express their anti-drug sentiments via colorful banners and drawings, and attempted to demonstrate the importance of a drug free life through activities and sports involvement.
Renovation and Cleaning of the Tbilisi Heroes’ Square Underground Passage Using the Global Youth Service Day and Youth Volunteer Day as internationally recognized days to show what young people can do, Tbilisi FLEX alumni, in cooperation with likeminded youth leaders from the YMCA, New Generation for Georgia, and Project Harmony, convinced young people that they could solve real problems in their city. Together they mobilized city authorities, community organizations, and Tbilisi’s young people to clean, repair and refurbish one o f the city’s central underground pedestrian passages, that had deteriorated to the point that people were afraid to use it. From April 4 to18, volunteers, in cooperation with the Tbilisi Mayor’s Office and other city offices, repaired the lighting system and cleaned the sewage system of the underground. With the support from the Central Fire Station, volunteers washed the walls and floor of the underground. Then students of the Georgian Arts Academy began decorating the underground
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Alumni Beat walls. On April 18, organizers unveiled the newly remodeled underground through art events and online press interviews.
Kazakhstan FLEX ROCKS (Renewal Of the City-centers for Kazakhstani Society) Kazakhstan benefited from three FLEX ROCKS events during April and May. FLEX alumni combined forces with volunteers from local universities, museums, and libraries, as well as with volunteers from other U.S. Government-sponsored programs, including the Peace Corps, to beautify areas in four different areas of the country. On April 17, volunteers picked up trash in the Central City Park of Karaganda. Then, on April 24-25, volunteers gathered on the left bank of the Vesnovka River to clear the area of garbage and leaves, and to plant a row of acacia trees, while volunteers in Kyzyl-Orda worked to beautify an abandoned park. May 10 saw a beautification project in Charyn Canyon National Reserve. Several of the events were covered by local media, and each of them left both the volunteers and the targeted areas in better shape.
Kyrgyzstan Career Development On April 17, 18 FLEX alumni in Kyrgyzstan reached out to students from several local schools, in an effort to teach the students not only about necessary job-hunting skills, such as resume creation and interviewing, but also about the importance of volunteerism both for the health of their communities, as well as for their resumes. Alumni taught the students about the demands of the current job market, and introduced them to the art of the effective interview through the use of mock interview activities. The second part of the project required that the students took action: each group was asked to create a volunteer project of their own. One group of students organized a disco, in which each person was required to bring a toy, which would be donated to a local orphanage, as admission. Other projects included toy and clothing drives, an effort to bring homeless children to summer camp, activities designed to keep elderly residents of retirement homes company, and the organization of a debate club.
and activity of alumni of U.S. Government sponsored exchange programs. The project focuses on alumni who live in regions outside of Chisinau. Volunteer alumni interns participate in training seminars, which offer them skills development, and support needed to foster their own imagination in creating and realizing their community service ideas. As one example, in May, these alumni interns organized a human rights activity that sought to raise awareness regarding the interactions among different ethnic groups, as well as issues affecting effective communication, conflict resolution, and tolerance. U.S. Embassy representatives spoke at the event, and addressed the importance of constructive interactions between groups of different ethnicities in a multiethnic country, using the United States as an example. Speakers also addressed issues such as stereotyping and used various activities to promote tolerance and awareness.
Russia Computer Skills and English Language Training for the Disabled in St. Petersburg St. Petersburg alumni ran a month-long project to offer hard-of-hearing students from school #20 the chance learn English and improve their computer skills. With the help
Karina Chupina ’97 Arranges English and Drawing Classes for Hard-of-Hearing St. Petersburg Pupils.
of the IATP Center and the GYSD grant from ECA, alumni and hard-of-hearing trainers gave free computer and English training, in hopes that the training would not only help the participants build their own skills, but that it would also enable them to train others. This project was a part of a larger effort to help disabled youth in Russia attain equality and get a head start on their future careers.
Moldova
Vladivostok
Bridges Between Us
Youth for Social Responsibility
The Moldova Bridges Between Us Project, now in its second year, is a national community outreach effort to increase awareness
On April 17, six FLEX and Undergraduate alumni from Vladivostok visited the Primorskiy Krai Juvenile Detention Center,
in the village of Vrangel on the outskirts of Nahodka. The alumni met with about 80 young men, who expected to be released into
Vladivostok Alumni Offer Convicts at Juvenile Detention Center #5 Information about Social Services Available to them upon Release.
society within the year. During an hour-long presentation, they shared information and distributed especially prepared brochures “Information on the rights of citizens of Primorskiy Krai,” which contained information on applying for a job and receiving unemployment allowances, as well as courses that are provided on how to find work after release. A team of 15 alumni collected information and prepared the brochure for publication in March and April. During the presentation they also offered details about where to receive free medical care, the rights of minors, education opportunities available, and local non-profit organizations that specialize in assisting incarcerated youth as they transition back into society. While the alumni recognized that one visit would change little, they felt encouraged when 15 young men from the audience stayed after the formal presentation, and asked questions about the resources available to them upon their release. Many expressed their hopes and dreams for a better life. Detention Center officials also asked the alumni to come again and share information about employment and educational opportunities.
