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ANNOUNCEMENT

H. Humphrey Program Alumni Impact Awards - Deadline August 15th The Humphrey Alumni are eligible to apply for an Alumni Impact Award of up to $10,000 to implement a project in their home country or region. These grants (which are awarded annually on a competitive basis) allow Humphrey Fellows to pursue projects that use the knowledge and skills they acquired during their Humphrey Fellowship year to implement a project in their home country. The Impact Awards are jointly funded by the U.S. Department of State and IIE's Fulbright Legacy Fund. Deadline for receipt of proposals - August 15, 2008. More information is available at the new Humphrey Web site, Humphrey Alumni page. Alumni can also find information about the quarterly competitions for Professional Development Awards on the same webpage.

RECENT EVENTS

PA Kyiv Sponsors Training Program on American Literature and Visual Arts

Around 30 junior university faculty members, graduate students and specialized high school teachers from all over Ukraine came to Mykolayiv on November 27-30 to participate in a training seminar entitled American Literature and Visual Arts organized by a group of Fulbright program participants and supported through a PA Kyiv Alumni Grants program. The seminar program included a number of presentations and master-classes by experts in American Studies and American Literature from the United States, Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. This seminar will help university and high school teachers develop new courses on American literature using innovative techniques.

Kyiv's Alumni Resource Center Filled for Screening of "Covering Catastrophe: Broadcast Journalists Report 9/11" Documentary

On November 9, over 30 UGRAD, Future Leaders Exchange Program (FLEX), Junior Faculty Development Program (JFDP), Teachers in Excellence Award (TEA) alumni, Fulbright scholars, university professors, and students gathered at the Alumni Resource Center in Kyiv to watch the moving documentary: "Cover Catastrophe: Broadcast Journalists Report 9/11."

The 45-minute film featured interviews of television and radio journalists who covered the tragic events of September 11. After the screening, ACAO Molly Stephenson moderated a discussion about the film. A number of the exchange alumni, who happened to be in the U.S. in 2001, recalled America's reaction to the attacks. The film screening demonstrated the importance of an independent and free press in informing the world about events. While observing new footage of the September 11 attacks, the audience reflected on the need to continue the fight against terrorism worldwide.

Experts Gather in Kyiv for Seminar "20 Years After Chornobyl"

On May 17-19, 2006 around 60 Ukrainian and American experts in environmental policy and management gathered at the Kyiv Alumni Resource Center for a two-day seminar entitled "Twenty Years after Chornobyl."

The project was carried out by a group of Ukrainian Fulbright alumni. The seminar explored the impact of environmental deterioration on human life and health, and the importance of public access to ecological information. Participants included USG program alumni, U.S. and Ukrainian university students and faculty, Ukrainian government officials and NGO representatives, and experts on radioactive contamination and hazardous substances. One discussion session focused on case studies from local communities suffering from environmental contamination. The U.S. Embassy's Energy Attache spoke about U.S.-Ukrainian cooperation in nuclear power security, remediation of contaminated areas, and joint environmental protection efforts. This event, organized by USG alumni, brought together Ukrainians and Americans - including students and faculty from Northern Arizona University and Kansas State University - to mark the anniversary of the world's worst nuclear accident and to discuss the impact of the disaster.

Muskie Alumni Highlight Potential Contributions to Ukraine

The Kyiv Alumni Resource Center, together with active alumni of the Muskie exchange program hosted a seminar entitled "From an International Degree to Shaping Ukraine"on Friday, April 14 to highlight the contributions that US-educated professionals could make in a new democratic Ukraine.

Roundtables featuring a mix of alumni and Ukrainian government officials from various ministries as well as representatives of international NGOs focused on how western trained professionals could make a difference in Ukraine business and economics community, policy formulation, and international affairs. The round tables were complimented by a job fair and sessions on job search strategies. U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine John Herbst addressed the final plenary session.

Ukrainian Contemporary Issues alumnus conducted "Education Against Drugs" seminars

On March 28-30, 2006, a Ukrainian Contemporary Issues alumnus conducted "Education Against Drugs," three train-the-trainer seminars aimed at preventing drug abuse among children and youth in Chernihiv.

