News and Insights
“The real price is paid in lives and blood”
Kateryna Musiienko, a John Smith Fellow and city council member from Kremenchuk, Ukraine, talks about the impact of the war and calls on Ukraine’s partners to stand firm in their support.
The power of networks
Distributed networks provide a powerful means of bringing people together around a common purpose. Ray Svitla, from our Belarus Diaspora Fellowship Programme, explains how John Smith Fellows are putting this concept into action.
Breaking the cycle of youth offending
John Smith Fellow Zurab Sanikidze led the process to establish a joined-up child referral system in Georgia that reduces reoffending and helps children find a path to a better future.
Emerging leaders from Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia (EECCA) get ready for UK residential programme
We’re delighted to welcome 11 emerging leaders from the EECCA region to the John Smith Fellows’ community. These inspiring young professionals are taking part in our first Fellowship Programme since 2019 and are now preparing to come to the UK.
“Digitalisation can unlock Tajikistan’s untapped potential”
Jovid Ikromi, a John Smith Fellow (2017) from Tajikistan is advocating for policies that will speed up digitalisation in his country and create a better quality of life for all.
“We must not conflate Belarus with Russia”
John Smith Fellow Anton Radniankou (Belarus, 2018) explains why and how UK and European policy makers should engage with Belarus’s pro-democracy movement.
Views from Central Asia on UK foreign policy
As the UK Parliament reviews its engagement and diplomacy in Central Asia, John Smith Fellows from the region provide their unique insights and perspectives.
New programme launches for Belarusians in exile
John Smith Trust’s Belarus Diaspora Fellowship Programme, which launches today, will support six Belarusian professionals living in exile.
Ukrainian Women’s Leadership programme to support Ukraine’s recovery
The John Smith Trust is partnering with The University of Edinburgh Business School to develop a leadership programme for Ukrainian women currently living in the UK.
7 interview tips to help you shine
What do we mean when we talk about “authenticity”? What’s the STAR approach and how can it help in an interview? Read our interviewers’ top tips to find out.
The environmental impacts of Russia’s war on Ukraine concern us all
On 18 July, Fellows, UK parliamentarians and environmental experts discussed the impact of Russia’s war on Ukraine on the environment and what can be done to better monitor the damage and bring Russia to justice.
A bridge between business and government in Kyrgyzstan
In his new role as Head of Secretariat of the Investment Council, Kyrgyz Fellow Uluk Kydyrbaev is helping shape a policy environment in which entrepreneurship can thrive
John Smith Trust launches new fellowship programme
We’re inviting exceptional young professionals and change-makers from 12 countries in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia to apply for our next fellowship programme. This will take place online from August 2023 to February 2024 and includes a two-week residential programme in the UK.
Mentoring offers huge benefits for professional growth
Our new mentoring programme is a unique opportunity for all John Smith Fellows to tap into the wealth of expertise and experience within our network – as both mentors and mentees.
The unfolding conversations on colonial legacies and how to counter them
Speaking up about repression during the Soviet Union’s colonial rule is empowering communities to come to terms with historical trauma.
“We encourage citizens to speak up”
To tackle corruption effectively, Moldova needs both transparent governance and engaged citizens who know their rights and can hold the authorities to account
Moldova: on the frontline of Russia’s misinformation war
Moldova is facing a barrage of Russian propaganda, misinformation and fake news. Alexei Tulbure, a media commentator and director of Moldova’s Oral History Institute, is working to counter this threat
The value of leadership networks in times of crises
Fellows from across Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia are rethinking governance and leadership in the context of ongoing global crises
Ukrainian deputy defence minister: dignity comes from knowledge
Andriy Shevchenko, a John Smith Fellow, has been appointed deputy defence minister of Ukraine, a role through which he will contribute to the defence of his nation against the Russian invasion.