Samara Save Our Libraries Samara alumni spent several weeks collecting books to be donated to local children’s libraries and orphanages. The group announced the book drive to the community and to several city organizations and were able to collect over 3500 books for the children of Samara. “This was a wonderful idea and a great effort of the Samara alumni and Samara students,” says the head of the children’s library, Vladimir Vasilievich Dolonov. “It gives me hope that the childhoods of the kids who often come to our library will be filled with dreams and adventures described in the books, instead of the idle search of cheap entertainment in the streets.” The project
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Alumni Beat awakened a sense of volunteerism within the city and provided the libraries with enough books to keep kids busy for years to come.
Volzhsky Training Camp for Active Youth Volgograd and Volzhsky FLEX alumni teamed up with partners at Project Harmony, Volzhskiy School for Active Leaders “Perviye Lastochki,” Volzhsky City Administration
drug experts from DCA, trainers of Internet Learning Centers with Relief International, and FLEX alumni. “Children against Drugs” was an effort to promote awareness among youth in Tajikistan on drug issues, fight illegal drug trade and prevent drug addiction among secondary school students in the 9th-11th grades by means of Internet opportunities. Through the use of Relief International Schools Online websites, alumni received over 795 messages, with over 200 registered users throughout Tajikistan in this on-line project. An essay and drawing contest was conducted to select participants for the online forum and a special online forum website (http://narcotics.tj) was established for this event by Jafar Asimov ’94.
Turkmenistan Hand in Hand, Together We Stand
Volshky “Goodwill” Camp Leader Elena Gladkova ‘99 Gives Interview to Local TV.
and Volzhsky Commitee on Youth Affairs to organize a leadership training camp for Global Youth Service Day. The best 40 applicants spent three days gaining practical skills on how to develop, implement and present community service projects at a camp in a Volzhsky suburb. They then carried out four of the best projects, including a theatre discussion for disabled youths, an art workshop for high-school students, a visit to an art gallery, and a five-minute ecological flash mob, in which the 32 participants quickly cleaned a public square and disappeared into the crowd. The Volzhsky City Administration and Youth Committee contributed 30,000 rubles (approximately $1000) in support of this camp.
Tajikistan “Children against Drugs” Online Open Forum Alumni held an online forum, “Children against Drugs!” on April 17-18. Through a partnership with Relief International Schools Online Program, the Drug Control Agency (DCA), and Babilon–T, a national Internet provider, this project was implemented throughout Tajikistan, for school students,
Alumni in Turkmenistan organized art lessons for children at five regional orphanages and gathered the best art works for an auction, Children’s Art Gala. Through the auction, held in Ashgabat, alumni raised almost $3500, and increased awareness among both the local and foreign community about the existence of such institutions, not only in Ashgabat, but all over Turkmenistan. Proceeds from the auction, were then divided among the five orphanages and used to equip playrooms and purchase art supplies for each orphanage.
Ukraine Kharkiv Global Youth Service Day Book Drive Fifteen alumni, along with school and university students, collected second-hand literature, textbooks, and encyclopedias, which they donated to a Kharkiv school. They also contacted bookstores and publishing houses to donate books directly to school. Volunteers also collected additional funds to buy additional literature and materials.
Kyiv Children’s Rights through Their Eyes On April 29, Kyiv alumni organized and conducted a training session “Human and Children’s Rights” for children at boarding schools #23 and #14. First, experts from the U.N. Focal Point trained alumni. They alumni taught children about their inherent rights through visual art and painting, which they chose as a creative, fun way to educate children about human rights. Alumni were delighted to see that children care about justice and equality. They were assigned different situations, role-played them and commented on the children’s rights and vio-
Dmytro Lulka ’02 Plants Flowers with Helpers from Odesa Children’s Shelter “Svitlyi Dim.”
lations of them. The visit to boarding school #14 was special, as Kyiv alumni organized their First Annual Benefit Ball in the support of this orphanage.
