TAP 2005 Online Event
Chat Transcript, Saturday May 7, 2005
Pic.: Irina Chernenkaya (left) and Svitlana Taraban (right)


Carrie_Nedzipovik: The online event will begin shortly. Thank you.

Carrie_Nedzipovik: In this online event you will be allowed to submit questions to the speaker. If you would like to ask a question, please type in the space below. Please do not ask your question more than once. Be aware that many students are participating and not all questions will be able to be answered. We will begin in a few minutes. Thank you.

Carrie_Nedzipovik: Welcome students and observers. Carrie Nedzipovik, the moderator, will read your questions and give them to Svitlana or Irina. Please be aware that many students are participating and not all questions will be able to be answered. Thank you. While Svitlana and Irina are typing, please write more questions...

Carrie_Nedzipovik: And now, to present Svitlana Taraban and Irina Chernenkaya from TakingITGlobal...

Carrie_Nedzipovik: Svitlana was born in Zaporizhia, Ukraine, where she completed a B.A. in Russian and Ukrainian languages and received a Teaching Certificate. In 1998, Svitlana was awarded an Edmund Muskie Fellowship from the Soros Foundation that allowed her to complete a Master's degree in Educational Administration in the USA. She is now pursuing her Doctoral degree in Education at York University and a Graduate Diploma in German and European Studies...

Carrie_Nedzipovik: Currently, Svitlana is Regional Coordinator for the CIS and Eastern Europe at TakingITGlobal's main office in Toronto, Canada where she coordinates the project "Creating Local Connections: Russian Youth Online." She also coordinates Russian translation of the TIG's website, works with TIG's partners in Russia to develop projects locally and initiates new partnerships for TIG in Russia, CIS and Eastern Europe...

Carrie_Nedzipovik: Irina Chernenkaya graduated from the Moscow State University, Psychology Department with a specialization in social psychology. Her career in the third sector began in 1995 when she became a volunteer for the Moscow Sexual Assault Recovery Center. In 2000, she began working for American Councils for International Education (ACTR/ACCELS)...

Carrie_Nedzipovik: She has nine years of work experience with nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations. Since 1996, she has designed and managed many different projects and was faced with many difficulties in implementing social and community service projects in Russia. This made her realize the importance of youth in developing civil society in Russia. Currently, Irina is the National Program Coordinator for TakingITGlobal in Russia...

Carrie_Nedzipovik: Svitlana and Irina are going to answer students' questions about the use of technology, teens in volunteer service, questions specific to your project plans, networking and resources in Eurasia and the experience of returning to your home countries, among others...

Carrie_Nedzipovik: Again, welcome all students and observers; thanks for joining us. On behalf of Project Harmony we appreciate your enthusiasm for this event. Students, you may begin asking questions.

Svitlana_Taraban: Hello everyone, it's a pleasure to participate in this chat.

Anna_Yershova_from_Russia: Here is my question to Svitlana: Do you think that your website might be a useful tool for all TAP alumni can use to work on their projects. In what way?

Svitlana_Taraban: You can use our Project system which allows you to document the progress of the project, add documents and members of the project team. It's a great online tool for project like yours and a lot of people can see it. Also, you can communicate via TIG messenger with other TIG members working on similar projects. It's a great way to stay connected with active young people worldwide and to give visibility to your project.

Dildora_Mamajanova_from_Uzbekist: Very nice to meet you, Irina and Svitlana! Could you please tell us about how you started TakingItGlobal group, how you publicized it and what challenges you faced and how did you overcome them? Thank you very much

Svitlana_Taraban: TakingITGlobal was born in 1999 when its founders -Mike and Jennifer- who were 19 and 17 at the time decided to create an online platform that would bring together young people around the world interested in social change. Mike had a lot of experience with online companies but both of them had a strong social vision and were interested in social entrepreneurship...

