Russia Desk Amsterdam

Russia Desk Amsterdam was founded in 1994, on the request of Russian partners, to initiate and develop projects in the fields of public health and professional training and education. These projects seek to support and sustain democratic reforms in Russia and to support the development of the Third Sector in particular. The projects are financed by the European Community's Democracy Program, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs-Matra program, the Soros foundation and other funds. Russia Desk is related to the Dutch organizations: Foundation Araidna, which supports feminist/women projects in Russia, and the fund Mama Cash, which gives grants to women's projects.

Some past programs include an interactive travelling exhibition in 1995 for schoolchildren about discrimination, prejudices and nationalism in Russia. The exhibition was set up in cooperation with DOM-Moscow and Dutch partners. Over 25.000 children in 15 cities visited the exhibition and 5 hours were dedicated to these themes in school. The project was financed by the European Union's�Tacis-Democracy program. The exhibition is now owned by the Russian partner, who received a Soros-grant to continue travelling through the country. In 1996 Russia Desk and Interlegal initiated a Tacis-Democracy program which focused on building coalitions between NGO's and local politicians in Russia.

One of Russia Desk's current projects is "Birthgiving and After" (Rodit i Vozroditsa): Changing the Russian Attitude of Pregnancy and Child Bearing . The project focuses on improving reproductive health care and the experience of women during and after pregnancy in the Russian Federation. This project is being executed in conjunction with the Russian government program: "Safe Motherhood".

Another current program is the development of self help manuals for people suffering from the chronic diseases: AIDS/HIV, diabetes, coeliaky. These self help manuals will be adapted to Russian circumstances and will inform people on specific areas relating to their disease: prospects, risks, medicines, juridical questions, sociological and psychological issues, etc. These manuals will be developed in close cooperation with Russian partners.

The organization is currently interested in spreading the results of the project on childbearing to pregnant women throughout Russia, workers at women's consultation organizations and 'roddomy', and to relevant organizations in Russia dealing with pregnancy and health. Russian Desk is also interested in finding partners to develop a follow up for the Safe Motherhood program.

International Partners: Interlegal Moscow and Petersburg, Pangea, Center for Parents and Spriritual Midwivery, Center for Mother and Child in Moscow, Detski Otkrity Museum, Glasnost foundation, AIDS information center We and You."

Last updated:    March 1998

A print version of much of the information contained in this NIS Third Sector Organizations section can be found in the The Post-Soviet Handbook (Seattle and London: University of Washington Press, 1999).

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