Finale of the 2009 Fellowship Programme
The 2009 John Smith Fellowship Programme concluded with a day spent at No.11 Downing Street by kind permission of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Rt Hon Alistair Darling MP. The 2009 Fellows reported to Trustees, Advisors, sponsors and invited guests, each presenting their ‘action-plans’ – a five minute presentation on the projects they plan to implement on their return home, inspired by their attachments and other experiences from their time spent in the UK. The 2009 Fellowship group will meet in London in July 2010 to report on the progress they have made on their action-plans.
Elshad Mikayilov tells an audience at Downing Street about his plan to improve the capacity of Parliamentary Assistants in Azerbaijan
In the sphere of women’s development, three Fellows delivered particularly inspiring presentations. Nana Mzhavanadze from Georgia plans to establish a South Caucasus Women’s Congress (SCWC) – a lobbying organisation that will bring together women of the South Caucasus at local, national and regional levels for joint socio-economic and political activities and mobilise them in consolidating democracy in the region. From Kyrgyzstan Aicholpon Jorupbekova is going to launch a mentoring programme for women in order to increase the number of women in leadership roles in the areas of politics, business, government and media. From Russia Anastasia Kalinina will use the UK models of action to reduce the violence and discrimination directed at HIV-positive women in St. Petersburg.
Anastasia Kalinina talks about the problems facing women in St. Petersburg
In other areas, Azeri Fellow Samir Alibayov plans to promote investigative journalism and increase the media’s ability to expose corruption in his country. Armenian Fellow Sona Ayvazyan is working to increase the integrity of operations in the mining sector. Zeynab Isayeva will develop the CSR policy of SOCAR, the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic particularly working to develop their social and environmental projects. Bohdan Kolodkevych told the audience at Downing Street that he hopes to establish an advice bureau for the people of the Chernvisti region of Ukraine. Zarema Chinkhoeva aims to promote business development in the Chechen Republic by providing advice and information to the business community via the creation of a website. Zarema estimates that 20% of the Chechen business community will receive direct help from her project. Andrei Popov is standing in the parliamentary elections in Moldova in order to contribute to the development of his country.
The Lord Chancellor the Rt Hon Jack Straw MP presents Vitali Gatseliuk with his Fellowship certificate. On his return home Vitali hopes to improve the legislative process in Ukraine
After the presentations, The Lord Chancellor the Rt Hon Jack Straw MP presented each Fellow with a certificate of participation to celebrate their completion of the Programme. He also took part in a Question & Answer session with Fellows answering on issues such as the role of the judiciary in democratic society, sentencing guidelines, the Human Rights Act, and the role of women in politics.
The day concluded with an evening reception held in honour of the Fellowship Programme at No.11 Downing Street, followed by a farewell dinner at One Great George Street hosted by the Trust Chairman Lord Falconer. The 2009 Fellows provided the dinner guests with entertainment throughout the evening including a 2009 Fellowship song with excellent piano accompaniment from Armenian Fellow Artyom Geghamyan, presentation of gifts to the Trust and Baroness Smith, and a thank you speech delivered by Georgian Fellow Giorgi Chkheidze and Kyrgyz Fellow Aicholpon Jorupbekova.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer the Rt Hon Alistair Darling MP with Kyrgyz Fellows Gulfia Abdullaeva, Nazira Satyvaldiyeva, Zulfia Abdullaeva and Chinara Kasmambetova
The John Smith Memorial Trust would like to thank Jack Straw MP, Alistair Darling MP and all at No. 11 Downing Street, and Vasily Pasetchnik, for making possible this special day for our 2009 Fellows.
The 2009 Fellows enjoy their final evening
July 2009