Not-For-Profit, Non-Governmental Organizations within the Republic of Belarus

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• Refer to an important Caveat. . . .

• Refer to the entry for United Way Belarus, below, for information about both online and print versions of a directory of Belarusian Non-Governmental Organizations.

Assembly of Democratic Non-Governmental Organizations of Belarus

"We are the association of non-governmental organizations supporting the independence of Belarus, democracy, human rights, and the integration of Belarus into the European community. At our Web page, you can also become familiar with our organization's members. Visiting our Bulletin or our Analytical Section provides you with updated information and analysis of the current situation in the Belarusian civil sector."

6 Karl Marx St., 36
220050 Miensk
Belarus

Tel./Fax: (+375) 172-20-73-74

E-mail: ngo@user.unibel.by         ngo@home.by

Web site (English and Belarusian): http://ngo.unibel.by/eng/index.htm

The All-Belarusian Women's League (AWL)

"The All-Belarusian Women's League (AWL) held its foundation conference in Mensk on April 4, 1998. Its participants elected the AWL Council of 17 people. Galina Stuzhinskaya, who has a doctorate in history, was elected as chairperson. The league announced that its main task is to unite women adhering to the basic social democratic values such as freedom equality, solidarity, and social justice."

"Five regions of Belarus as well as the towns of Baranovichi, Smorgon, Molodechno, and others were represented at the conference. Among the guests was Gabriela Kotschau, vice president of the state parliament of Germany's Schleswig- Holstein."

President (chairperson?): Galina (Nina?) Stuzhinskaya

Source: BelaPAN, No. 18; Saturday, April 4, 1998; 4:30 p.m.

Association for Legal Assistance to the Population (ALAP)

For further information, go to the section: Human Rights Organizations: Association for Legal Assistance to the Population (ALAP)

The Belarusian Congress of Military Officers (BCMO)

The Belarusian Congress of Military Officers (BCMO), an association of military and police officers set up on the initiative of former Interior Minister Yury Zakharenko--who mysteriously disappeared earlier this year--held its founding conference in Minsk on November 14 [1999].

The conference passed the BCMO foundation documents and elected:

• Vladimir Borodach, a former special task brigade commander, BCMO chairman.
• Valery Kostka and Aleksandr Antonyuk, former officers of the KGB and police, were elected deputy chairmen.

The BCMO congress--convened once in three years--will be the association's top body. The BCMO will defend the rights of former military servicemen and members of their families; offer them social, economic, and legal assistance; and help them adapt to civilian life. The BCMO advocates Belarus' sovereignty, and stability, and the rule of law in society.

Source: BelaPAN, No. 60; Monday, November 15, 1999; 5:00 p.m.

Belarusian PEN Centre

PEN is a world-wide association of writers. Its aim is to promote intellectual cooperation and understanding among writers regardless of their political and other views. The letters "P.E.N." originally stood for Poets, Playwrights, Essayists, Editors and Novelists, but now membership is open to Radio and TV scriptwriters, translators, historians, and other writers actively engaged in any branch of literature. Every member is required to sign the PEN Charter and by so doing to pledge himself or herself to observe its conditions.

"The Belarusian PEN Centre is a non-governmental, non-political, and non-commercial organization. It was founded by the Organizing Committee in November 1989 and adopted to International P.E.N. at its World Congress in 1990. The Belarusian PEN Centre was registered by the Ministry of Justice on 16 November 1990, on the basis of its Charter and the Decree of the Council of Ministers, No. 274 from 1 November 1990. As a member of International P.E.N., the Belarusian PEN Centre holds Category A status at UNESCO and consultative status within the UN roster category."

P.O.B. 218
220050 Miensk
Belarus

Tel: +375 17 213 34 61

E-mail: pen@pen.unibel.by         sherman@pen.unibel.by

Web site (English and Russian): http://www.pen.unibel.by/

Belarusian Soros Foundation

Supports a very wide range of humanitarian, civil-society, and democracy building activities throughout the country of Belarus. One of the biggest sponsors of such programs in Belarus (if not THE biggest sponsor.) Refer to the Soros Web sites for further details.

Note: This organization had its bank account confiscated in April, 1997, by the presidential administration, thus effectively being stopped from its internationally recognized extensive and very positive work for the people of Belarus.

As of early 1998, previously approved programs are being funded through the end of 1998, and no further work in Belarus is planned. FYI: The Open Society Institute, the parent organization for the Belarus Soros Foundation, had spent more than 13 million US dollars in Belarus. No other organization has done more for democracy building, civil society, and so forth within Belarus. They are missed. . . .

Open Society Institute (OSI), New York

Belarusian Soros Foundation -- Gomel

"We are very interested in finding friends and partners that would like to participate in joint projects in the spheres of Culture, Ecology, Education, Sociology, Politics, and other aspects of a truly open society."

"We often cooperate with a wide range of local and international organizations in our wide range of programs, and we are hopeful that this message will reach individuals interested in joint efforts."

"Please feel free to write us in Russian."