Odesa Flower Power On April 24, alumni marked GYSD by planting flowers and cleaning the territory of the Odesa Children’s Shelter, “Svitlyi Dim” together with many of the children who live there. The children who participated in the event received prizes for their efforts, and even more, satisfaction on seeing how easy and fun it was to make their home more beautiful.
Novovolynsk Lyceum Leadership Training FLEX alumni from the Lviv region held their Global Youth Service Day at the Novovolynsk Lyceum. Five alumni facilitators worked with 20 members of the school parliament and class leaders of the lyceum. They discussed the importance of young people’s leadership for the development of Ukraine, upcoming presidential elections and importance of their fairness, and relations between the U.S. and Ukraine. Also the participants shared their experiences of their own personal leadership and their future plans. At the end of the conference the participants were trained how to write a professional resume.
Uzbekistan Alumni organized many great events across Uzbekistan. In Samarkand, they organized computer training over ten days for 54 children from orphanage #9. Following the training, alumni invited members of the Samarkand
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Alumni Beat Bobojanova ’03, Elmir Engulatov ’03, and Yusufjan Sadikov ’98 organized a day of entertainment for children at a nearby orphanage. An Uzbek hip-hop band, “Imperator,” held a free concert for more than 150 children at Mercy House #20 in Khorezm, the Tashkent Alumni Perform a Modernized Version of “A Comedy of Errors” to Raise region’s only Money for Global Youth Service Day Projects. orphanage. In puppet theater to give a charity performance Nukus, three FLEX alumni, a Peace Corps for all 94 students in the orphanage. The volunteer, a Korean Overseas International next week, they helped clean up the nearby Cooperation Agency volunteer, and about Zeravshan reservation, a beautiful nature 60 students braved horrible weather to colpreserve that receives recognition and fund- lect 200 kilograms of trash and 50 kilograms ing from international conservation organi- of partially burned wood. Volunteers also zations for its care of endangered animals. erected signs asking future visitors of the In Ferghana, Rustam Haydarov ‘98 and Karina park not to litter. In Ferghana, Nadezda Halilova ’96 conducted seminars on youth Nikulina ’03, Ilhom Tajibaev ’03, and other service and the threat of HIV/AIDS at the community members joined together to raise Gymnasium of World Languages for 114 tenth awareness of volunteerism, to provide inforgraders. In Namangan, Sevara Hadjaeva ’03 mation about the ecological problems of and Hilola Nishanova ’03 organized a group of pollution in Ferghana, Kirguli and Margilan, students from the Academic Lyceum to give and to promote cross-cultural tolerance and a talent show for children at a local orphan- awareness. They organized activities in age. In Urgench, Sherzad Atabaev ’97, Guli many area schools to promote these goals.
Volunteers cleaned schoolyards and nearby streets, and planted hundreds of new plants. More than 3,000 students took part in this project, and organizers are creating a website to maintain communication among the volunteers and organizations that took part in this project. In Bukhara, Shahlo Farmanova ’94, Peace Corps Volunteer Laurie Rich, and students from the Bukhara State University Gymnasium brought toys, food, and school supplies to a children’s home. Later they collected clothes, toys, and other necessary objects to take to the 80 children who live there. Then in Nukus, Raihon Izimbetova ’98 launched a massive effort to educate students in Nukus about the proper use and conservation of water, by training 62 community youth volunteers about the most important issues regarding water usage in Nukus. Topics included water problems in Karakalpakstan, the uses of water in everyday life, water and the local economy, the water cycle, water conservation, and water distillation. The training also focused on what students could do on a personal level to save water. During the two-day event, 1,761 children were taught about water issues that affect them, their friends, and their families. Finally, Artyom Kursakov ’02 and Shehroz Narzikulev ’00 gave a presentation in Gulistan on the benefits of volunteerism to more than 30 students from Gulistan State University. They talked about the importance of youth service, its value for the community and individuals, and different examples of volunteer work.
FLEX Alumni Grant Program 2005 American Councils for International Education is pleased to announce the 2005 FLEX Alumni Grants Program. This program, funded by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the United States Department of State, was established in 2001 to assist former participants of the Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) Program, who are citizens of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan to contribute to the social, economic, and political development of their countries. In 2003-2004, 88 proposals were submitted for consideration, of which 41 were recommended for funding. Each application was reviewed by members of the
American Councils selection committee, and approved by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The reviewers evaluated the proposals based on four criteria: objectives, constituency, feasibility, and results, as well as its promotion of the values of the FLEX program in your coun-
try. A summary of those grant projects funded in 2004, as well as the 2005 FLEX Alumni Grant application form can be found on the grants page of the American Councils website at: www.americancouncils.org. You may also obtain an electronic copy of the application form by writing to fsaalumni@actr.ru. Please note that the deadline for submitting applications to your nearest American councils office is February 15, 2005 (postmark date). Writing a successful grant application is a time-consuming task. Completion of a successful proposal may take weeks. We encourage you to start working on your proposal well before the deadline, and consult with American Councils staff as you develop your project idea and proposal. Good luck!
