1. 1. Chechen non-governmental social-charitable fund "Berkat" working on religious tolerance and cultural education has prepared a number of publications.
The Chechen social-charitable fund "Berkat" was developed out of the Council on Inter-Religious Affairs of the Chechen Republic, that was organized on June 15, 1995.
The main focus of this organization is the promotion of inter-religious tolerance and dialogue between people of various faiths. Today this is especially important, since there are groups in the Chechen society that use speculations on religious themes to benefit their own political and financial causes.
The social charitable fund "Berkat" works with representatives of various faiths, such as Moslems, Seventh Day Adventists, Baptists, Orthodox Christians, and Catholics. Because of the extremely difficult situation in Chechnya today, the fund "Berkat" has been involved in distributing humanitarian aid (food, clothing, books for orphanages, wheel-chars for invalids, etc.) to the least socially protected. The Fund maintained contact with many humanitarian organizations through Christian Charity Mission in Vladikavkaz, North Ossetia. Unfortunately this aid ceased in February 1998 as a result of a deteriorating security situation in the North Caucasus.
One of the projects that the "Berkat" fund is currently focusing on is the publication of a number of books for educating students and the general public in Chechnya about religious and cultural issues. The fund prepared a number of materials on these issues but is currently lacking the funds to cover the printing costs. Following is a list of these publications, their size and expected costs of publishing 1000 copies:
1) Islamic culture. Lectures for students. Approx. 300 pages. Expected printing cost for 1000 copies - $1,500.
2) Crime and punishment according to Moslem and Roman law. Approx. 150 pages. Expected printing cost for 1000 copies - $850.
3) Philosophical aspects of the spiritual poetry of Chechen people. . Approx. 120 pages. Expected printing cost for 1000 copies - $900.
4) Style and basics of the culture of speech. Textbook for students. . Approx. 140 pages. Expected printing cost for 1000 copies - $850.
5) Sufi tarikats (teachings) in Chechnya: Kadariya, Nashkbandia. . Approx. 150 pages. Expected printing cost for 1000 copies - $850.
The social- charitable fund "Berkat" will welcome any assistance it may receive in printing these publications, which will play a role in educating the people of Chechnya, the educational system of which was devastated by the tragic events of the past years.
Address: Grozny, Nagornaya Street, 8 Chechen Republic Chairman: Sumbulatov Abuzar
2. 2. Ingush human rights organization "Human rights defender".
This is a new Ingush NGO, registered on June 23, 1998. However, members of this NGO are not new people in the human rights field, they have been involved in such activities since 1992 - after the tragic Ossetian - Ingush conflict. So far the main focus of their work was:
- search for the "missing" people;
- assistance in the restoring the rights of the deported people;
- human rights protection;
- Humanitarian activities and education.
Currently this organization is focused on attracting the attention of international organizations, the press in support of its goals.
Address: Kavkazskaya Street, 32 Nazran, Republic of Ingushetia Russian Federation Chairman: Hadziev B.A.
3. Children's Fund in North Ossetia plans to expand assistance to cover emergency cases.
The Children's Fund is one of the ell established NGO's in North Ossetia. It has been operating since 1988. Over the years this organization has been involved in many different humanitarian activities. Its assistance is focused on four most vulnerable categories of children:
- refugees;
- orphans;
- physically disabled;
- children from low income families (below the poverty level).
Over the years, the Fund developed a network of local monitors in the different districts of North Ossetia. This allows the fund to locate the children and families who are in most need and the type of assistance that is most relevant, ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid and gather information about the need and to develop and adjust the Fund's programs to be most effective.
Thus the Fund is currently trying to develop its capacity to offer emergency assistance in cases when there is now time act in the traditional fashion. Previously, the Children's Fund did act in such situations by appealing to the public and various domestic and international humanitarian organizations. For example, in the middle of February the Fund was able to provide emergency assistance to a 10 year old boy, Alan Kusraev, who got 75% of his body burned in an accident with a stove. The Fund was able to find the finances to fly this boy to Moscow to the only special center in the Russian Federation capable of dealing with burns of this level. However, to insure the Fund's capability to assist in such emergency cases a special "reserve fund" needs to be created.
Address: Pavlovski pereulok, 3 Vladikavkaz, North Ossetia Russian Federation 362007 Phone: (8672) 74-94-10 Executive Director: Vorobyeva Vera Timofeevna
4. Centre for Peacemaking and Community Development continues humanitarian programs in Chechnya.
The Centre for Peacemaking and Community Development (CPCD) was established in 1995 and has official NGO status in Chechnya and Britain and additional offices in Moscow and Novgorod (near St.Petersburg). The main focus of the CPCD's work in Russia and particularly the North Caucasus region is to support and encourage local capacities for peace. This involves jointly implementing projects with local groups and individuals in the fields of human rights, peacemaking, nonviolence, community development and humanitarian assistance. The CPCD also offers training in these fields and works to link local NGOs with partners elsewhere to strengthen their work and reduce their isolation.
Among the programs of the Centre in Chechnya are the following:
- The Little Star program of psychological rehabilitation for children suffering post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD), which has recently entered its third year of operation. 600 to 700 children receive treatment per year by local psychologists for whom CPCD has provided training over the last two years. The psychologists work in schools in Grozny, diagnosing children with the most advanced forms of PTSD. UNICEF has commissioned the writing of a book by Little Star staff on child psychological rehabilitation in war zones, based on the experience of Little Star. It will be completed in April 1999.
- CPCD found funds and coordinated work to conduct major repairs to corpus no. 5 of the Sernovodsk health spa complex in South West Chechnya. The building will be used as a physical rehabilitation centre. The Sernovodsk complex used to attract patients from all over the Soviet Union, with its excellent sulfur and mineral waters usable to heal a range of illnesses. The rehabilitation centre has 12 baths for sulfur water treatment. Most of the buildings of the complex were destroyed during the 1994-1996 war. CPCD and the complex manager Ruslan Magomadov are hiring local medical staff to run the centre, which will open shortly.
- CPCD is continuing a program of seminars in conflict resolution and human rights for NGOs in the North Caucasus region, particularly women and youth groups. This program is supported by TACIS at the European Commission. An e-mail network to provide communications and information points in republics of the North Caucasus is being set up, to help co-ordinate NGO activity and foster links with groups outside the region also.
Chris Hunter, CPCD director email: peacecentre@glasnet.ru Tel/fax: +7-095-2454632, mobile +7-096-9018346 Chechnya contact: Adlan Adaev, mobile +7-901-49901
