Announcements

On November 26-28, CSML hosted the “Advancing Women in the Media” conference; an event resulted in a comprehensive strategy on advancing women in the media, as articulated by attendees.  Nearly 100 representatives of the media and civil came together to review the media landscape in Liberia as it relates to the presence of women in newsrooms, women’s access to information and the advancement of women in leadership roles in the media and to advanced suggestions on

“Today marks a new era for our students and journalists – this center means the Erbil Technical Administration Institute (ETAI) can train our young people in new technology and modern media ethics.” With these words Dr. Azad Khoshnaw, the Dean of ETAI cut the ribbon to mark the opening of the Institute’s new media center on November 22, 2010.

The United Nations Children's Fund and IREX have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen reporting on children’s rights in Iraq. The two organizations will do so by training Iraqi journalists and media outlets on professional standards for reporting on children as well as empower children to produce content on issues they and other children in their communities are experiencing.

Forty Civil Society Organizations(CSO) from across Rwanda are set to receive grants of up to $5,000 through IREX’s Civil Society Strengthening Project (CSSP). The 40 CSOs represent constituencies across Rwanda, ranging from trade unions, faith-based organizations and those working to empower women and youth, to those promoting health, environment, human rights and rural development.

UNSCR 1325

A dear friend of IREX and distinguished alumnus of the International Leaders in Education Program (ILEP), Mr. Sidy Dieng of Foundiougne, Senegal passed away on October 8, 2010. Among the first group of Senegalese teachers to participate in the ILEP program, Sidy traveled to the United States in January 2009 for a five-month professional development program for international teachers.

IREX is pleased to announce the recipients of the TEA/ILEP Alumni Small Grants competition for the Fall 2010 cycle. After careful review of the 55 grant applications received, IREX, in conjunction with an independent selection committee and representatives from the U.S.

Elvin, an earnest exchange student studying at Berea College, Kentucky is savoring his last days in the United States before he has to return home to Mingächevir, Azerbaijan. “Last two weeks in America!" he proclaimed on the IREX’s fanpage wall on Facebook. It has been a long journey for Elvin Garayev since setting sights on studying in the United States four years ago.

Anush Kurdova, an avid photographer immediately dug into her sizeable image archive upon hearing about IREX’s photo contest on Facebook. The supply of photos was not scarce whatsoever because Anush has been mentoring youth in her own community for years, collecting photos along the way. When she finally chose a picture she felt was the most compelling and “storytelling,” voters responded remarkably by propelling her photo to a 2nd place victory.

After winning 1st place in IREX’s first photo contest on Facebook, Aleksandar Stojkovic and his HD flip cam are attached at the hip. “(The flip cam) I got from IREX is always with me. Few days ago I was an eyewitness of some arrest which I recorded with my new cam and that record was presented on our TV,” said Aleksandar.