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Bradley Bits Class of ’94
Class of ’96
Class of ’97
Georgia
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Eka Zguladze is working as the head of the Information and Public Participation Program at the Regional Environmental Center for the Caucasus. http://rec.caucasus.net
Jahangir Tagiev,, one of the founders of the Azerbaijan Rugby Federation, was recently elected president. The federation was accepted by the European branch of the international rugby board responsible for developing rugby in Europe. As a result, the Azerbaijan Rugby Federation will play in the European championship and World Cup qualifying games. He currently works as a quality assurance auditor/ quality control inspector at McDermott Caspian Contractors, Inc. JTagiyev@mcdermott.com
Ulviya Bashirova became a financial analyst intern at Alcon Laboratories headquarters in Fort Worth, which has been ranked one of the 100 best companies to work for by Fortune Magazine for six consecutive years. ubashirova@hotmail.com
Kyrgyzstan Nurlan Kubataliev is employed with the Technical Assistance for Commonwealth of Independent States (TACIS) project, which provides grant-financed technical assistance to countries of Eastern Europe and Central Asia and aims at enhancing the transition process. Emira Osmonova is working for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic.
Russia Petr Radchenko (Troitsk, Moscow Region) received a Ph.D. in statistics from Yale University, and is now working as a visiting assistant professor at the University of Chicago. peter.radchenko@yale.edu Tatyana Sokolikova (Magadan) graduated from Magadan St State University in foreign language uage studies, studies and is now studying at thee Magadan branch of Moscow State Law Academy. For F over four years, she hass worked for a Canadian gold-mining company om and received the standardized zed certificate of interpreter from the International nternational SSociety of Mine Safety Professionals. ofessionals. SShe was recently promoted too the position of o executive assistant to the he general direc director. tanya_at_julietta@rambler.ru anya at julietta
Ukraine Tetyana Suprunenko Loboda graduated from Kharkiv State Pedagogical Pedagog University and works in school ool #6 as a teach teacher of English. Vadym Tereschuk graduated from Kharkiv Law Academy emy and is n now the deputy head of the Ukrainian nian Union of Young Lawyers, and a laureate of the Presidential Pre Grant for Talented Youth. Vadym is now a legal consultant for the Ukrainian Centre for Reconstruction and Private Sector De Development, a project of the World Bank. This spring he was a guest speaker for the Khark Kharkiv Regional Voter Education Project. t. vadter@mail.ru. vadter@
Class ss of ’9 ’95 Turkmenistan Konstantin Yeliseyev works as a senior consultant ultant at the department d of Assurance and Advisory dvisory Services at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Kazakhstan. azakhstan ykon@mail.ru ykon
Russia Yuri Manjiev (Elista) is studying in the international tax Master’s program at New York University School of Law on a Fulbright fellowship award. manjiev@yahoo.com Evgenia Yevseeva (Bryansk) works at Moscow Proctor & Gamble as the training and devel-
Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it. Henry David Thoreau Please find a free minute and send your news to bradleyherald@actr.ru.
Kazakhstan Olga Guschina works as a quality control inspector at the Parsons Fluor Daniel Oil Company.
Class of ’98 Russia Pavel Rassadkin (Moscow), an avid traveler and IT specialist, is one of the creators of the website http://www.waytorussia.net/. Their mission is to communicate the unique character of Russia and to enable individuals, companies, and organizations make the most of their experience in Russia. Pavel is working with FLEX alumni as tour guides and partners. pashok@nm.ru
Ukraine Zoryana Bruher is currently working as American program coordinator at the Ukrainian-American Liberal Arts Institute “Wisconsin International University (USA) Ukraine.” She has also obtained a Bachelors of Business Administration degree in international business from Schiller International University, London, U.K. b_zorya@yahoo.com
Class of ’99 opment manager for Eastern e_evgeniya@hotmail.com
Europe.
Elena Kulchina,, a graduate student at the Far Eastern Technical University, worked for the Primorskiy Regional Administration on the economical development committee. She is studying regional economics of Pacific Asian countries at Kukushikan University in Tokyo.
