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East-East Program of Soros Foundation
The purpose
of the Program is to strengthen and creation new cooperation between
Central - East European organizations and specialists and NIS countries.
This program works about 40 funds of a network of Soros foundations
in the countries of former Soviet Union, East and Central Europe.
The program is aimed to resolve problems of transition period for
the post-communist countries.
These problems
are the following:
1. NGOs and
third sector
2. Economical reconstruction and privatization
3. Social issues of reforms and public health
4. Ethnic relations
5. Independent mass-media
6. Environmental protection
7. Problems of youth and democracy
8. Culture and reforms
9. Gender problems in the Civil Society
Since OSI-Azerbaijan
introduced the East-East Program in early 1997, it has become one
of foundation's most active programs. Since East-East began in Azerbaijan,
about 300 individuals have been offered an opportunity to travel
to various conferences, workshops, training programs and roundtable
discussions throughout the region. East- -East projects allow Azerbaijanis
to learn more about post-totalitarian transformation in the republics
of the former Soviet Union and to gain experience in their respective
areas of study. The many opportunities within the East-East network
are widely advertised in local newspapers, and all grants are awarded
on the basis of open competitions.
The strength of the program is that it promotes exchange of experience
in such fields as science, human rights, mass media and ecology.
In addition, participants have pointed to the significance of the
program in overcoming informational and cultural gaps between the
countries of Eastern and Central Europe. Some of the participants
share their experience in local newspapers, where they write about
the necessity of establishing long-term cooperative relationships
between countries to develop solutions to the problems of transition.
Countries involved in the East-East Program have different levels
of development and each country has its own specific needs. However,
they also have similar problems. The East-East Program helps to
develop common resolutions to complex problems through courses,
workshops and meetings. The program plays a special role in NGO
sector development. OSI-Azerbaijan supports participation of NGO
representatives in a broad array of projects within the network
so that they can apply newly acquired practices in their own organizations.
The summary of the East - East program activities shows that more
people are becoming aware of the unique opportunities offered by
the Program.
The 3 projects on the Environmental Protection by the framework
of Program have been carried out in Azerbaijan:
1.International Workshop "Ecological problems of Caspian sea
and ecological education in Caspian countries" , 18-20 November
1998/ Azerbaijan University/
This project was jointly with Central Asian foundation of Kazakhstan
and it was implemented in 2 stage. The first stage of Workshop hold
in Atiray on June 1998.
2. International Workshop" Ozone depletion and health consequences".
May 16-18, 2000 . Scientific- ecological society "Ecoil"
3. Training "Sustainable development of Caspian countries"
30 May-02 June, 2000
Contact:
Gulnura Mehdiyeva
39 Azadlig ave 370010
Tel:99412-412665 , 99412-412911
E-mail: Gmehdiyeva@osi-az.org
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