Project Updates

How can local service organizations best serve children suffering from poverty in Kazakhstan, a vast country where many of the poorest live in remote areas far from health and education services? One thing is for certain; poverty has a crushing effect on human capital and benefits no one in the most vulnerable members of these communities. But, questions of how the most vulnerable can be reached are not easily answered.

It is often said that youth are the future of a nation and that communities must be involved their education at all the levels. The IATP program is no exception to this belief, and frequently contributes to activities organized for or by youth and children. Continuing this tradition, IATP Center from Tiraspol hosted the fifth anniversary meeting of young traffic inspectors in September.

In the modern world, knowledge and skills with information and communication technology (ICT) is essential to finding work, especially in a difficult economic climate. Thanks to the IATP center in Moldova, two people have found a new job or earned a promotion after completing ICT training courses.

On November 10^th, 2010 IREX hosted the panel discussion "Women Peace Builders" which highlighted the role of women in peacemaking, the need to more fully engage them in peace processes and the obstacles to their full inclusion.  The event was one of several in the DC area marking the 10^th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, which calls on the international community to recognize the different impacts of

Here are a couple stories which other news outlets and organizations have written about the work and contributions of MUSKIE fellows.

An article on Nazrin Baghirova, a MUSKIE fellow from Azerbaijan, discusses her efforts to convey Azeri knowledge and culture:

"US Azerbaijanis Work to Keep Traditions Alive" (PDF) - Voice of America 

Levan Metreveli was already a Member of Parliament in Georgia before he arrived as a Georgian MPH Muskie Fellow at Emory University, and he plans to return to Parliament with a clearer focus on influencing public health legislation and services in Georgia.

Andriy Kovalenko, a Muskie Fellow studying journalism at Duke University, contributed to the development of Ukraine’s democratic process by serving as a volunteer election worker at the Ukrainian Embassy during the country’s parliamentary elections in March. Andriy spent the weeks leading up to the March 26 vote participating in meetings to discuss election day logistics and answering inquiries about voter registration from Ukrainian citizens that reside in the United States.

Natallia Kastechka, an MA fellow in Education at the University of Minnesota from Belarus, volunteered as a teacher’s aide at Wellstone International High School in Minneapolis. Her job was to help students understand the main concepts that the teachers were discussing in their classes.

Maksim Hajiyev’s work prior to coming to the United States to earn an MBA at Duquesne University involved developing information systems for nonprofit and humanitarian agencies. 

When searching for a community service project, Mr. Hajiyev was intent on finding a project that combined his skills and experience in information management with the opportunity to provide a lasting benefit to the Pittsburgh community.  After evaluating several options, Mr. Hajiyev found the perfect project through the Duquesne University Volunteers. 

Vitalie Diaconu, a Moldovan MA fellow in International Affairs at the Monterey Institute of International Studies, conducted his community service with Global Majority, a nonprofit organization whose aim is to promote nonviolent conflict resolution education, negotiations, mediation, and advocacy in Monterey County. Vitalie worked with members of the board of directors as well as with the interns enrolled from the second-year students from Monterey Institute.  In December 2005 Vitalie led a workshop for 10th graders from North Monterey County High-School.