Thirty-five high school teachers and 38 Pedagogical University students took part in the sessions. Trainers provided participants with skills and methodology, as well as teacher manuals, a documentary film, and student booklets that will enable them to introduce the program to approximately 3,100 schoolchildren of the 7th and 8th grade in 35 local high schools. To reach out to a broader audience, the project organizers also conducted a presentation about the project for the general public, mass media, and local authorities.

Carried out in cooperation with the Chernihiv Education Department, the Chernihiv T. Shevchenko Pedagogical University, and two local non-governmental organizations, the project goal is to enhance cooperation among schools, the NGO community, and youth in dealing with drug abuse.

Undergraduate Program Alumnus Helps Children in Berdyansk Learn their Rights

On December 15, 2005 Andriy Kurasov (UGRAD 2005) organized a training entitled "Convention of Child Rights" for thirty children from families facing hardship in Berdyansk, Zaporizhzhia oblast.

Participants learned about the laws protecting their rights, received detailed information about the Convention, brochures with contact information of local organizations that assist families in hardship and where children can turn for help.

This training was made possible with financial support from Project Smile, funded by ECA and administered by IREX.

Undergraduate Program Alumni Commemorate International Human Rights Day

On December 10, 2005 UGRAD alumni from Eastern Ukraine participated in a "Human Rights Protection in Ukraine" training of trainers seminar at the Donetsk. Edem Usmanov, a human rights specialist and professional trainer, conducted the seminar.

During the seminar alumni discussed the developing inequalities in social and economic opportunities in modern Ukraine and learned practical methods of how to encourage tolerance and active participation in protecting human rights in local communities.

Alumni pledged to continue the dialogue on this issue and planned follow-on events in their home cities with the help of practical materials developed and provided by the trainer.

Fulbright Alumni Conduct Workshop In Simferopol

On September 22-23, a two-day workshop “Education for Sustainable Development in Ukraine: The Role of Universities” took place in Simferopol at the Crimean Agrarian University.

A group of the Ukrainian Fulbright Scholars conducted this training workshop under the PAS Democracy Outreach/Alumni Grants Program for 30 participants (among them, ECA alumni, university faculty members, and representatives of the Ukrainian Ministry of Education and Science). The workshop was intended to promote new Sustainable Development approaches to educational processes in the context of the U.N. Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) started in January 2005. The participants of the training workshop were equipped with methodological techniques for updating existing or designing new university courses in their particular field of study to align them with ESD approaches. They also received a textbook that covers the basics of Education for Sustainable Development strategies in the world in general and in Ukraine in particular. The project participants decided to create a network of ESD specialists to exchange ideas and best practices in advancing Sustainable Development strategies in their particular area of interest.

The project participants developed a set of recommendations on how to use the best practices of the Education for Sustainable Development in the context of the higher education reform in Ukraine.

IATP Users Give Recommendations to Eurovision Participants

On March 16, 20 IATP access sites throughout Ukraine hosted more than 80 musicians, journalists, and other interested people to give recommendations to Greendjolly, a rap band, which will represent Ukraine at Eurovision.

Three musicians - Roman Kalyn, Roman Kostyuk, and Andriy Pisetsky - visited IATP’s administrative office in Kyiv to chat online with people wishing to comment and advise band members on their future Eurovision performance. The online chat began with questions on different arrangements for their song and the band’s plans following the Eurovision competition. During the second half of the discussion, participants gave tips on how to improve their performance for their Eurovision debut. In particular, Denys Nosov, a student from Lviv, suggested the band incorporate ethno-motives of Ukrainian folk music and traditional clothes. This online chat provided a unique forum for the lively exchange of ideas and thoughts in the cultural sphere and demonstrated one of the many ways information technology can facilitate dialogue on a wide range of issues.

Presentation on Politics in Kyiv

On October 14, PAS/Kyiv staff gave a presentation to about 50 staff, USG program alumni, and university teachers and students of English at the Window on America in Simferopol.

The program started with a short introduction of the video "Vote for Me," followed a 45 minute excerpt from the film. After the video, there was a question and answer session focusing on citizen involvement in elections at all levels of politics.

Community Connections Alumni Conference in Yalta

On October 16-18, Community Connections alumni in Business Administration gathered in Yalta for a conference, entitled "Human Resources Management and Organizational Development."

