Internet Training Available in Gagauzia

USAID Country Director Gary Linden cuts the inaugural ribbon with Gagauz Governor Mihail Formuzal. Comrat - December 19, 2008. Hundreds of visitors are receiving free Internet access and training in computer basics thanks to the new Internet Access and Training Program (IATP) center that is sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).  The center was officially launched on Friday, December 19, 2008 in Comrat.  The new IATP center is located at 57 Suvorov Street on the first floor. The three IATP centers in Moldova (Chisinau, Comrat, and Tiraspol) train citizens in information and communications technology (ICT) skills and provide access to the Internet free of charge.  Since the center opened in September, it has also been spurring community development by supporting local initiatives with technical training in Internet basics, Web design, wikis, blogs, and other ICT areas. The IATP centers connect the community to the world through the free exchange of information.  While commercial Internet access has seen remarkable growth in Moldova, many still need the skills and free access IATP provides.  Through greater use of the Internet, citizens can more freely participate in democracy, engage in open dialogue, and develop their communities. At the opening ceremony of the center in Comrat, special guests included Gagauz Governor Mihail Formuzal, Gagauz Vice Governor Nikolay Stoyanov, USAID Country Director Gary Linden, IATP Director for Eurasia Mark Skogen, and IATP Coordinator for Moldova Anna Balmus.  The opening speeches were followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a press conference.   Currently, monetary support for the IATP center comes from both USAID and local authorities in the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauz-Yeri.USAID covers the Internet costs, salary for an administrator, supplies, and overhead costs.  The Gagauz Department of Education provides free space and utilities for the center and will sustain the center’s free services after USAID funding ends.

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