Yuri Voronezhtsev, Regional Director, The Soros Foundation, Gomel
E-Mail: yuri@bsf.gomel.by

The Discussion Women's Club(DWC)

"The purpose of the DWC:
• Strengthening women's influence in social life, politics, business, and art by means of partnerships, training activity, informational exchanges
• Establishing and developing contacts and relations with women's organizations in Belarus and throughout the World"
"The Discussion Women's Club is an independent, non-governmental organization founded in 1993. The DWC has managed to organize workshops and round-table discussions for women's NGOs on the problems of non-profit women's organizations and the status of women in the Republic of Belarus; psychological and language courses for women. We also collect information about women's NGO activities in Belarus and abroad, and statistical and other materials related to different aspects of women's lives. Our organization participates in international conferences and seminars in Germany, Holland, the Russian Federation, and the USA."

"Now we are going to set up an Informational Women's Center to activate a network and cooperation among non-governmental women's organizations in Belarus and other countries by means of information and experience sharing, partnerships, and joint project activities. This Center will also provide consultations about proposal writing and legal advice. We are also planning to organize a series of training workshops for women on the problems of leaderships, democracy, and partnerships in the family, etc. These workshop projects will end with an international conference, Women Under the Circumstances of Socio-Economic Crises: the Experience of East Europe."

"We are always open to new ideas and joint projects and would appreciate any information that other organizations may have on women's issues. The DWC would like to collaborate with other women's organizations in different countries in order to share similar ideas and activities." (Staff: 30 volunteers) Postal address:

c/o Ann Sergeeva or Vita Isaenko
Karbysheva st. 11-48
Box 5, 220119 Miensk
Belarus

Tel: (375 172) 63 77 36
FAX: (375 172) 31 04 72 , 30 80 54

E-mail: beluwi@minsk.sovam.com

Contact: Ann Sergeeva; Vita Isaenko

Information about the Discussion Women's Club at the IDC Home Page.

See related info for The International Discussion Club (IDC).

The Duchovnost Center

"The Gomel Regional Center of social and psychological assistance "Duchovnost" "Duchovnost Center" was established as an indigenous Belarusian organisation, Originally registered on July 19, 1993, and was re-registered on March, 10, 1995 by Department of Justice of Gomel Regional Executive Council."

"The Duchovnost Center is an independent Belarusian NGO with a Board of Founders of Belarusian citizens, registered at the provincial level in Gomel, Belarus. The organisation was established with assistance from international organisations such as Tear Fund UK, and World Vision International."

"The Duchovnost Center has been working on development of the Internet in Belarus since May 1995. It negotiated the first discount on telecommunications service for the creation of the Internet in Belarus. The design planned by The Duchovnost Center for the installation of the Internet in the Gomel Oblast was implemented by the Ministry of Education and the Soros Foundations as the National Plan for 4 of 5 oblasts. The Duchovnost Center's technical specialists are active in the local community in assisting the area with technical developments. The Duchovnost Center's project for connecting Gomel to the Internet was approved and will begin the spring of 1997."

The Duchovnost Center
14 Pushkina P.O. Box 346
Gomel Belarus 246050
Tel: (0232) 55-00-17
FAX: (0232) 55-06-23
E-mail: Gomel@wvb.gomel.by

English Cultural Center, Pushkin - City Library

"The "English" of the English Cultural Center refers not to the country, but simply to the language. Founded by a husband and wife from the USA using their personal library, the center's activities have broadened to include presentations by visiting speakers, weekly showings (on video) of films in English, and the creation of a fiction lending library. Future plans include the development of the reference library and further seminars, lectures and workshops on selected topics."

Note: Refer to the Sabre Foundation Web site for a very interesting report about the work of the ECC and the Ruys'.

English Cultural Center, Pushkin - City Library
Blvd. Shevchenko 3
224030 Brest, Belarus

Tel: (7) 0162 25 43 04
FAX: (7) 0162 23 83 38
E-mail: bahai@lsa.gomer.belpak.by   Note: This e-mail address, given by the Sabre Foundation, doesn't work for me. I am looking into getting information for a functional address.

Date Founded: 1992
Contact: Theodorus & Olga Ruys

Francisak Skaryna Belarusian Language Association (BLA)

• Also referred to as The Belarusian Language Society (BLS).

• In Belarusian: Tavarystva Belaruskaw Movy imya Frantzishka Skaryny (TBM)

• Go to the Belarusian Language Society (BLS) section (with links to its Web site, articles about it, etc.)

Go to the A Belarus Miscellany Topic List

The International Discussion Club (IDC)

"The IDC is a non-governmental, youth organization promoting direct contacts between the young people of the Russian Federation and Europe. Founded in 1989, it is one of the first independent organizations fighting against the Iron Curtain. The funny word "Discussion" appears in the name of the Club because at that time it was not allowed to have opinions different from official ones, but you could "discuss" them. The IDC is a non-political, non-profit independent Russian NGO with branches in St.Petersburg and Miensk."

See related info for The Discussion Women's Club (DWC), Miensk.

"If you are interested in establishing contacts with us or you can help us to get to know similar youth organizations -- we are ready to provide you with further information."

