24 projects from six cities (Almaty, Aktobe, Astana, Taraz, Ust Kamenogorsk, Karaganda) have been presented during the "Golden Gate", the first contest of projects which was carried out within the framework of the educational distance learning program. At the first stage all projects have been dispatched to the directors of Heseds and Community Centres. Six directors provided their assessments for the submitted projects.

Projects were evaluated from one to ten on each of the four criteria: originality, relevance, viability, and the need for regional implementation of the project. For the purpose of achieving objectivity during marking, the authors’ names and origins were hidden.

Eight projects which achieved the maximum aggregate score went through to the second stage. The panel for the second stage consisted of:

• Max Visel, the representative of "Joint" in Middle Asia and Transcaucasia;

• Alexander Baron, the President of "Mitsva" Association;

• Alexander Smagliy, the President of the "Centre for Initiative of Social Development."

The results of the second stage were as follows:

1st place: Programme "Jewish Tradition" by Alexander Abramovich, Karaganda;

2nd place: Children are the Future of the Community by Liubov Ayzenshtadt and Zhanna Danilenko, Almaty;

3rd place: Bank of Jewish Music by Inessa Chugaynova, Almaty;

4th place: Jewish Seminar "Holocaust is Always Relevant" by Maria Kuzmenko, Almaty;

5th place: Family Summer Camp by Sara Dotsenko, Almaty;

6th place: Organisation of "Computer Literacy" Courses and of Internet Club by Maria Koroleva, Taraz;

7th place: Public Company - The Road to Financial Independence by Evgenia Horovetskaya and Ilya Kuzmin, Astana;

7th place: The Ethnic Costume by Lilia Golubovskaya, Almaty.

All projects are viable and feasible for implementation in the near future. While the first step has been taken, we would like to see the competitors to complete the project, either independently or with our support. We encourage them to find sponsors and to move ahead towards realising their ideas.

At the moment we have the Fundraising consultant working for us. For all wishing to lean more about fundraising, courses are available through distance education, and consultations are offered for specific projects.

We thank the Directors of the organisations, who assisted in increasing activity of community organisers and members. We thank all participants who submitted their ideas for the competition and showed interest in the life of the community.

Yours sincerely, Organisers of the competition.