Tajikistan Tahmina Khakimova (Khurjand) completed a Master’s degree in political science at Central European University, and then worked for the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe on media and gender issues. She is now studying Gender and Peace Building at UN University for Peace in Costa Rica. taxa1978@hotmail.com
Turkmenistan Alexander Li-Mi-Yan works as a technology engineer at the Turkmen Gaz “DASHOGUZGAZAKDYRYSH” in Dashoguz. defendor@yahoo.com
Kazakhstan Gaukhar Kenzhegaliyeva served as an interpreter for a group of imams traveling to North Carolina on the Community Connections Kazakhstan program. Gaukhar also visited her host family. gauhar_k@hotmail.com
Russia Irina Kobzeva (St. Petersburg) is earning a Bachelor’s degree in International Business at the department of business administration at Park University in Parkville, MO. She works as a program coordinator in the Department of International Education Study Abroad, and as assistant to the director in the department of International Student Services. Irina is also a social worker at the Rose Brooks Center, which provides domestic violence rehabilitation. irina_vk@hotmail.com
Turkmenistan Aina Myatieva studies in the international business and management department of the Saxion Hogeschool in Enschede, Netherlands.
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Bradley Bits Upon her return from the U.S., she worked for Doctors Without Borders, and Royal Haskoning, a Dutch organization, which completed a World Bank-sponsored water supply and sanitation project in Turkmenistan. She is currently working at IBM-Netherlands as assistant to a project leader in IBM’s advertising department. ainamyatieva@hotmail.com
Kyrgyzstan Sevara Ismailova is employed as an English teacher for fifth-grade students in Aga-Khan High School in Osh city; she also leads the Academic Integrity Club and promotes principles of academic honesty among college and school students. sevara17@yahoo.com
Class of ’00
Class of ’02
Azerbaijan
Kyrgyzstan
Aysel Seidova participated in a seven-day International Cultural Diversity Course for Trainers, organized within the framework of non-formal education of the YOUTH program of the European Commission in Budapest, Hungary. ayselus@yahoo.com
Georgia Sopo Titvinidze participated in the 2004 American Institute on Political and Economic Systems (AIPES) in Prague. As the youth program coordinator at the Urban Institute’s Local Government Reform Initiative (UI/ LGRI), she also organized the Youth Volunteer Day Cleaning Action in 11 Georgian cities. sopo_t@yahoo.com
Kazakhstan Dina Zhurkabayeva was the valedictorian of her graduating class at the Kazakh Institute of Management, Economics and Strategic Research. She combined her studies with work at the Eurasia Foundation and is now employed by the Oxford-based British consulting firm Oppenheimer Technical Assistance Consultants (OTAC, Ltd.) that is implementing the Global Opportunities Fund project: Developing Kazakhstan Energy Policy. dina0_0@yahoo.com
Moldova Natalia Graur participated in the 2004 Odyssey of the Mind Eurofest Competition in Budapest, Hungary, as the head judge. In April 2005, she will lead the team, which will host the Odyssey of Mind European Competition in Moldova. nataliagraur@hotmail.com
Russia Rustam Nechay (Tyumen), a student at Tyumen State Medical Academy, became the FLEX city representative in September. oddus@mail.ru
Class of ’01 Armenia Hasmik Chakhalyan won first place at the All-Armenian Public Speaking Competition, organized by the English Speaking Union of Armenia. In May, she then participated in the International Public Speaking Competition in London. hasmikchakhalian@hotmail.com
Aijan Karabukaeva served as a camp coordinator at the Democracy and Healthy Life Style Camp organized by the Community Action Investment Project (CAIP) and the Academy of Educational Development (AED), sponsored by the U. S. Agency for International Development. aijan_k@yahoo.com
Polytechnical Institute in Massachusetts, where she is studying computer science. olga-kostroma@mail.ru
Ukraine Tetyana Chupylko,, who studies in the Department of Economics at Kharkiv National University, was elected international relations director of the organization, InterAct, which is a youth branch of Rotary International.
