Project Updates

Levan Metreveli (Muskie ’05), a Georgian Member of Parliament, completed his Master’s of Public Health at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Having now returned to his home country, he continues to serve as a parliamentarian and is actively engaged in the development of a health-financing model with the Ministry of Health.

Dozens of people now gather in the heart of Ninotsminda to listen to Georgia’s first community radio station. The station went ‘on air’ in mid-March, but not having a licensed frequency yet, it is broadcast through a loudspeaker placed in the city center and linked by cable to the radio studio. Pending licensing, the Georgian National Communications Commission approved this way of reaching the audience.

As the world of broadcast becomes increasingly globalized, US educators are focusing on the international component of journalism studies. Student and faculty exchanges, academic study of international broadcasting, and the development of relationships and joint degrees between universities contribute not only to the improvement of the education of US journalism students but also to the experiences US educators can draw upon in the classroom.

In partnership with IREX, the Forum for Development and Human Rights Dialogue (FDHRD), a Cairo-based nongovernmental organization, has administered a series of training workshops aimed at supporting and improving the effective participation of parents and educators in the decision-making process of their local schools.

On May 3, World Press Freedom Day, IREX salutes the thousands of journalists, editors, managers, photojournalists, publishers, and owners who make a difference every day around the world simply by practicing their profession and providing citizens with the information they need to participate in their societies.

On April 18-20, students from throughout Ukraine gathered in Zaporizhzhya for a unique opportunity to hone their journalistic skills and network with colleagues. The event, a conference entitled "Student Mass Media in Ukraine: Reality and Perspectives of Development," was organized by Katerina Sirinyok, an alumna of the 2005-06 Eurasian Undergraduate Program (UGRAD).

On Wednesday, June 6, the United States and the European Union (EU) agreed to delay a United Nations Security Council vote on their joint resolution to grant Kosovo independence under international supervision until after the Group of Eight (G8) summit discussion in Germany. Special UN envoy Martti Ahtisaari recommended internationally supervised independence for Kosovo in April, but this proposal has been rejected by the Kosovar Serb minority, Serbia, and Russia.

Despite historic unpopularity, volunteerism in Russia has recently been on the rise, particularly among youth. More young Russians today are looking for ways to make a contribution to their society, and volunteerism has become a regular phenomenon in schools and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) across Russia, creating pockets of active citizenry in their communities.

On May 13th, International Education Program (IEP) fellows currently studying at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Georgia traveled to the town of Plains, where they met with President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn. While in Plains, IEP fellows had the opportunity to attend President Carter's Sunday School Class at Maranatha Baptist Church. The fellows also visited Plains High School, where both President and Mrs. Carter had studied.

As local Eurasian NGOs and individuals expand their role in providing social services and initiating community development projects, an increasing number of young people are looking for ways to get involved. Among those at the forefront of this socially minded movement are alumni of the Eurasian Undergraduate Exchange Program (UGRAD).