Announcing HasNa’s Citizen Journalism Training Program
The ways we conduct journalism, activism, and storytelling have changed drastically in recent years.
HasNa’s Citizen Journalism Training Program—or “Gorilla Activism” as it is being called in Cyprus—is an 8-day workshop that began June 20th. The program was developed in conjunction with the Management Centre and Cyprus Community Media Centre in Cyprus to empower Cypriot youth with innovative and fun tools and skills to engage in citizen journalism and digital storytelling.
Biased journalism is a major influence in Cyprus and has furthered misunderstanding between the two communities. There is a growing need for news that is prepared by and for youth, using digital social networking as an effective media platform. This program trains young Cypriots on the techniques of digital storytelling and the principles of citizen journalism to enable them to produce bi-communal news stories and increase interaction between the communities.
Check back soon for more information on this exciting new program!
By Ciara Masterson
Once a Volunteer, Always a Volunteer
Pat Lowther and Kathy Scruggs
Pat Lowther and Kathy Scruggs were seniors in college when they were moved by President Kennedy’s call to service with the Peace Corps. They applied, took the exam, and reported to Peace Corps training at Georgetown University. At Georgetown, they studied with about 100 other volunteers to become English teachers in Turkey.
It was terribly hot and humid that summer in 1963. There was no air conditioning in the dorms. They studied Turkish every day for 3 hours, took classes on American studies, ESL teaching, and rigorous physical education. There were inoculation clinics and most of the trainees had their wisdom teeth pulled as a precaution.
Pat and Kathy became friends soon after they met. After a week in Ankara they traveled to their sites: Pat to Bursa and Kathy to Bandirma. Their second year Pat taught in Adapazari and Kathy in Ankara. It was difficult to be new teachers without family and old friends but the volunteers relied on each other and new Turkish friends at their schools. Adjusting to a new culture and language and dealing with homesickness was a challenge, but the kindness and hospitality of the people in Turkey made the two years a remarkable experience.
Since then, Turkey has held a special place in their hearts which is true for all the rest of their Peace Corps group, known as “Turkey II.” It was their home away from home. In 2009 there was a reunion for the group in Washington, DC and they immediately bonded with folks they had not seen for 45 years because of their shared experiences in Turkey. They traded stories of the various recent volunteer projects they had been involved with in their communities across the US.
Pat Lowther and Kathy Scruggs with students in English Training for NGOs 2011
Pat and Kathy have known Nevzer Stacey for over 40 years and admire her for founding HasNa. They have been glad to volunteer in the past, helping with museum and shopping tours for program participants. Since they are both retired ESOL teachers, it was natural to volunteer to teach English.
This project–teaching English to people working in non-governmental organizations–particularly resonated with them. They are a little apprehensive, especially since their once-fluent Turkish is almost non-existent, but excited as well. They set about writing lesson plans and dialogs. When they learned that HasNa’s budget could only fund the purchase of one set of textbooks, Kathy reached out to the Turkey II members for donations. In a short time, dozens of new textbooks were donated as well as over $500 to purchase additional books.
Pat and Kathy will keep journals while they are in Diyarbakir in May so they can regale their Peace Corps colleagues at the Peace Corps 50th celebration in September 2011.
By Pat Lowther and Kathy Scruggs
Former Peace Corps Volunteers return to Turkey
Kathy Scruggs and Pat Lowther were Peace Corps volunteers in Turkey during the 1960s. After more than 4 decades, they are returning in May to lead a 3 week HasNa English language program. Kathy and Pat will travel to Diyarbakir, Turkey to train 16 NGO professionals, including board members and volunteers.
English Language Trainers, Kathy Scruggs and Pat Lowther, in front of the White House
English language training is one of HasNa’s priority program areas for 2011. It is at the top of the list of HasNa alumni requests for new skills and knowledge. “If I am able to improve my English, it will bring various opportunities for both me and my co-workers,” one graduate from HasNa’s Program Management Training 2010 said when asked what skills would be most beneficial to him in the future.
According to a needs analysis conducted by one of HasNa’s local NGO partners, lack of adequate English language skills is hindering communication between local NGOs and international organizations. Local NGOs feel that this prevents adequate cooperation and the exchange of expertise and knowledge.
Kathy and Pat are now retired after careers as English language teachers. Kathy says that, “This will be a good way to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Peace Corps and to get to know Diyarbakir too.” Kathy and Pat have been supporters of HasNa and are excited about the opportunity to teach in Turkey again.
By Duygu Soyer
Traveling to Turkey
HasNa has been working in Turkey since 1998, applying its unique model to promote peace through understanding. Our projects are the result of dedication to our mission and also hard work and commitment from local partners and project participants. Successful projects require input from local organizations and individuals. They also require passionate participants who take what they learn in training and apply it to their professional work and personal relationships.
Nevzer Stacey, HasNa’s Founder and President, is currently traveling in Turkey to accomplish two main goals: to strengthen partnerships with local organizations and to follow up with alumni from previous HasNa projects.