Uzbekistan Sayora Hakimova became public relations coordinator for Westminster International University’s Student Union. She is responsible for the development and creation of the university’s website and the organization of the student newspaper. say_wiut@yahoo.com
Tajikistan
Class of ’04
Nodira Aminova is working as the executive director’s assistant at the Association of Judges of the Republic of Tajikistan. aznodira@yahoo.com
Moldova
Ukraine Kateryna Golitsina,, Ruslan Tykholaz (Vinnytsya), and Maryna Yaroshchuk participated in the Youth Leadership Program (YLP) organized by the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation. YLP was held in Washington D.C., July 31 - August 6. Alumni learned more about official U.S.Ukraine relations, public policy, and political processes through interaction with D.C. leaders from primary governmental, international, and private institutions. The U.S.-Ukraine Foundation funded the program and lodging. http://usukraine.org/ylp.shtml
Uzbekistan Aipara Berdimuratova became a distance-learning studentoftheForeignLanguagesDepartment (English-German) of Aktobe State University in Aktobe, Kazakhstan. She also works as a technical translator/interpreter at “KazakhOil Aktobe” LLP, one of Kazakhstan’s largest oil companies. aberdimuratova@yahoo.com
Valentina Brega,, Ana Ceban,, Zoia Chirca,, Lilia Fusa,, Nadejda Gnevaseva,, Diana Gonta,, Alina Graur,, Cristina Gutu,, Natalia Ionel,l, Anastasia Leanca,, Alexandra Sian,, Anastasia Trus,, and Elena Ursu were nominated as the Second Alumni Congress working group..
Turkmenistan Alina Penjieva attended thee Presidential Presiden Youth Leadership Conferencee in New York CCity in August. While studying in tthe U.S. she was selected as a student nt who had dem demonstrated academic excellence, nce, extracurricular ex involvement, and strong leadership adership poten potential. apenjieva@yahoo.com
Uzbekistan Murod Mamatov,, who participated in the Technology Ambassadors Program 2004, is now active in the forums of the Sc School Connectivity Program in Karshi and nd preparing a web site about the way of life fe in the U.S.A. U.S.A djmurod86@hotmail.com
All Classes
Stanislav Kim participated in the Fourth Summer Fulbright Institution Conference in Bulgaria and received a travel grant from the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy. stafawsteez@yahoo.com
Georgia
Class of ’03
Ukraine
Moldova
Kharkiv alumnae Elena Marienko ‘98 lenapm@yahoo.com andd Kseniya Isayenko ‘01 reactsiya@yahoo.com o.c assisted retired U.S. Congressional Representat Representatives Jack E. Hightower (Texas), Arlen II. Erd Erdahl (Minnesota), Tom Sawyer (Ohio) Ohio) and Gregory Gre Laughlin (Texas) during their ir visit to Ukraine Ukrain as the guests of the U.S.-Ukraine ine Foundatio Foundation.
Teo Leahu received a full scholarship to study at Yale University in New Haven, CT. teo_in_moldova@yahoo.com
Russia Olga Petrova (Kostroma) graduated from high school and entered Worcester
Sergi Kapanadze ’97 sergikap@yahoo.com rgikap@yahoo c and Nika Samxaradze ’95 gewuerth@caucas. gewuerth@cauc nett work at the National Security Council Counci of Georgia as policy analysts.
The Bradley Herald Page 14
Essay
Gladkovskaya Keeps Goals in Sight Yelizaveta Gladkovskaya ‘95 Yekaterinburg, Russia/Gulf Breeze, FL avril@freemail.ru
Yekaterinburg FLEX Alumni Assistant Liza Gladkovskaya.
It has been almost ten years since I left my host family in Gulf Breeze, Florida, and returned to Russia. Some might not consider that a very long period, but for me it is of great value. There were definitely ups and downs and sometimes I felt miserable, because I realized that my greatest achievement - being selected as an FSA finalist - would not stay with me forever. I knew I had to continue doing something to gain more self-esteem. Perhaps I was not always successful, but I kept on moving. It is more important to keep putting effort into whatever you do. Yevgen Chernenko’ 01 from Kiev and other alumni who say that the most significant changes occur not during the exchange year, but after it, are right. It’s 100% true. My stay in the U.S. provided the necessary background for my further development. All these deep changes did not happen right away. It took me quite some time to reach this point. I am sure there is still a way to go, but hopefully I am on the right track. I graduated from the Department of Journalism at Yekaterinburg’s Ural State University. I wrote my thesis on “The Influence of Mentality on Journalistic Activity,” comparing articles from Russian and American newspapers (Economist, t BusinessWeekk and The New York Times.) I analyzed how national and foreign journalists covered the same events and why their opinions were not always the same. U.S. Viceconsul Mr. Kimberly Hargan served as a referee for my diploma presentation. Contributing his expertise on press and culture issues, Mr. Hargan offered some very valuable comments on my research. My current plans are to further develop that research, concentrating primarily on political issues. Later that same year, I submitted my thesis to an all-Russian
competition of graduating students. The results of the contest were published in a professional magazine, where my work was mentioned as one of the most interesting ones. While I realize that I share this success with my supervisor, I am still proud. After graduation I began looking for a job, which was by no means an easy task. At certain moments, I felt terrible, but thanks to my persistence and a little bit of luck, I found a job as a business–assistant in a project funded through the European Union. For almost two years, I have worked on the Tacis Joint River Management Program on Monitoring and Water Quality Assessment on Transboundary Rivers, assisting the project team leader in organizing national and international seminars. Through this work I have gotten to know many new people, and of course have learned plenty in my professional field. After the project was finished, I returned to my Ph.D. thesis. I plan to finish my research and obtain my Ph.D. by next year. At the moment it is a goal to be reached. While I agree that there is no foolproof recipe for success, I would like to share my thoughts