Civilitas programs work in so many different directions, that the simplest way of explaining what we do is to say -- we do what we can to strengthen civil society in Armenia. If that means helping a farmer stand on his feet so that he can engage in the decision-making that effects his life, then that's what we do. If it means helping a village to become vital and vibrant community (by supporting it economically or by enhancing its library and cultural resources), then that's what we do.

We also work directly to improve the environment in which civil society organizations function. The Netherlands-supported site civil.am is a Civilitas-created tool directly aimed at increasing NGO effectiveness and expanding resources.

Donor strategies in Armenia, and how they have effected and can continue to effect development, will be the topic of our next public debate.  On Friday, July 16, at the Ani Hotel Ani Hall, Head of USAID, Dr. Cheema Jatinder, Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of the Netherlands in Georgia, Mr. Heino van Houwelingen, and Honorary Consul of Norway and Finland in Armenia, Mr. Timothy Straight, will be our guests. We will introduce civil.am and talk about the NGO environment.

Our last public meeting, with Gerard Chaliand, was a special opportunity to discuss global developments and their effect on Armenia.

On our site, in addition to links to Professor Chaliand's talk, you can also read our most recent blog and also an article from the Turkish site bianet.org, based on a conversation I had with a group of Turkish journalists who came to visit us last month, as part of a Hrant Dink Foundation - Heinrich Böll Foundation project.