Patrick Perner, Chief of Party, Vitalina Khristoradova, Sakhalin Branch Director and Nina Danilyuk, Technical Specialist for the FOREST Project and Coordinator Halstead met with Sakhalin Oblast Governor Ivan Malakhov on March 31. The FOREST personnel informed the Governor of Project components, activities, and initiatives. Coordinator Halstead also reminded the Governor of the projects, priority areas and goals of the Regional Initiative Russian Far East. The Governor complimented several initiatives of the FOREST Project and noted the importance that the timber and forest product sectors play in the Sakhalin economy. He also expressed confidence in continued US and RF and Sakhalin cooperation particularly in the energy sector

The US - RFE Active Partnership Program - Cooperation in the Development of Medium and Small Business in Primorski Krai between partners Junior Achievement Primorya and Junior Achievement Puget Sound held a training conference on entrepreneurship and business planning and administration in Vladivostok on March 25-30. About 30 students representing institutions of higher education in nine cities and districts of Primorya attended. The training conference was held at the Maritime State University which through the Primorski Krai Department of Education provided large conference and round table rooms on a gratuitous basis. The training conference was also attended and conducted by Natalya Vitkovskaya, Program Director, Stoi Talbott of Junior Achievement of Bellingham, Washington, and Thomas Dorr, Director and John Sands, Lecturer for the Small Business Development Center at Western Washington University. Coordinator Halstead also attended the training conference on March 26 and offered brief remarks on the goals of the Program and regarding hopes that this partnership will continue long after the grant period concludes on August 31.

Elizabeth Houde, Director of Kidsave International visited Sakhalin on March 29-31. Kidsave is the American partner in the US – RFE Active Partnership Program “Crossroads of Life” which is addressing factors preventing local adoption and foster care of Russian orphans. Joined by Galina Kazachinina, Director of the Russian partner Podrostok, Ms. Houde met with: Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Mayor Hon. Fedor Sidorenko; officials from the Sakhalin Oblast Duma and the Department of Education; Partnership Program staff; and Coordinator Halstead as well as representatives from BP, Exxon Neftegas Limited, and Sakhalin Energy with responsibilities in the companies’ social sector humanitarian activities. At each meeting, Ms. Houde and Ms. Kazachinina stressed the need to maintain (after the grant period concludes on August 31) the currently being undertaken partnership efforts to find foster or adoptive families for local orphans. As follow up to such meetings, Podrostok will submit formal grant applications to each of the above mentioned western oil and gas implementers in addition to other donor entities. Ms. Houde and Ms. Kazachinina identify the most important of Crossroads of Life’s activities to be: 1) changing attitudes of Russian families toward foster care and adoption through social marketing; 2) facilitating short-term stays with foster or mentor families to get orphans awaiting permanent adoption out of orphanages; and 3) promoting the availability of long-term support for orphans as provided by medical professionals, educators, and psychologists. Evidencing success in these areas, eighteen Sakhalin families having some connection with the partnership are currently serving as foster or mentor families. Ms. Kazachinina also published an article on March 24 in the newspaper “Soviet Sakhalin” which has the largest circulation on the island explaining the activities of and philosophy behind the partnership.

Kimberly Wallace, Program Director for implementer the University of Alaska, Anchorage of a grant provided by the US Department of Labor to conduct oil and gas trainings for mid-level Russian managers, Thomas Case, Dean of the UAA College of Business and Public Policy, and Oliver Hedgepeth, Assistant Professor and Chair of the UAA Logistics Department visited Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Khabarovsk, and Vladivostok during the last two weeks of March. During the Sakhalin phase of the visit, the Alaskans met with officials from the Department of Oil and Gas Complex of Sakhalin Oblast, western oil and gas implementers and contractors, and awarded Global Supply Chain Management Masters Degrees to three Sakhalin residents who completed the GSCM program on site in Alaska. Additional Masters Degrees in GSCM or in Engineering and Science Management were awarded during analogous ceremonies in Khabarovsk and Vladivostok. As a direct result arising from the visit, the Department of Labor/UAA oil and gas trainings partially directed by the new degree holders will be held in each of these respective RFE cities during May and June. In their RFE endeavors, the visitors were assisted by the respective American Russian Centers and the RI RFE which provided scheduling support and meeting introductions. Coordinator Halstead also accompanied the visitors during their meetings and events at the Far Eastern University of Routes and Means of Transport in Khabarovsk on March 24. During the FEU visit, the Alaskans and Coordinator Halstead met with the Rector and Vice Rector as well as 25 third year undergraduate students who are headed to Anchorage in August for two years of study to complete their business degrees under the joint degree program with the UAA. The Russian students involved pay tuition as if they were residents of Alaska pursuant to a policy decision made by the University of Alaska Board of Regents which dramatically increases the ability of the students to so afford to study in the US. Assistant Coordinator Vasina also attended and spoke at the GSCM degree ceremony in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk on March 26.

