2004 programs and events

U.S. Embassy Minsk Supports National Alumni Conference on Volunteerism

On December 3-4, U.S. Embassy Minsk sponsored a national conference focusing on the theme, "Volunteering in Belarus and Abroad:  Social Technologies and Innovations," for alumni of U.S. Government programs. The first such event of its kind in Belarus, the conference was organized in conjunction with the national alumni association, "Professionals for Development."  The conference in MInsk touched on the differences in attitudes about volunteerism in the United States and nations of the former Soviet Union. Dr. Adam Brunner of the National Council on the Aging  in Washington, D.C., delivered the opening address, which was attended by over 100 USG alumni and representatives of the Belarusian NGO community. On the second day of the conference, delegates considered several options for a national volunteer project and chose an ecological project designed to clean up the territory of the nature preserve in the Lake Naroch region. More than 12 alumni and NGO representatives made presentations at the conference.