• Mailing address:
  The IDC
  Kashirskoje shosse, 88/26-112
  115551 Moscow, Russia

  FAX: +7-095-200.22.65 [for the IDC]

  E-mail: Andrey Ozharovskii   President of the International Discussion Club - Moscow

  In Germany (including visa assistance):
  Oliver Schufmann, Tel: (06221)-39.33.29 E-MAIL: oliver@imbi.uni-heidelberg.de

The International Discussion Club - Moscow Home Page (last updated: 04 April, 1996

The Info-Center, Brest

"The Info-Center is a young Belarusian non-governmental, non-profit organization created in Brest, Belarus, by local educators, computer geeks, and human service professionals in order to make the world-wide information resources available to those individuals and non-profit organizations (schools, research labs, hospitals, libraries) that need them the most."

"The Info-Center is involved in acquiring (esp. donated) computers and setting up internet connectivity with schools and research institutes within Belarus. We are open to your cooperation. Membership fees are modest and tax deductible."

"The Regional Educational & Medical Information Network Development (REMIND) is a project designed to expand the Info-Center's activities to other areas of Belarus. You can get more details on our REMIND project from Mr. Earl Heuer, coordinator of Belarus programs of the Institute for Global Education:   eheuer@igc.apc.org   and Dr. Lawrence Probes, president of Physicians for Social Responsibility, Western Michigan:   lprobes@igc.apc.org."

Blvd Kosmonavtov 48
Brest, Republic of Belarus
224016

Tel: (0162) 232-123 [Belarusian/Russian]
Tel: (0162) 234-229 [English/Bel/Rus]
Tel:/FAX: (0162) 222-123

Executive Director: Valeri S. Fominski

E-mail: info@ssw.belpak.brest.by
or
E-mail: valeri@ssw.belpak.brest.by

International Humanitarian Foundation (A Sabre Partner Organization)

I don't know much about the work of this organization, other than they are involved with the distribution of donated (English) books for Belarus (as does the English Cultural Center, in Brest, Belarus.)
Masherov Ave. 1-2-5
220004 Miensk

Tel: (7) 0172 394 163
FAX: (7) 0172 393 163

E-mail: mdhirsch@by.glas.apc.org

Go to the A Belarus Miscellany Topic List

The Lev Sapega Foundation

Chairperson: ?




• Regional Affiliate Offices:
  • Orsha

    Belarus 211030, Vitebskaya vobl., Orshanskii r-n., g. Baran', vul. Zarechnaya 6-86

    Chairperson (1998): Yury Nagorny

    
    

  • Vitebsk

    Belarus 210000, g. Vitebsk, vul. Lenina, 56-21

    Tel: 375 (0212) 363082       Fax: (0212) 24925

    E-Mail: vbfsay@vitebsk.unibel.by

    Chairperson (1998): Khristofor Zhelyapov

    
    

The Mensk Charity Jewish Centre HESED--RAKHAMIM

• See the Jewish Links section for related information.

  
  

  Republic of Belarus 220000, g. Mensk
  prospekt F. Skarini 137-B       (Cyrillic "bee" not "vee")

  Tel: 375 (17) 263-4553; 264-3083
  FAX: 375 (17) 264-3083

  Director: Sofia Abramova

United Way, Belarus

• Refer to the entry for the excellent (printed version) Belarusian Non-Governmental Organizations Directory that they publish. The second edition was printed in summer, 1998.

• Contact Information:

  Belarus 220038, Mensk
  vul. Ural'skaya, 3-30
  BROO Obedeinennii put'

  Tel:/FAX: 375 (17) 230-32-76; 230-80-54

  E-Mail: uwb@user.unibel.by

  WWW: www.uwb.unibel.by

  As of June, 1999, I was not able to view anything on their Web site, due to some font encoding problems on their part, and other issues. If you can view their Web site, please let me know.

Youth Information Centre (YIC)

"The Youth Information Centre (YIC) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization whose aim is to contribute to the development of national science, culture, and education through aiding young people in gaining experience and knowledge necessary for participation in non-governmental organizations. . . . It was founded by six organizations in April 23, 1994."

"YIC organizes information exchange with Belarusian and foreign youth organizations, continuously upgrades its own information database, conducts research on the state youth policy and perspectives of youth movement in Belarus, promotes library and archival cooperation in the field of independent youth publishing activity in Belarus, and develops and implements training seminars for young leaders."

"The major aim of the Centre is to promote the non-governmental publishing initiatives in their implementation and development, and the creation of a independent publishing network."

"PIC edits a bulletin (Publishing Informer) and distributes it to Belarusian youth NGOs."

"YIC is open for all and welcomes all youth organizations that share the ideals of democracy and statehood of Belarus to join its information exchange programmes."

Youth Information Centre
P.O. Box 493
220050 Miensk




Chairperson: Ales Michalevic

Tel/FAX: (+375 17) 232 27 43

E-mail: yic@bsa.org.by

WWW: ?




Publishing Initiative Centre
vul.Surganava, 86-180
220040 Miensk

Tel/FAX: (+375 017) 260 81 49

E-mail: cscsc.lingvo.minsk.by

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