NGO Support Centre "Garant," Archangelsk, Russia

"Garant" gives training workshops and seminars, networks through newsletters and publications and provides reference library services. "Garant" requested NGO program materials and VOICE researched and sent some of the newest NGO development materials in the areas of strategic planning, proposal writing, and fundraising. "Thank you very much for your work and concern . . .your materials will be very interesting and important for our local NGOs."

PIC-Legal and Information Centre for NGOs, Slovenia

PIC works to establish greater autonomy and civil society initiatives in Slovenia. In response to their request for materials on free legal aid and sexual harassment laws, VOICE sent models of Western free legal aid programs and samples of several U.S. state laws on sexual harassment.

Downside Up Children’s Centre, Russia

Downside Up is a charitable fund dedicated to improving the quality of life for children with Down Syndrome (DS). VOICE set up a linkage with the Tidewater Down Syndrome Association of Virginia, whose "To Russia With Love" program supplies posters, brochures, and videos in Russian to educate parents about the needs of DS children. VOICE also sent materials from the U.S. National Down Syndrome Society, with a possibility for translation and republication. "This stuff is really, really helpful. What we need most always is information! You are helping to make a difference in our families’ lives."

Belarus Association of Think Tanks, Minsk, Belarus

This group is currently conducting a series of seminars for voters in the small towns of Belarus, asked for help in obtaining voter education materials. VOICE sent U.S. models of voter registration projects from actual campaigns, as well as a series of pamphlets and brochures detailing strategies for picking and judging candidates and running successful voter registration drives.

Center for Philanthropy, Kiev, Ukraine

The Center for Philanthropy conducts a Library and Information Program which promotes the rise of philanthropy for development of NGOs and civil society in the region. VOICE is not only coordinating the purchase of books for the Center’s open access reading room, but is also offering to review and recommend suitable titles. "The obstacles of Ukrainian bank system impede the process of ordering the publications from different publishing houses, as it is difficult to transfer money in small portions. Actually, we need a partner who is able to collect the orders and purchase publications for us."

NGO "Navrat," Slovakia

"Navrat" recruits and trains foster and adoptive parents and then places children in their homes. VOICE created a linkage with the International Program Division of the U.S.-based organization, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, which is training indigenous social work professionals throughout Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union for the purpose of developing better foster care and youth support programs.

The Women’s Educational Center, Magadan, Russia, Far East

This group is the result of the collaboration between Russian and Alaskan-American women to serve the needs of women’s NGOs in the area. When they needed information on setting up a women’s crisis center, VOICE sent contact information for international women’s rights organizations, as well as U.S. women’s crisis centers in several states. "Thank you so much for the wealth of information you sent."

Independent Society "Human Rights in Georgia," Tbilisi, Georgia

This NGO promotes the development of education in the field of human rights and democracy. They are currently compiling organizational and training materials for how to set up a human rights reference library and documentation center. VOICE sent a comprehensive list of on-line human rights organizations, as well as a copy of A Guide to Establishing a Human Rights Documentation Centre, published by the Human Rights Centre at the University of Ottawa. "Thank you very much for your attention to our organization. . .We’d like to continue our cooperation."

Sandor Giliga, Tg-Mures, Romania

Mr. Giliga is a local journalist and radio personality who is leading a Hungarian minority youth movement to organize trainings and dissemination of information on diabetes mellitus, an illness which strikes millions of Romanians each year. VOICE established a linkage with an American endocrinologist who is offering them free translation and republication rights for his patient instruction manual and audiocassette on diabetes care. VOICE also sent an extensive list of diabetes web links and contact information for a leading pharmaceutical company and producer of insulin in Romania. "Thanks for the many informations. It is very useful to us."

The Western Center of the Ukrainian Branch of the World Laboratory, Ukraine

This NGO is a department of the international organization, International Center for Scientific Culture, which works in the field of ecological education. The World Lab requested proposal writing and strategic planning materials in order to better advise grant-seeking Ukrainian scientists. VOICE sent several publications by major U.S. foundations and nonprofit associations, as well as information on funding for Ukrainian environmental projects. "The lack of resources of information prevent us from working with full strength. We believe that informational service provided by you can be of great assistance for us and other Ukrainian NGOs, with which we closely collaborate."

Research Center "Youth and Democracy," Azerbaijan

RCYD is a research organization devoted to promoting regional awareness of youth rights. In response to RCYD’s request for youth rights legislation and educational materials, VOICE sent transcripts of U.N. Conventions on the Rights of the Child, as well as web links for youth rights organizations around the world. "In Azerbaijan, as well as in other countries of the former USSR, this is a very serious problem because people are poorly informed about their rights. . .I will be very grateful for any of your responses."

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