Svitlana_Taraban: TIG grew from an idea that seemed impossible into one of the strongest youth organizations in Canada and a pioneer organization worldwide thanks to our multilingual online platform. TIG membership grew from few hundreds to over 80,000. This proves that young people can do a lot if they have a passion and a vision.

Cristina_Pascaru_from_Moldova: It's very nice meeting you. I am amazed with the things that you've already done, Irina and Svitlana. My first question to you is how did people from Russia or former USSR react to volunteer projects? Did they enjoy it or from the beginning it seemed like hard work without any rewards?

Irina_Chernenkaya: Christina, it is a good question...

Irina_Chernenkaya: Yes, sometime people from countries of the former USSR seem not active and they do not understand the volunteerism itself and do not want to do some social projects...

Irina_Chernenkaya: but now the situation changes, and many young people are involved and serve as volunteers in many countries...

Irina_Chernenkaya: As for one example I can say that TIG has many volunteers (online) from different CIS/NIS countries. And you are welcome to join them.

Yelena_Osminina_from_Russia: My project is about clean-ups in Russian cities. Its goal is to persuade young people to contribute some of their time to help with this particular problem. Is there any place on your website where I can find information about similar projects and official programs led by cities' authorities?

Irina_Chernenkaya: Yelena, we have a database at our website...

Irina_Chernenkaya: and you can find here information about many organization. You can also find this information at our project section which Svetlana already mentioned...

Irina_Chernenkaya: and it is also possible to make a search of TIG member and find individuals who might help you.

Ilhom_Aliev_from_Tajikistan: What would you suggest as the best tool for developing the community development project, as there are so many obstacles to be faced? Thank you!

Svitlana_Taraban: Ilhom, I think it's important to have a framework and implementation plan for your project. Decide on the timeline, resources that you have, people and organizations who might be helpful for the project. Network with people and seek opportunities to present it in different venues. Look for potential funding sources for the project. I would recommend you take a look at our Guide to Action - it's a resource for people who work on projects and it outlines main steps in project development and implementation. It's available online in the Action section of TIG's web site.

Cristina_Pascaru_from_Moldova: Thank you so much for answering. Another question: What if adults completely don't agree with what you are doing and they don't even want to listen to you. What do you do then? Is there any way to change it? We've discussed that in Vermont, but I would also like to know your opinion from your experience.

Irina_Chernenkaya: Cristina, it is a very difficult question. And this problem exists in many countries and many young people who lived before us and will live after us will ask the similar question, I guess...

Irina_Chernenkaya: I would answer that you should know that your opinion is a very important one, and does not matter how old are you. You are a person who lives her/his own life and oldest people should respect this. It is a problem of tolerance.

Tatsiana_Urbanovich_from_Belarus: I found out on your web-site, that TIG organized different meetings for young people in different countries, where they can share their ideas and plans. Is it possible to participate in this kind of project for TAP participants? How can we do it? Thank you.

Svitlana_Taraban: TIG is active in organizing many youth events and campaigns. Right now we have a global project on youth and Millennium Development Goals. We also created Youth Creating Digital Opportunities Coalition and led many youth events around global issues. The best way to find out how you can get involved is to sign up on the website so that you can receive TIG Dispatch (our monthly newsletter). We also email members from a particular country if we organize some event in this country.

Dildora_Mamajanova_from_Uzbekist: My project is organizing a technology youth club, so what is the best thing to start with? Whom should I talk first? Do you think I may not be encouraged and will be ignored because of my age?

Irina_Chernenkaya: Dear Dildora, you can find people who may help you and have the same interests in IATP centers which work for FLEX alumni...

Irina_Chernenkaya: Another possibility is to find a support at a university (I am sure you are going to study in some of them)...

Irina_Chernenkaya: many universities have special IT programs. And find the support at our website. Please use our discussion board tool to share your problem and receive new good ideas and support from people who also have the same project. Do not give up!

