Stories of IREX

Although IREX began its work in the Soviet Union more than 40 years ago, today we implement a wide portfolio of programs in 41 countries in Africa. More than 20% of our program budget goes to African civil society actors, journalists, teachers, youth, and community leaders. Our programs draw on local expertise, NGOs and staff to deliver sustainable solutions well-suited for the African context.
In honor of Africa Day, and the in spirit of unity and diversity it commemorates, we are pleased to share our new factsheet on IREX in Africa and some snapshots and thoughts from recent IREX visits to Africa.
 

Professor Michael Brown had never heard of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (KazNU) when Muskie fellow Askhat Yerkimbay began his studies at the University of Wyoming last fall. Six months later, Brown traveled to Almaty to teach a journalism seminar and to sign a formal cooperation agreement between KazNU and the University of Wyoming that will allow for future academic exchanges and collaboration between the two institutions.

In honor of World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, IREX is pleased to share this video interview with two students from Pakistan.

During the Spring 2012 semester, Uzair and Komal studied at American University in Washington, DC as part of the Global UGRAD-Pakistan program. Uzair and Komal took classes on campus in business administration and American studies, and integrated with their host community through cultural activities, community service, and giving presentations about Pakistan.

Luis Melgarejo is a passionate and dedicated human rights activist. A Community Solutions leader from Bolivia, Melgarejo channels his energy into fighting for equal rights and combating the homophobia that resonates throughout his country. Today, May 17, 2012 - The International Day Against Homophobia & Transphobia (IDAHO) , IREX recognizes Luis Melgarejo for the important work he is doing for his community and communities worldwide on this issue.

This year’s official celebration of World Press Freedom Day in Tunisia brought together over 700 media professionals, freedom of expression advocates, and development experts to discuss key trends in media freedom globally. IREX again played a key role.

High school gym teachers in Kyrgyzstan are using sports to promote ethnic tolerance and increase gender equality.  Last month, teachers Svetlana, Natalia, Nurbek, Nurlan and Furkhat travelled to the United States as part of the Kyrgyzstan Innovations in Coaching Kids (KICK) program.  On their first visit to the United States, the coaches came to observe American gym classes and meet with their coaching peers to learn new sports training methodologies and tools for integrating conflict mitigation strategies and girls more effectively into their schools’ sports programming.

Using the global World Press Freedom Day theme, New Voices: Media Freedom Helping to Transform Societies 115 participants from Liberia, Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast came together to assess the level of press freedom in the region and discuss the important role of the media in the reconstruction process in each of the three countries.

Journalists, journalism students and activists from Jordan and Lebanon who came together to learn about using online tools to raise public awareness about issues, immediately put their experience to work to promote the importance of press freedom. To commemorate World Press Freedom Day they produced viral posters and videos and formed a Facebook group to sustain their efforts.

“Global Education is important because it’s required to help students find meaningful learning that will fit the changing context of a globalized world. It will prepare them for a future we cannot see yet.”

As a teacher in a classroom of primarily immigrant and refugee students, in a system lacking the organization and structure to support such learners, Meg Riley faces many obstacles as she lives out her commitment to the teaching profession. Meg teaches at an urban high school in  Tucson, Arizona, where nearly 40% of the students speak a native language other than English. One major challenge she faces is providing adequate instruction to her English Language Learners (ELL) in a district that has restrictions on the amount of language support students receive.

With over 900 million users, Facebook is by far the most used social network and with further plans for its expansion across the globe, it is becoming a necessity for NGOs and individuals to open an account for communication. With this in mind, Social Media Exchange (SMEX), in cooperation with and funding from IREX Iraq, produced a Facebook Guide in Arabic.