Nevzer Stacey Meeting with Alumni in Turkey in March 2011
HasNa is searching for more local organizations that it can partner with to implement new projects. Input from knowledgeable local partners that have established trust within their communities is a vital component to HasNa’s model. HasNa is also meeting with organizations it has worked with in the past to explore future opportunities to work constructively together. Among other things, HasNa is exploring partnerships for programs that will bring people together from Turkey and Armenia.
HasNa is also working to strengthen its relationship with alumni from previous projects. We recently surveyed our alumni to assess the impact that we have made in the last decade. HasNa is following up this effort by meeting face to face with many of them in Turkey. We hope to be a catalyst in strengthening the connections between the different alumni groups. We also hope to continue the dialogue that began with the alumni survey to help us improve our projects and generate ideas for the future.
By Ryan Olivett
Have you heard of a Washington Orange?
In Turkey, all sweet, juicy oranges are called Washington Oranges. When we received a project proposal to help improve citrus production in Turkey we learned that the Washington Orange is originally from Brazil and produced in California and Florida. But since it was originally imported from the U.S., now all sweet, juicy oranges are simply known as Washington Oranges in Turkey.
HasNa is developing a training program for citrus producers that will take place in Florida and Washington, DC. Because oranges are not actually grown right here in Washington, participants will travel to Florida for technical training on citrus production, pest management, and juice processing. They will also visit farms in Florida where they can observe best practices. During this program, participants will develop action plans based on the knowledge they acquire in the U.S. to implement after returning to Turkey. In Washington, DC they will learn communication, marketing, and management skills.
We are modeling the program after our Pistachio Farmers Training Program 2010. Feedback from the participants showed us that technical trainings for agricultural producers and suppliers have a large impact in the quality of their business and production. This year, one of our alumni approached HasNa with an idea to extend and improve the production and processing of oranges in Mersin, Turkey where producers are interested to learn more about new types of citrus. HasNa is developing a two week program for 15 people including citrus producers, suppliers, and government officials.
By Duygu Soyer
CFP Alumni featured in The Elders’ Documentary
CFP alumni, Idil, Tayfun, Thalia, and Michael, with Desmond Tutu, Lakhdar Brahimi, and Jimmy Carter
The Cyprus Friendship Program (CFP) alumni are continuing to build on their experience with CFP to spread the message of building trust and understanding through interaction.
On Tuesday, February 8th, the official launching of The Elders** documentary, Cyprus: Digging the Past in Search of the Future was held at Chateau Status in Nicosia, Cyprus. The documentary features four of our CFP alumni, Idil, Tayfun, Thalia, and Michael, as they accompany three of the Elders, Desmond Tutu, Lakhdar Brahimi, and Jimmy Carter, on a journey to learn about the search for the remains of missing persons in Cyprus.
The documentary will air on television in Cyprus later this year. We hope that this film will help Cypriots to realize their shared experiences and to open a dialogue that will foster mutual understanding. We are very proud to see CFP alumni making a positive impact on the future of the island.
Michael, one of the CFP alumni featured in the film, is blogging on The Elders website. To read his article, Crossing borders with friendship, click here. To view a trailer for Cyprus: Digging the Past in Search of the Future on The Elders website, click here.
By Ciara Masterson
*http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6166560.stm
**The Elders are a group of eminent global leaders working to support peace building, to help address major causes of human suffering, and to promote the shared interests of humanity
Assessing our Impact
How are we doing? Are we making an impact with our programs? To what degree are we achieving our mission?
These are questions NGOs must ask themselves time and again to ensure that they are indeed making a difference.
HasNa completed a comprehensive survey of our program graduates to assess the impact we have made in the last ten years. We received an impressive 47% response rate from our graduates–graduates who may live in remote regions of Turkey or participated in one of our first few programs a decade ago. The results confirm that our model–bringing diverse groups together to learn communication and conflict management skills–transforms the relationships our graduates have with people in their families, communities, and careers.
HasNa’s work depends on the support of donors and the reputation we build with graduates and partner organizations. Assessing the impact of our efforts helps us remain accountable to achieving our mission and it also helps us improve as we move forward.
Here are some of the survey highlights:
• 90% of graduates said that HasNa’s training had a positive impact on their careers
• 81% of graduates said that HasNa’s training had a positive impact on their family relationships
• 86% of graduates said that HasNa’s training had a positive impact on their community involvement
• 39%, the largest portion of graduates’ responses, mentioned that the part of their HasNa experience that was most useful to them was the communication training
“Your point of view changes. The communication course was very important. I started to understand people.”
-Graduate from HasNa’s Leader Farmers Training Program 2007
Another highlight from the surveys was the enthusiasm graduates had to visit the United States and to meet Americans. Their enthusiasm is significant especially at a time when global perception of the U.S. is low. When asked what part of their HasNa experience they liked most, 38% of graduate graduate responses mentioned visiting the U.S. to learn about American culture and to meet Americans.
“I have started making plans to take my family to the U.S. I especially want to introduce the U.S. to my son.”
-Graduate from HasNa’s Program Management Training 2010
Based on the survey responses we identified areas for future improvement and growth. The survey has provided us with a wealth of information to help us as we continually improve to maximize our impact.
To read about all of HasNa’s programs click here to visit our website.
By Ryan Olivett
