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 Boston-based staff members Elizabeth Cahill and Christine Flynn spent a week in late February 2000 evaluating the long-term impact of Project Harmony's Boston Community Connections programs. The Boston office has organized CC programs for two delegations from Tomsk, a Siberian city famous for its numerous universities and beautiful nearby forests. Liz and Chrissy went to Tomsk with the objective of reconnecting with all nineteen Tomsk alumni to evaluate the effectiveness of the hosting programs and to learn how their program experiences affected their lives and work. Ultimately, this insight will allow the Boston office team to tailor Community Connections hosting programs to better meet the needs and resources of future program participants.
Project Harmony's Tomsk Alumni
| "Our alumni in Tomsk are very optimistic and enthusiastic, even with the economic difficulties. However, without financial resources and direct investment, all of these initiatives will remain hypothetical and theoretical projects."
~ Chrissy Flynn, assessing the value of skills learned on Community Connections |
 Both of Project Harmony's Tomsk delegations came to the United States to examine business practices that they might adapt and use to improve the small business community in Tomsk. In November 1998, nine individuals interned for four and a half weeks in Boston area businesses including engineering, Internet and web design, construction and various retail operations. In March 1999, the second group from Tomsk took part in a two and one-half week seminar on small business development. Their curriculum included management training and resources, business planning and finance, grant writing and networking through professional associations.
Assessing the Program's Impact: Success!
Liz and Chrissy were pleased to find that members of both groups have remained in touch with each other since returning to Tomsk. Several members of each group had developed business collaborations with each other since their participation in the program. Here are several stories that participants shared with Liz and Chrissy:
 Felix Tarresenko is the Dean of Students at Tomsk State University, where he has taught Management Training and Business Systems Analysis for forty years. Because of his experience on the CC program in Boston he has changed his entire philosophy of teaching. In the past he believed that one had to change business practices or operations first, in order to have an impact. He now believes that one must change people's attitudes first, because people with the right mindset can create better systems.
Many program alumni have received promotions and begun new projects because of their experiences with Community Connections, including Svetlana Andreeva, Tatyana Kalganova, Nina Viakina and Elena Evgenyevna. Both Anatoli Shvaiko and Viktor Startsev, still Governors of their regions in Tomsk Oblast, report that they are doing very well in spite of economic challenges.
Pavel Khristolubov has embarked on a business partnership with one of his host businesses, Doubledecker Studios, in Boston, Massachusetts. Pavel and his company, TAVI, Ltd. are benefiting both financially and creatively from their relationship with Dmitry Guerich, Principal of Doubledecker.
Dr. Sergey Udintsev, in addition to instituting many procedural changes in his research laboratories, has also begun a major renovation of his home. He realized while staying with his host family (who were in the process of renovating their 19th century town house) that he could make his life better not only by improving his business practices but by improving his lifestyle. Part of his renovations include knocking down walls to make a large, sit down kitchen where his family and friends can spend more quality together.
Both of Igor Anoshkin's host businesses in Boston, Modern Continental and E.B. White Construction, were delighted with Igor's computer expertise and have maintained contact with him since his return to Tomsk.
Irene Karakaeva, who owns her own toy and shoe store, has stayed in business weathering the economic crisis. She continues to prosper.
And both Yaroslav Kovernikov and Irina Ermachenko are taking businesses classes and have switched jobs for better professional positions. Irina was recently promoted.
Results of Follow-on Work
Some of the most gratifying accomplishments of the follow-on trip included:
Networking Program staff met with a diverse group of local business people and educators. All of these meetings served to strengthen existing resources and develop potential opportunities for Project Harmony's alumni and partners in the Tomsk region.
Evaluating The effectiveness of the Community Connections Hosting program was successfully evaluated through individual and group meetings with fifteen of nineteen alumni, as well as in meetings with alumni a delegation that was hosted in New Hampshire in 1996.
 Reconnecting Alumni and staff were able to share ideas and impressions as peers. Program staff learned about the changes alumni have made in their personal and professional lives, reflecting back on the program experiences.
Planning Discussions were begun on opportunities for future collaboration between alumni and Project Harmony's Tomsk contacts in the fields of business and education.
Exploring Program staff, having never before visited Russia, were introduced to the culture, heritage, work challenges and lifestyles of participants. This will undoubtedly inform some changes in the program curriculum for the next Community Connections delegations that Project Harmony hosts.
Celebrating Seeing the results of the hosting program first hand was a tremendous boost to staff. According to Liz Cahill, "Knowing that what we do really does change lives for the better. It gives us confidence in our program and curriculum design and also gives us new ideas on how to design better programs."
Many Thanks
Many people put in their effort and time into making this follow-on trip to Tomsk such a resounding success. In particular, Liz ad Chrissy wish to thank:
Felix Petovich Tarassenko, who spear-headed our activities in the city. Sergey Nicolaevich Udintsev, Yaroslav Borisovich Kovernikov, Svetlana Ivanovna Khometcha, Irina Borissovna Ermachenko, Irene Rivkatovna Karakaeva, Pavel Sergeevich Khristolubov, Igor Alexandrovich Anoshkin, Svetlana Aleksandrovna Andreeva, Tatyana Vladislavovna Kalganova, Nina Anatolievna Viakina, Vyacheslav Valeryevich. Rustrashanskii, Anatoly Konstantinovich Shvaiko, Viktor Stepanovich Startsev, Elena Evgenyevna Vasileva.
Thank you especially to Katya Rahman for her flawless translation, sweet disposition and good humor. Last but not least, thank you to Lucy, Dasha and all the other friends who made the trip so special and who welcomed us to a city that is not so far away after all.
| "Our alumni are a bright and beautiful group of individuals. They are so hardworking, despite all of the challenges they face today. And no challenge seems too large. They saw our visit as a springboard to action."
~ Liz Cahill, on the motivation of alumni to create change in their communities |
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