on pursuing goals. First, setting a goal should be your priority. As soon as you do this, you need to just go ahead and work to hit the target. It might take some time to know for sure what you want accomplish, but this is an indispensable part of the entire process. Among my most recent achievements, I would like to mention the individual FLEX Alumni Grant I received from the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs to support my participation in the “European Integration and Journalism” project. In April 2004, I participated in the Forum for European Journalism Students (FEJS) (http://www.djh. dk/fejs/) in Tilburg, Holland. At this meeting students from different European countries gather to discuss key issues. This year we discussed European integration with regards to journalistic activity. In March 2002, I also participated in the FEJS Annual Meeting, which took place in Helsinki, Finland. That year I also applied for a FLEX Alumni Grant, but was not successful. Luckily I did not give up on my idea of pursuing this goal, and prepared a thorough proposal for FEJS-2004. I guess within that two-year period, I had gained more professional experience, allowing me to write a stronger proposal. I was happy to realize that my wish had come true and my efforts were finally rewarded. No need to mitigate the role of personal characteristics, which are of great value in implementing our ideas. I’ve learnt to be patient, persistent, and respectful towards
others. I used to demand too much from people around me and wished that they were more active or less pessimistic. But now I have begun to realize that everyone has the right to choose. I have chosen certain life values and I am trying to live up to them. We are all different and there is no use imposing your beliefs on somebody else. Let others lead the life they want to, but do not let yourself be washed away by the stream of standard thinking. Be unique, be yourself, be an individual.
Azerbaijan Alumni Association (AAA) On October 12, Azerbaijan Alumni Association (AAA) celebrated its one-year anniversary and recent registration from the Ministry of Justice. More than 60 alumni of different ECA programs, as well as guests from the U.S. Embassy, international and local NGOs and the Azerbaijani Government attended the event. Fariz Ismailzade '96, who is the current chairman of the association, informed the guests about the past activities of the association and upcoming plans. He specifically pointed out that the alumni association, which was difficult to establish in the past, has finally been registered at the Ministry of Justice in September 2004. During the past year, AAA has started several projects, such as translating four American textbooks and organizing seven policy roundtables with representatives of the Azerbaijani government. Furthermore, AAA started its own radio program with the local FM station “Space” and monthly appendix to the most popular newspaper in the country “ECHO.” The goal of these programs is to provide the opportunity for alumni to speak on different issues of importance for the country and share their knowledge and skills with the Azeri public and policy-makers. AAA, which is run by the board of 12 alumni of ECA programs, also includes Fuad Huseynov ’00 on its board. Many FLEX alumni often participate in the activities and projects of the AAA. To learn more, go to: http://www.aaa.org.az/
Page 15 The Bradley Herald
Profiles Raihan Izimbetova Home town: Turtkul, Uzbekistan U.S. City and State: Sebastopol, CA Year returned home: 1998 E-mail address: rizimbetova@yahoo.com Education: Bachelor’s degree in law from Karakalpak State University in June 2004. Current Place of Work and Title: Director of the non-governmental organization “KaDem” Educational, Professional, and Personal Goals: I want to obtain Master’s Degree in Law, in the area of human rights. Professional: Continue working on the sustainability of the non-governmental organization “ KaDem,” as well as make it more efficient and effective in meeting community needs. Stay active in leadership development and change. My personal goal is to be elected as a representative for the national parliament of Uzbekistan Oliy Majlis. Majlis. An interesting FLEX alumni activity in which I took part: Last year I received a FLEX Alumni Grant to conduct the “HIV/AIDS and Drug Awareness Project Seminars and Sports Activities for juvenile criminals in Prisons and Skin Disease Centers for Prostitutes of Uzbekistan.” This fall my team won another FLEX
Tahmina Khakimova Home town: Khujand, Tajikistan U.S. City and State: Trenton, Illinois Year returned home: 1996 Email address: tahachka@yahoo.com Education: BA in Linguistics, MA in Political Science from Central European University, Budapest, Hungary. Currently obtaining a second MA in Gender and Peace Building, at UN affiliated University for Peace, San Jose, Costa Rica Highlights of my studies: I have learned a lot in the three months I have been at UN University for Peace. Our last course was non-violent resistance and civil disobedience of Gandhi, which is very interesting and a strong tool to resist dictatorship and injustices in non-violent ways. The main topic I am learning is gender and peace building, why women are less represented in decision making and during the conflict resolution negotiations. Educational, Professional, and Personal Goals: I would like to open my own NGO next year and start contributing to building peace in Tajikistan. My lifetime goal is to contribute to the development of gender equality in my country. The situation is getting worse and is really of a big concern to me. Also, I might in the near future continue my studies and do a PhD. How I feel about the future of my country: I am a realist, hence I see the future of my country more or less bright and progressive in maybe 40 years, if not more. However, since I am at this university, I learned a lot and I think that it all depends on us, the new generation. We should gather together and change the future of our country. I just really hope that most FLEX be more active at their region and not leave the countries; together we can overthrow dictatorship and bring democracy to our countries.
