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It includes in its work:
• A local reproductive health project (door-to-door peer counselors, for
whom they give monthly seminars).
• A monthly newspaper, Women’s World.
• Twice-monthly open meetings, with speakers.

Medical and Pedagogical Association
The organization worked with physicians, teachers, and students in the area of
reproductive health education. Its principal activity was the operation of repro-
ductive health clinics in nine Kazakhstan cities. These and other NGOs part-
nered with the Red Apple in the following peer counseling efforts:
• Training: In key cities, NGO peer counselors were provided with
introductory training in contraceptive technology and counseling. They
were also offered, after appropriate screening, the opportunity to try Red
Apple products free for six months. The counselors’ activities were
overseen by reproductive health physicians.
• Seminars: NGO representatives scheduled contraceptive seminars in
locations frequented by the Red Apple’s target audiences, such as health
club facilities, and on campuses of colleges and universities. Speakers
(from among the Red Apple’s cadre of trained doctors and pharmacists;
Red Apple distributors; and its NGO partner, the Medical and
Pedagogical Association of Kazakhstan) addressed contraception and
reproductive health issues.

Media Channels
In addition to the small but important number of seminars/special events con-
ducted by SOMARC NGO partners was a full range of Red Apple communica-
tion efforts through both mass and interpersonal channels.

Mass Media

During the Soviet era, Kazakhstan’s state-owned and state-controlled mass me-
dia (both broadcast and print) were well developed and provided virtually 100%
national coverage through a handful of stations and newspapers. With inde-
pendence and the transition to a market-based economy came a carving up of
the state communications apparatus. At its height in late 1996, this “carving”
produced as many as 50 TV and 30 radio stations (Katsiev, 2003). While still re-
ceiving feeds from the Russian network, programming options were greatly re-
duced, as were funds to purchase them.