Stories of IREX

Larysa Maksymenko recently returned to the Ukraine after experiencing college life in the United States through the Global Undergraduate Exchange Program in Eurasia and Central Asia (Global UGRAD).

In a slum near Kolkata, India, young children dream about their future. Eleven-year old Shaher wants to be a doctor. “I would like to work in the court,” says 10-year-old Imran. Thanks to the work of Hasnain Imam, a local teacher, these children now have access to basic education that can bring them that much closer to a successful future.

When applying for a Muskie fellowship, Marianna Tanina never imagined that she would soon be knocking on unfamiliar doors in a North Texas neighborhood.   Tanina’s expectations changed after she enrolled in her first semester at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA).  This fall, Tanina worked with other graduate students to conduct an assessment of community

Despite the challenges presented to her, Gulirano Saidova, a 16-year-old from a small village on the Kyrgyz-Uzbek border, is determined to further her education and improve the lives of others. In southern Kyrgyzstan, the lack of educational opportunities along with recent ethnic violence has hindered the ability of youth, particularly young women, to reach their full potential and to be leaders in their communities.

Rwandan civil society organizations are attracting private sector interest and investment to protect the environment through the IREX implemented Rwanda Civil Society Strengthening Program.

Challenge

Interactive theater performance raises awareness and engages audience of over 350.

When Umeda Shokirova came to watch a performance by a Youth Theater for Peace troupe, she expected to stay in her seat – not make an impromptu acting debut for an audience of more than 350 fellow university students and teachers.

Today marks one year since the massive earthquake struck Haiti on January 12, 2010, devastating the population and setting back years of development. Over the past year, IREX worked closely with our Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program alumni in Haiti to support their outstanding efforts to rebuild their country. 

Residents of Karak, a small city in southern Jordan, traditionally have had little media to provide local news and information. Now, however, they hear the sounds of Sawt Al-Karak FM, the Voice of Karak, a new community radio station at Mutah University launched with the support of IREX to support an already politically active citizenry. Thanks to the dedication of scores of volunteers, students, faculty, and ordinary citizens who are committed to the success of the station, Sawt Al Karak FM celebrated its first birthday on May 31, 2010.

What do NGOs focusing on women’s human rights, housing, child protection and higher education have in common? Much, when it comes to promoting joint Russian-American efforts to solve pressing social problems.