AAA, Azerbaijan

  Country: Azerbaijan                     Year of foundation: 2007

   Members: All USG Sponsored Programs Alumni

   www.aaa.org.az                           office@aaa.org.az

The US-Educated Azerbaijani Alumni Association (AAA) is a non-governmental, non-profit organization that unites alumni of the State Department educational exchange programs in Azerbaijan. As a result of all of U.S Educated programs, the whole generation of the US-educated Azeri cadre developed in the country, working for the Azerbaijani government, NGOs, private sector companies, as well as international organizations. They possess necessary skills and knowledge to contribute to the development of the country. The AAA was established in October 2003 by a group of US-educated Azerbaijani alumni with the aim of uniting all alumni of Azerbaijan under one umbrella and using their knowledge and skills to help developing Azerbaijan. The organization is run by the board of 12 alumni, representing various State Department and USAID-funded exchange programs including FLEX, UGRAD, MUSKIE, FULLBRIGHT, PIE, TEA, Community Connections, Contemporary Issues, Humphrey, and RSEP. The AAA was officially registered at the Ministry of Justice of Azerbaijan in September 2004. Up to date, dozens of projects have been implemented. They include public lectures, policy discussions, radio talk shows, publications of supplements on policy issues in Ayna and Echo newspapers, translations of books from English into Azeri, art exhibitions, movie nights, charity events and social networking events, regional seminars on the topic of "Education in the US," regional community projects, publication of the weekly newsletters for alumni. The organization shares office space with the American Center in Baku at the Languages University. The number of alumni in Azerbaijan has surpassed 2,000 already. Also, there are some people who individually have gone to study in US Universities. They are also AAA members.