The Internet Access and Training Project held a training seminar on the use of digital photographic technology and the internet attended by 15 persons on March 25. The training was held at the recently opened IATP Alumni Support Center in Vladivostok. The Center possesses 15 state of the art computers and is located in a downtown building owed by the Primorski Krai Administration which is providing the premises on a gratuitous basis and also paying for utilities. Coordinator Halstead attended the training seminar and offered brief remarks on the role of and regarding why the US State Department funds the IATP. Also present were Svetlana Lalitina, IATP RFE Director and recently hired Elena Melekhina, IATP RFE Alumni Coordinator who worked for the US Peace Corps RFE Program prior to its closing one year ago.

JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT FESTIVAL

The Sakhalin Junior Achievement Festival “Seven steps in the world of economics” was held in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk on March 25. 28 JA teams representing eight districts of Sakhalin Oblast participated. The participants demonstrated their strong knowledge of economics during various contests and presentations. Assistant Coordinator Vasina spoke to the participants with warm words of welcome. Sofya Pak, Director and the JA Sakhalin staff did a fine job of organizing the Festival.

The Replication of Lessons Learned Project, the FOREST Project and the Institute for Sustainable Communities together held a seminar on the introduction of energy saving technologies at the RFE municipality level in Khabarovsk on March 23. Project grant recipients and other entities working in the effective use of energy and natural resources sectors gave presentations regarding how the introduction of various technologies had made energy use more efficient, lowered utility bills, and improved livability for those affected by the technology. Alexander Levintal, Vice Governor and Minister for Economic Development and International Relations for Khabarovsk Krai, Yuri Kazakov, USAID/Russia Advisor on Environmental Issues, Tatyana Korobenko, ROLL RFE Director, Patrick Perner, FOREST Director, Richard Aishton, ISC Country Director, and Coordinator Halstead also attended and presented remarks. Numerous ROLL, Forest, and ISC staff also actively  participated.

The Institute of Economics and Asian Studies of Sakhalin State University held an English language competition for students during the last two weeks of March. Attending and speaking at the March 17 opening of the competition were Olga Pyatnitskaya, Head of the Sakhalin American Corner and Coordinator Halstead and Assistant Coordinator Vasina. The winner of the competition will be offered a two-month internship with the RI RFE with a chance to earn a strong letter of recommendation regarding the person’s English language knowledge and work abilities. English knowledge is likely the most important job qualification for entering the job market on Sakhalin young professionals due to the hiring needs of western oil and gas implementers and contractors. Consequently, interest levels among students for English knowledge are extremely high.
 

Olga Shetinina, Enhanced SME Development for the Russian Far East Program Director from implementer Winrock International and Katherine Schad, Program Officer for Enterprise Development from subcontractor Counterpart International visited Sakhalin on March 15–17. During their stay, the visitors were appraised regarding the activities of local SME Program partner, the Sakhalin Association of Business People which is among other activities working with business associations in Korsakov, Nevelsk, and Ugligorsk. The goals of the SME Program consist of: support for SME business associations; promotion of regulatory and legal reform and dialogue between government and SMEs; simplification of access to credit for and development of financial leasing by SMEs; and provision of advanced business training and management skills to SME personnel. Furthering these goals, Ms. Shetinina and Ms. Schad conducted a Round Table in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk involving representatives from business associations, SMEs, and governmental bodies. One main theme of the Round Table was the problem posed to SMEs by frequent officially sanctioned and unsanctioned visits from law enforcement personnel. The visitors also briefed the RI RFE on SME Program activities and initiatives with Assistant Coordinator Vasina attending the Round Table.

Raymond Lewman, Head of the Office of Business Development and Investment and Yulia Shevchenko, Project Management Specialist for USAID/Russia held meetings with and conducted site visits involving USAID funded technical assistance providers during visits to Sakhalin, Vladivostok, Khabarovsk, and Blagoveshchensk on March 15–23. During the Sakhalin portion of their trip, the visitors were briefed by the RI RFE regarding recent USAID and USG funded assistance activities and initiatives.

 Russian Maritime Service officials Mikhail Yegorov of the Port of Korsakov and Gennady Vlasov of the Port of Kholmsk were selected to participate in the SABIT Program “Development of Marine Ports” to be held May 15 – June 12, 2004. Assistant Coordinator Vasina was instrumental in recruiting and convincing both Mr. Yegorov and Mr. Vlasov to submit applications for SABIT participation. The Ports of Korsakov and Kholmsk are the largest ports on Sakhalin respectively in terms of annual tonnage of unloaded cargo and correspondingly are extremely important for ongoing Sakhalin 1 and 2 Project development activities.