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UN Public Service Day: Using IT to Promote Transparency in Governance in Kyrgyzstan

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Among the nearly fifty recipients of the CAPS award over the last five years, Omurbek Ibraev of Kyrgyzstan stands out as an innovative leader promoting effective use of technology in the public sector.   In his work at Kyrgyzstan’s National Statistics Committee (NSC), Ibraev is coordinating a country-wide effort to promote open access to information through the digitization of local government statistics.

The United Nations General Assembly recognizes that “democracy and successful governance are built on a competent civil service,” and that strong public institutions require talented and dedicated individuals working on innovations in governance. But the decision to work in the public sector can be a difficult one, even for the most dedicated professionals, in countries where government compensation is far lower than that in the private sector.

From Cairo to Rio: Q & A with Mostafa Hussein on Rio+20

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At the start of the Rio+20 Summit, an IREX alumnus offers his views of the Summit and realities for green economic growth in Egypt. Mostafa Hussein is co-founder of SOLAR C3ITIES and an advocate for affordable, sustainable energy alternatives in Cairo. He is an alumnus of the 2011 Community Solutions Program. During his four month fellowship in the US, Hussein worked at the Institute for Market Transformation, where he learned about alternative energy cooperative models and market solutions for creating consumer demand for sustainable energy alternatives.

At the start of the Rio+20 Summit, an IREX alumnus offers his views of the Summit and realities for green economic growth in Egypt. Mostafa Hussein is co-founder of SOLAR C3ITIES and an advocate for affordable, sustainable energy alternatives in Cairo. He is an alumnus of the 2011 Community Solutions Program.

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Mostafa Hussein is co-founder of SOLAR C3ITIES and an advocate for affordable, sustainable energy alternatives in Cairo.

In Rural Romania, Youth Educate Their Peers on Public Health Issues

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Even in this day and age, in a country as developed as Romania, misinformation about HIV/AIDS continues to exist in the rural areas. A group of Roma and non-Roma youth took it upon themselves to shed light on the issue for their peers. Roma and non-Roma youth, aged 14-18, organized a training on the social and biological aspects of the disease for other youth in their school in a new series of workshops on community issues.

Even in this day and age, in a country as developed as Romania, misinformation about HIV/AIDS continues to exist in some areas. A group of Roma and non-Roma youth took it upon themselves to shed light on the issue for their peers. Roma and non-Roma youth, aged 14-18, organized a training on the social and biological aspects of the disease for other youth in their school in a new series of workshops on community issues.

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Youth in Focsani, Romania, decided to educate their peers on important social health topics like HIV/AIDS and first aid.

From the Stage to the Street: Youth in Kyrgyzstan Speak up about Conflict

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“Strangers used to scare me, and it usually took quite awhile before I would talk to new people,” explains Jarkynay Yrysbek kyzy, a high school student from Tokmok, Kyrgyzstan, a city that experienced violent ethnic clashes during the country’s 2010 coup. “But a year has passed since I joined YTP,” she notes, “and I can hardly recognize myself!”

“Strangers used to scare me, and it usually took quite awhile before I would talk to new people,” explains Jarkynay Yrysbek kyzy, a high school student from Tokmok, Kyrgyzstan, a city that experienced violent ethnic clashes during the country’s 2010 coup. “But a year has passed since I joined YTP,” she notes, “and I can hardly recognize myself!”

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Jarkynay is one of 98% of program participants who said they feel comfortable discussing conflict and peace with others, compared to just 29% of a comparison group.

After 10 Years, Ukraine Media Program Leaves Lasting Legacy

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Hennadiy Serheyev and his crew at TV Chernivitsi have come a long way to become one of the premiere news resources in their city, thanks to a partnership with WFIE in Indiana. It's just one of 28 similar partnerships that grew out of an effort to strengthen Ukraine's media sector.

UMPPWhen Lucy Himstedt watches news broadcasts of Ukraine's TV Chernivitsi from her home in the United States, she remembers it wasn't that long ago the station didn't even have a website. Today, it boasts a state-of-the-art news set and a sophisticated Internet operation.

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The partnership between WFIE Indiana and Hennadiy Serheyev, right, was one of 28 that strengthened Ukraine's media sector.

Liberia's Bus Project Picks Up Speed

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The Bus has officially arrived in Liberia, and it's going to need more seats. What started out in February as a small voter-registration initiative with 20 volunteers has exploded into a network now approaching 300.

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Eddie Jarwolo speaks with volunteers of his voter registration initiative. They now number nearly 300, up from just 20 earlier this year.

Not Your Typical Law Student – Lawyer from Tajikistan Helping Sacramento’s Poorest

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Saidahmad Ikromov defies the stereotype of the sober law student buried under a mound of case law books. He has stepped outside the classroom to link academia to real world practice in order to serve the community surrounding the University of the Pacific’s McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento. Ikromov has contributed more than 50 hours of free legal assistance to lower income, unemployed, and underprivileged individuals at community Citizenship Fairs in the fall and spring and at the McGeorge School of Law’s Elder Law Clinic.

Saidahmad Ikromov defies the stereotype of the sober law student buried under a mound of case law books. He has stepped outside the classroom to link academia to real world practice in order to serve the community surrounding the University of the Pacific’s McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento. Ikromov has contributed more than 50 hours of free legal assistance to lower income, unemployed, and underprivileged individuals at community Citizenship Fairs in the fall and spring and at the McGeorge School of Law’s Elder Law Clinic.

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Saidahmad Ikromov, a LEAD fellow, is gaining experience providing legal advice to underprivileged people in the U.S., which he can apply in Tajikistan.

Help is Only a Phone Call Away: Domestic Helpline Expands Services in Kazakhstan

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A domestic abuse helpline in Kazakhstan extends free counseling and advice to about 15,000 youth throughout Almaty and Astana, thanks to a recent grant from the BOTA Foundation.

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A counselor at the National Helpline for Children and Youth assists a caller. A recent grant allowed the helpline to serve approximately 15,000 more youth on domestic issues.

World Environment Day: Pakistani Alumni Lead Communities in Caring for the Environment

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In honor of World Environment Day, IREX is pleased to share the stories of two Pakistani students' grassroots work to clean up their community.

In honor of World Environment Day, IREX is pleased to share the stories of two Pakistani students' grassroots work to clean up their community.

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Fawad, a Global UGRAD-Pakistan alumnus, worked with community members to improve their local environment in Pakistan.

School’s Out: International Teachers Return Home to Train Their Peers

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After a semester of intensive professional development at four U.S. universities, class was over for the 63 teachers from around the world who participated in the International Leaders in Education Program (ILEP). As they gathered in Washington, D.C. last week during the final event of the program, it was clear that they were now more than master educators: they had become teacher-leaders, ready to share their expertise with hundreds of colleagues across the world.

After a semester of intensive professional development at four U.S. universities, class was over for the 63 teachers from around the world who participated in the International Leaders in Education Program (ILEP). As they gathered in Washington, D.C. last week during the final event of the program, it was clear that they were now more than master educators: they had become teacher-leaders, ready to share their expertise with hundreds of colleagues across the world.

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Teachers share the teaching and facilitation techniques they learned in the U.S. at the End of Program workshop
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