grant to conduct the “Rural Girls Legal Awareness Camp” from October 25 to 31 at the Aral Bolalar campground in Elleakala, Karakalpakstan. The main goal of the project was to teach gender and legal awareness to rural girls’ ages 13-16 years old. We held four classes a day for six days on subjects such as gender, self-esteem, and Uzbek law. We also held nighttime activities to help the girls meet each other and discuss what they learned during the day. New Project: Over the next six months, I will be working on a human rights training project sponsored by the United Nations Development Program. The main goals of the project are to recruit 20 law students from Karakalpak State University and teach them to be human rights trainers with special knowledge about the problems of disadvantaged groups. “KaDem” will also set up a human rights library for the public at the Nukus Resource Development Center. Through the trainings, we will provide an in-depth and functional human rights education to local law students, who will then disperse this information in the community. The law students will learn how to plan and implement seminars and work with disadvantaged populations while gaining practical legal experience they can use later in their professional lives. Right now I am reading: Managing a Non-Profit Organization in the Twenty-first Centuryy by Thomas Wolf. The FLEX Program is important: When I read Bradley Herald, Heraldd, I find out that there are so many of us who are not only identifying big or small problems in our communities and societies, but also doing our best looking for the ways of solving or improving the situation for better. This program is giving leaders who have already made positive changes. What I’d like to say to fellow alumni: I believe success is written for us in the sky; now just go and make it happen.
The local issue of greatest concern to you and why: Poverty, unemployment, oppression and discrimination of women, trafficking in women and Islamic fundamentalism, censorship of media. There are many other issues, which are of concern to me, but I think that the economic issues are number one. Maybe if we have better economic conditions, we will not have other problems. Because unemployment brings poverty, poverty brings our men in Tajikistan leave the country as illegal migrants to Russia, where they are treated badly; it brings women to become the head of the household, which is unusual in my region, since majority of men can not send money to their families because of their own illegal status. Women, who do not have an education, cannot find jobs and have to feed their kids. What can she do? She gets recruited into trafficking in human beings, not knowingly about consequences and becomes a slave in a foreign country. Discrimination against women is one of the biggest issues, since in almost all traditions women are humiliated and oppressed. Youth and younger generation is also a big concern to me, since they do not have anything else to do they get converted to Islamic fundamentalist or radical Islamic movements, just in order to be against the government and its corruption and dictatorship. Indirect government censorship of the media is a yet another big concern, as without free media and free, liberal journalists, we won’t have democracy. Right now I’m reading: Jihad: The rise of militant Islam in Central Asia by Ahmed Rashid. What I’d like to say to fellow alumni: Guys, I would just encourage all of you to keep in touch, we should have a network all around the world and we should change the world for the better. My life credo is: There is nothing impossible. So everything is possible. I would call alumni to be more active and to share their experience in their community and become an example of future leaders. Important thing is that change should come from you first and only then we can change the world for better, for peace and human rights and justice. If you support this idea, just write to me, we can share how to do it So, I call everybody to act, it is time for us to take action against violence and injustices in the world. Believe me: we are a big and strong power.
In Memorium Alexander Bakhmutsky ‘95 from Kemerovo and his father were killed in a car accident on October 1, 2004. You may send condolences to Alexander’s brother, Rev. Eugene Bakhmutsky, National youth/student ministry director of Evangelical Baptist Churches of the Russian Federation. bakhmutsky@online.nsk.su. Maxim Sisoev ‘01 from Tashkent, Uzbekistan, a student at Mississippi College, was killed in a car accident in Mississippi on September 8, 2004.
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FUTURE
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