2004 Press Releases

August 4, 2004

The United States Embassy to Moldova is pleased to announce the 2004-2005 Community Connections program and solicits applicants in three fields: media, non-governmental organizations, and public health. Thirty professionals from the Republic of Moldova, including persons living in the Transnistrian region, will be selected to participate in the program and spend approximately three weeks in the United States.

The Community Connection program is funded entirely by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State and is administered in Moldova by the Center for Social and Economic Development (CSED) in cooperation with the U.S. Embassy in Chisinau. CSED is a regional representative of Drexel University, which is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The Community Connections program is designed as a way for Moldovan citizens to gain practical experience in the U.S., to build bridges between Americans and Moldovans, and to provide opportunities to share expertise, knowledge, and experience. The program is designed for future community leaders with the potential to impact the economic and social life of their respective communities. In addition to the professional aspects of the program, successful applicants will participate in cultural programs and exchanges of ideas, values, and customs.

The Community Connections program offers equal opportunities to all applicants and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national or ethnic origin, handicap or disability. Preference is given to those applicants without recent experience in the United States.

The selection committee will interview applicants who meet the requirements of the program. An orientation program will be provided for successful candidates prior to their travel to the U.S.

No knowledge of English is required.

Applications are being accepted for the following programs:

Mass Media: A Critical Element of Civil Society -- News directors, editors-in-chief, and experienced journalists in print, television, radio, and electronic media are eligible for this program. This program will focus on the role of free and independent media in shaping public opinion, informing the citizenry, engaging citizens in an open exchange of ideas, and encouraging citizen participation in public life. The program will address issues of accountability and transparency in media coverage of elections and other political processes, the moral and civic responsibility of media in covering public affairs, and the ability of the media to influence the public based on the decisions taken by media representatives regarding which issues to cover, the way in which an issue is covered, and in editorial commentary.

Non-Governmental Organizations: Sustainability beyond International Donor Funding -- Leaders of non-governmental organizations with at least three years of consistent activity, holding senior positions in their respective organizations for no less than one year, may apply. Applicants should be responsible for developing and implementing strategies for the sustainable growth and self-sufficiency of their organization. Applicants must provide proof of NGO registration and three-years of consistent activity, including information about funding sources and project reports. This program will emphasize the importance of best practices in NGO management, including strategic planning, sound fiscal management, fundraising, and public relations. The program will particularly address the development of strategies for self-financing, community based programming, use of volunteers, and cooperation with private and public sectors. Participants will consider the differences between NGO management and the laws regulating these entities in Moldova and the U.S.

Public Health Policy and Education regarding Communicable Diseases -- Directors of health clinics and outreach programs, health officials at national, regional, and local levels, and leaders of nongovernmental organizations that have control over or are influential in making health policy are eligible for this program. Through this program successful applicants will have the opportunity to exchange information and share their knowledge about the design and implementation of public health policy and education for the prevention and treatment of communicable diseases such as tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS. This program will emphasize the ways in which public health policies are developed and outreach programs organized in the United States, including how volunteer programs are used in education, prevention, and treatment of communicable diseases. The program will also address the relationship between governmental and nongovernmental organizations in designing policy and outreach, as well as the role of the private sector.

The Deadline for application is 24 September 2004.

For application forms and additional information please contact:
Center for Social and Economic Development
Sfatul Tarii 27, room 4
Chisinau, Moldova 2012
Tel: (022) 22-42-71; 22-25-81
www.iatp.md/csed, office@csed.globnet.md