Alisa_Lyudinshina_from_Russia: In order to involve people in any project we need something that will benefit them. What could be a good advice how to attract people to our work? Thank you

Svitlana_Taraban: Alisa, this is a good question. You could offer young people an opportunity to work on a project in a start-up mode which is challenging but also exciting. Explain to them that they can develop their creative and analytical skills, learn more about themselves and their community and will have a room to try new things and meet new people. I know of a youth web portal in Russia which started like that - a group of young people came together to develop a city-wide e-community for young people. Check Vasiliy's profile on Russia country site http://russia.takingitglobal.org, he talks about his experiences.

Jay_from_Uzbekistan: what do you think will be the best way to attract sponsors for my project?

Irina_Chernenkaya: Jay, first of all you should understand what your project is about, and what are its goals. Then design and articulate this clearly to your potential sponsors (fund, donors etc.) The best way to try something by your own is FLEX alumni grant program. Which gives opportunity to FLEX alumni to implement their own projects...

Irina_Chernenkaya: You also can find information about funds at TIG website in the "opportunity" section.

Carrie_Nedzipovik: Svitlana and Irina - many students are asking about TIG offices and projects specific to their countries. Can you tell us about TIG's presence in the various countries of the CIS?

Svitlana_Taraban: We often receive this question from young people in CIS countries. They want to work with us on joint projects. At the moment the only office we have (through a partner organization in Russia) is in Moscow. We also have a part time staff in Kiev, Ukraine, who coordinates youth and MDG campaign in CIS and EE. But we are exploring opportunities to work in other countries in CIS. We also have partner organizations in many CIS countries. We would be glad to work with TAP participants around their projects and support you in any way we can. If you decide to apply for grants as alumni and need institutional support and guidance in developing any ICT and youth related project, we would be glad to work with you....

Svitlana_Taraban: TIG programs in CIS are rather new -Irina and I joined TIG only last year so we are currently working on developing our programs in the region.

Carrie_Nedzipovik: Students, we are nearly done with our event. We have time for one more question before we close. This last question will be from Bonnie! Please be advised that a copy of the transcript for this chat will be on our website.

Bonnie_Smoren: The TAP students have had a very special experience by spending a year in the US. Some of their peers may resent them, or find it hard to relate. What do you suggest?

Irina_Chernenkaya: Bonnie, it is a very good question. Yes, some FLEX students are faced with this after coming back to their countries, cities, communities...

Irina_Chernenkaya: But I would recommend to not give up, and find older alumni who have the same experience...

Irina_Chernenkaya: you also may find interesting people (new friends) around you who might have the same vision. Please use the TIG site for these purposes, too...

Irina_Chernenkaya: And I would like to say to you that your age should not be a challenge for you. You have an advantage of knowledge and a good experience of living one year abroad, far away from your families and friends. You should be proud of yourself, please remember this!

Carrie_Nedzipovik: Based on the responses, I think that everyone appreciates this. Thank you Svitlana and Irina! The students, placement organizations, host families, host educators, and all others greatly appreciate this time that you have given us. A transcript of this chat will be available on the FLEXTAP website. Svitlana and Irina, I invite you to say a few closing words.

Irina_Chernenkaya: Thank you for inviting us to participate in this chat. Thank you for your interesting questions. It was a great pleasure to meet you online. Do not hesitate to contact me if you have questions or need a support (irina@takingitglobal.org). FLEX rocks!!!

Svitlana_Taraban: It was great talking to you. You are truly an amazing group of young people with innovative ideas and incredible potential to make a difference in your communities and countries. It's an exciting and challenging time in your life. It seems to me that a lot of your questions are related to how you can build on what you learn and how you can translate your ideas into action. I think you can find answers to many of your questions if you go to: http://about.takingitglobal.org/d/media/inthenews and read interviews with TIG founders Mike and Jen about their experiences of starting an online community and leading an organization before they turned 20. Their experiences resonate with so many issues that you raised.

Carrie_Nedzipovik: Thank you to everyone! Students, you may log off.