I. Organization Announces Competition

At the end of December, the national civic movement "For the Health of Russia," headed by Duma deputy E. Pamfilova, held a conference at the Civil Service Academy. "For the Health of Russia" is an organization which focuses on peaceful conflict resolution and the maintenance of government stability and democracy. One of the fundamental principles of the movement is that social problems can be resolved by uniting diverse elements of society-such as specialists in the areas of medicine, education, culture, economics, and ecology-to work on projects dedicated to the encouragement of man's moral and physical potential.

Many of the discussions at the conference focused on the problems of alcoholism and drug abuse, as well as how best to rehabilitate and educate mentally handicapped children, whose numbers are growing catastrophically in Russia. Attention was also directed to the issue of "Chechen Syndrome," which has affected both soldiers and civilians who were involved the Chechen war. Participants at the conference resolved to hold a competition among all regions in Russia, searching for the best rehabilitation program for people adversely affected by armed conflict. Members of "For the Health of Russia" hope that such a competition will bring together the strengths of many people and organizations and will become the first step in creating a federal office of rehabilitation for the Russian Federation.

Contact telephone: 978-8298 ("For the Health of Russia")

II. Third Sector Groups in Sochi Plan Joint Project

On December 23 a round table discussion was held in Sochi on the topic of "Cooperation Between Civic Organizations and the Media." The round table was sponsored by the Southern Russia Resource Center with the support of the mayor of Sochi and the Agency for Social Information. Leaders from 15 local civic organizations took part in the round table, including representatives from the children's group "Edelweiss," the Russian Geographical Society, and the Sochi Environmental Center. Other participants included journalists from local newspapers, radio stations and the television company "Efkate," as well as a representative from the mayor of Sochi's Department of Youth Affairs.

In connection with the round table, participants viewed a film on third sector organizations in Southern Russia entitled "The New Ark" (directed by Valerii Timoshchenko, produced by "Akvatoria" films of Novosibirsk). The film served as the basis for discussion on the role of local civic organizations in resolving problems in society. An important result of the discussion was the realization that the third sector of Sochi is fragmented. While the media is aware of the existence of individual civic groups, there is no understanding of the "third sector" as a whole. Particpants at the round table came to the conclusion that joint projects and actions between Sochi's civic organizations are necessary in order to demonstrate the strength of a united third sector. Several potential joint projects were proposed during the discussion, one of which was an anti-AIDS educational program.

Those gathered at the round table emphasized that the media frequently ignores Sochi's civic organizations and their activities in favour of scandalous or sensational news stories. However, media representatives present at the discussion countered this by stating that the majority of third sector organizations in Sochi have no contact with the media, which explains the lack of media interest. Discussion participants then decided to hold a series of training sessions that would teach NGO leaders how to keep the media informed of their activities.

Telephone contact: (8612) 31-9444 (Svetlana Rubashkina)

III. New Rehabilitation Centers Open in Ekaterinburg

Two rehabilitation centers for children opened in Ekaterinburg in the final days of December-one in the Oktyaberskoi region and another in the Verkh-Isetskii area. There are already 13 rehabilitative institutions for children and adults in Ekaterinburg, two of which were also opened this year. The "Courage" sanatorium for veterans and invalids is one of the centers that opened this year. At the "Courage" center both adults and children can receive medical care, as well as psychological counseling. The center accepts low-income patients (charging them only ten percent of the normal fees) and treatment is free for the destitute. The center will be remodeled in 1998 and hopes to have a program dedicated to rehabilitating patients with physical disabilties.

Currently, the mayor of Ekaterinburg is developing a program to develop a network of social institutions in the city by the year 2000. In conjunction with this plan, the city is dedicating a significant amount of the municipal budget to the construction of rehabilitation centers and children's homes.

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