Letter from the Executive Director
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Dear Friends,
Having just returned from a visit with the staff in our Moscow and Kyiv offices, I am filled with admiration for the remarkable work that is being done with individuals and communities throughout the Russian Federation and Ukraine. The creativity and commitment that I saw among our staff is very special. Having the opportunity to spend some time working together with staff has deepened my appreciation for the challenges of managing such diverse programs. It also affirmed my understanding of the reasons why Project Harmony continues to experience success. A shared commitment to high expectations in the development of new programs in partnership with communities and in supporting those at that local level who are doing the front line work has made for first rate results and a reputation that is serving us well and most importantly, is improving the lives of thousands of Russians and Ukrainians.
In Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, the story is similar. Project Harmony staff are supporting diverse projects throughout the Southern Caucasus. School based computer centers have linked children in hundreds of communities across Armenia and Azerbaijan with the wider world of new resources for their classroom studies. These centers also provide critical access to information and skills that are vital to local businesses. Additionally, Project Harmony is working with communities to:
- Establish four new community justice centers in Armenia
- Hold a Trans-Caucasus conference in Tbilisi in which police officers from across the region will meet to learn from one another about best practices in working with youth.
- Armenian police and classroom teachers collaborating in a curriculum focused on the legal rights and responsibilities of citizens
- Classrooms of children in the US connecting with their peers in Armenia and Azerbaijan to learn from one another about culture through joint projects
- Professional exchanges to the US providing in-depth opportunities to learn from American peers
The thread that is woven throughout these diverse programs is the belief that people know what they need, that their wisdom and experience deserves support and that face-to-face cultural exchanges cut through the stereotypes that so often divide us. When resources are provided that help individuals and communities to achieve success in the areas of life that are important to them, the way is paved for enduring change. Project Harmony staff are among the critical resources that help to make these individual and community based efforts a success. Please visit our program websites to learn more about our staff and the communities that they serve.
Sincerely,
Ann Martin
Executive Director
Project Harmony, Inc.
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