During the two-day conference, organized by Project Harmony, the participants discussed a vide range of issues relevant to organizational development, recruitment strategies and human resources management. Among others, the agenda included the following presentations: Conflict Prevention and Resolution; Integrated Staff Performance Management; Employee Performance Evaluation; Introduction of New Payroll Systems; Incorporation of Western Management Methods. The conference participant had an opportunity to hear from U.S. and Ukrainian experts in the field, and to share ideas and experiences with each other.

Ukrainian Regional Studies Conference in Kyiv

The conference "Ukrainian Regional Studies - Limits and Dimensions" was held October 22-24, 2004 at the Institute of Post Graduate Studies in Kyiv.

This conference was sponsored by the Fulbright Program in Ukraine and included representatives of the Public Affairs Section including the PAO, who addressed the audience at the conference opening. Ukrainian Fulbright program participants and their American colleagues participated in an open exchange of ideas on such topics, as Nation-Building Processes in Ukraine, Sources of Ukrainian Studies, Philosophical Foundations of Ukrainian Studies, Language Aspects of Ukrainian Studies, and Ukrainian Studies as Presented in Mass Media.

Youth Summit in Ternopil

On August 8-14, around 45 students from all over Ukraine came to Ternopil to participate in a Youth Summit entitled "Melting Snow - Developing Civil Society."

This summer school was organized by a group of FSA FLEX and Undergraduate program alumni under the ECA Small Grants program. The main goal of this project was to promote civil society values through organizing and implementing community service projects. Prior to the summit, an American instructor conducted a training for the organizers on how to become mentors for youth teams. These mentors in their turn held sessions for the participants on how to identify and assess the needs of communities, how to develop and carry out specific community-based projects, how to encourage local authorities, business and NGO representatives to participate in these projects. A special session was devoted to developing leadership skills.

PAS representatives made a presentation on several successful projects promoting civil society in Ukraine that have been recently implemented by Ukrainian NGOs under the U.S. Embassy Democracy Commission Grants Program. The IATP access site in Ternopil also helped the summit organizers to hold this event by developing materials for the summit, providing Internet access for the summit participants from other cities of Ukraine, and participating in project judging during the summit. Several summit participants from Lutsk, Olha Vorona (FLEX 01), Vitaly Lipich (FSAU 03), Olena Khadzhyohlova, and Serhiy Osiychuk developed a project, entitled Hear Me, aimed at teaching computer and Internet basics to deaf children with the help of the IATP access site in Lutsk.

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ALUMNI ASSOCIATIONS

Fulbright Alumni Association
In November 1996 the Academic Exchanges Office assisted with the organizing of the first Ukrainian Fulbright Alumni Association. Members of the Association are Ukrainian scholars and lecturers who participated in the Fulbright Scholar Program. Fulbright Alumni play an important role in ensuring the ongoing success of the Fulbright Program in Ukraine. 
http://www.fulbright.kiev.ua

Ukrainian Foreign Universities Alumni Association (UFUAA)
UFUAA was registered by Kyiv City Office of Justice on April 8, 1997. Members of the Association are those who held a BS, MS, Ph.D. or an adequate degree or successfully accomplished non-degree programs (2 semesters at least) outside of the former Soviet Union.
www.yale.edu/rees/tmp/uaa.html

FLEX Alumni Association
There are regional branches of the FLEX Alumni Association, existing on voluntary basis in cities where regional American Councils offices are located. Information about alumni activities is available from American Councils    www.americancouncils.org

Future Leaders' Community Web-Portal
http://futureleaders.iatp.org.ua/

Alumni Associations Worldwide

State Alumni Network
The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the US department of State (ECA) invites alumni of all ECA exchange programs to join State Alumni, the website by and for alumni.
Launched in April 2001 and formerly known as "State Exchange", the website is a way for ECA to stay in touch with its exchange program alumni, as well as a way for alumni to network and stay in touch with each other. The site offers alumni a calendar of alumni events, links to useful information, grant opportunities, and hob postings.
Registered users can also search the database of State Exchange community members to find colleagues, friends, and alumni with similar interests. Alumni are also given the option of posting their own news, events or links. To register, please click on the image in the right column or visit https://alumni.state.gov

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ALUMNI INFORMATION RESOURCES

Partner Organizations and Advising Centers