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Key Conversations for Development April 2, 2013 by W. Robert Pearson A recent Pew Research poll showed that the three budget accounts that Americans most wanted to cut were foreign assistance, the State Department and unemployment benefits. This may be based in part on the wide misperception and overestimation of the overall amount of foreign aid in the US budget. (It is less than 1%.)	Reflections on Obama Visit to West Bank Youth Center April 1, 2013 Last month, IREX Country Director and Senior Technical Expert Naser Al-Ardah, had the privilege of participating in President Obama’s visit to a youth center in West Bank. In an interview with IREX’ s Communications Manager, he offers his thoughts on the historic visit and the challenges and opportunities for youth in the region.
IREX Donates Collection to Local Libraries and Research Centers March 27, 2013 After 45 years of sponsoring U.S. scholar research to Eastern Europe and Eurasia, IREX is pleased to share its alumni publications with local university libraries and research centers. In continuation of its partnership and support of local institutions, IREX donated its collection of Eastern European and Eurasian Studies books, articles, dissertations, and journals to several local universities.	Free Public Access to Internet Expands in Moldova Libraries March 27, 2013 The Novateca program is giving many Moldovans free access to computers and the Internet. Organizers recently inaugurated six regional training centers throughout Moldova where librarians are learning to help patrons make use of the technology. By the end of 2013 more than 350,000 will benefit from free public access to the Internet.
What Do Teachers Think? Global Gender & Education Survey Results March 26, 2013 Pregnancy, early marriage, school fees, risk of sexual violence? What are the barriers for girls and boys going to school? As the education community envisions post-2015 Millennium Development Goals, IREX surveyed its pool of teacher-leaders alumni around the world to get a better picture of the ways gender impacts education. What impacts girls’ participation in school the most? What particular factors affect boys? Over 200 secondary school teachers from 45 countries responded to our questions. Here are some of the findings from our snapshot survey.	How Far We’ve Come: Women, STEM, & The Global Classroom March 25, 2013 “A STEM classroom must be a global classroom,” states Sharon Harris, a science teacher in Cincinnati, Ohio and alumna of the Teachers for Global Classrooms Program (TGC). “Science, technology, engineering, and math are not professions that are solitary. We live in a global society with STEM issues that affect us all.” IREX interviewed Ms. Harris in honor of this year’s Women’s History Month theme, “Women Inspiring Innovation Through Imagination: Celebrating Women in Science, Technology, and Math.”
Stopping the Cycle: Youth Tackle Violence in School Drama Club March 25, 2013 by Anne Johnson “I used to be kind of a problem kid,” chuckled Erzhan Kubat-uulu, a high school student in Kyrgyzstan’s isolated northwestern province of Talas, “My parents were often asked to come to school because of my behavior.”	Improving Water Sustainability in Peru March 22, 2013 by Tom Kelly For World Water Day and its 2013 theme, Water Cooperation, it is important to recognize individuals like Rodrigo Ponce who are working towards bridging the societal gaps exacerbating the water conflict in Peru. An environmental activist and 2012 Community Solutions Program (CSP) Leader, Ponce works closely with local individuals and groups in and around the Amazonian city of Tarapoto.
Women’s Voices Absent from Airwaves in Liberia March 20, 2013 by Bill Burke The images told a story, one of confusion, misunderstanding and the stark reality that confronts the men in this room on a daily basis. It’s a reality that poses a challenge for IREX and its partners. At issue: mainstreaming gender in community radio programs and policies. The 19 men here were in the central Liberian city of Gbarnga for a CSML-run gender awareness training for community radio managers and news directors. They had been asked to draw images of their understanding of gender, and their drawings spoke volumes.	“You’re Not Alone” - Mainstreaming Women’s Voices in Syria’s Transition March 18, 2013 by Michael Hendrix “You know there’s hundreds of thousands of girls like you, you’re not alone in this revolution,” Ms. Yaman Al Qadri, then 18, reminded herself after being arrested by police, detained, and tortured with electric shocks. Al Qadri, a peaceful Syrian activist, was held in detention for 23 days in 2011 for throwing pamphlets from the roof of a Damascus University building. While extraordinary, countless Syrian women share similar experiences, efforts, and determination. Along with the mounting lessons from history, this brings to light an important truth: Mainstreaming women’s voices is critical to the inclusive transition that Syria needs.