Programs & Projects
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In 2000-2003 years CCNS participated in several international projects:
We performed several trainings and workshops in the towns of Vyborg and Kirishi in Leningrad region directed to creation of new community information infrastructure in these towns. We consider that Community information infrastructure (CII) is not only hardware - wires, modems, servers, routers etc. The term also does not refer to how communities provide access, increase individual computer literacy, or extend connectivity. Rather, CII refers to the nature of information infrastructure, e.g., to the content, structure, and relationships among discrete information resources, providers and users, and to the intended social function of the CII. To the degree these two key aspects correspond and create a new "public sphere", democratic decision making and community building are enhanced. From: "CCNS Research Agenda: 2001-2003" This program work in the schools of Northwest Russia is directed towards creation of new system of civil education in the high schools and towards enhancement of the connections between the schools and local communities. CCNS is managing the module of this program directed towards organization of the school-based community access centers. Modern schools can become the centers of a neighborhood renewal. The development of high technologies in modern society puts principally new requirements to education of the majority of people. We use new informational technologies for the growth of regional school networks and for communications of those schools with the local communities. In our practical work we use the experience (volunteering, technical and organizational assistance) gathered in a number of developed countries in Europe and North America, the experience in creation of informational and training centers of local communities on the basis of high schools, in the involvement of local citizens in partnership with schools and also in fundraising. From: Anna Gasteva, Sergei Stafeev "School with Open Boundaries: Development Information Infrastructure in Russian Schools" This project (Creation of the Information Network of NGOs in Saint-Petersburg and Leningrad region) was started in 1998 with support of Open Society Institute and Charities Aid foundation (CAF-UK). CCNS takes part in the second stage of this project directed to creation of the regional community network. In 2001 together with Russian Community Education Development Center we started organization of this network center on the basis of the Central ChildrenOs Library in Saint-Petersburg. "Central of our vision is the idea that in Russia CBO (community-based organizations) and other NGOs, which are being encouraged to take over more and more responsibility for local regeneration and for service delivery worldwide, can not only access but also produce and manipulate data in the public domain. Equally, public service planners and managers must have, and be able to value and use, data and other information produced at a community level." From: Sergei Stafeev "Community Networking in Russia: identifying the research agenda".
We sent the questionnaires to non-profit organizations based in Saint-Petersburg and in Leningrad region. The results of this poll, which was sponsored by the Soros Foundation's Open Society Institute, were transformed into a web-based catalogue of non-commercial organizations of Saint-Petersburg and Leningrad region, containing 2,500 names at www.cspi.org.ru. Researchers paid special attention to the employment of various technical means and primarily ICT by non-commercial organizations. Another aim of the poll was to conduct resource analysis and determine basic factors that promote/hinder ICT usage for the development of non-government initiatives. Additional information about the results of this research are presented in "ICTs in Russian Civil Society Sector"/Analitical Review CCNS takes an active part in this project. In 2001 we invited 4 on-line volunteers from Ukraine, UK and Russia to take part in our work. They helped us in our research and in translations of our books in English. Also we helped the other NGOs of our region to attract on-line volunteers to collaboration. According the results of this work our on-line volunteer Natasha Korobeinik was awarded as one of the best UN on-line volunteers of the year 2001. Our Center considers the development of Russian community networkers society and establishment of the nationwide association of community networks as one of its main objectives. |