ECA Alumni Small Grants Program

Program Results - February 2006

INTRODUCTION
The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the United States Department of State, together with IREX (the International Research and Exchanges Board), is pleased to provide a directory of ECA Alumni Small Grant recipients and their projects from the February 2006 competition. The ECA Alumni Small Grants Program is a professional and community development program that allows alumni of select ECA programs to undertake a wide variety of projects. Alumni from the following ECA programs were eligible to apply for an ECA Alumni Small Grant in the February 2006 competition:

The Eurasian Undergraduate Program (UGRAD)

The ECA Alumni Small Grants Program allows alumni to conduct the following initiatives:

Implementing a public or community service program;
Launching a pilot program at an NGO or academic institution;
Organizing training programs or conferences for professional colleagues and/or other alumni;
Funding travel of US colleagues to eligible Eurasian countries for conferences, training programs and professional collaboration;
Development and publication of curricula, textbooks, or related reference or educational materials;
Publication of public information pamphlets or brochures; and
Conducting any other projects judged by the selection committee and/or ECA to be in the interest of program goals.

PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS

Tural Ahmad
Azerbaijan
UGRAD 04-05

Ahmad initiated an information campaign on the educational challenges facing orphans in Azerbaijan. With the help of volunteers from the local community, Ahmad collected books and other materials in English to donate to different orphanages in Azerbaijan. Additionally, English teachers and other volunteers visited these orphanages twice weekly for five months to teach English language courses.

Kakhor Aminov
Tajikistan
UGRAD 01-02

Aminov’s project developed training courses in management, finance, marketing and business planning for local small businesses. Twenty participants from across Tajikistan participated in a one-day seminar focused on small business development. Upon returning to their home cities, participants organized interest groups within their local communities and further distributed the seminar material.
Naimjon Avezov
Tajikistan
UGRAD 03-04

Avezov’s project, “Development through Education” (DTE), conducted intensive business management trainings for Tajik women interested in starting their own businesses. A total of 100 women from the Sughd region participated in the workshops. The workshops consisted of 12 interconnected sessions based on both the practical and theoretical aspects of small business management. DTE was implemented with assistance from the Economic Reforms Foundation.

Menana Gelashvili
Georgia
UGRAD 04-05

This joint project created two Scout Clubs in Rustavi. The Scout Clubs offer activities like training courses and summer camps to Georgian youth. This project selected children from local schools to participate in an intensive training on civic participation and the basics of scouting. After the training, the participants attended a summer camp where they learned more about scouting and civil rights. Participants then completed a final intensive training and received recognition for their participation.

Liliana Susenko
Ukraine
UGRAD 03-04

This joint project organized the “International Outreach Camp 2006.” The International Outreach Camp 2006 hosted three one-week camps for high school and university students in Eastern, Southern, and Western Ukraine. The camps were conducted in English and focused on civic education and leadership development. The main objective was to build cultural understanding, long-lasting international cooperation and strong local leaders.

Dinara Turabekova
Kyrgyzstan
UGRAD 03-04

This joint project initiated the “Isfana Summer Youth Training Program” which assisted the rural youth in the Isfana of Batken Oblast to develop their leadership skills. The program focused on issues such as discrimination against women, health and hygiene, and the environment. Through various workshops, trainings, and educational courses, participants learned important skills in advocacy and problem solving.

Anastasia Maslova
Russia
UGRAD 04-05

“Grow with English” developed a local resource center for English language and culture in the Uzlovaya region. This resource center helped high school English teachers introduce new curricula into their courses and gave them a chance to practice their language skills. The center continues to provide high school students with a place where they can access information about American literature and culture. Maslova also produced a book of essays about American life, which are kept at the resource center.