As Kyrgyzstan prepares for presidential elections Oct. 30, unemployment and corruption are top issues for voters in Central Asia’s first parliamentary democracy. According to recent focus group research, Kyrgyz generally have a positive view of the current government thanks to steps it has taken to improve living standards, including wage increases for teachers, doctors and civil service employees; lower utility costs; and lower interest rates for farmers.

Finding innovative ways to reach those who feel excluded from politics can be a daunting challenge, particularly in countries with high illiteracy rates and little tradition of political engagement.

Iraqis are becoming increasingly concerned about a weak economy and poor service delivery, aggravating their frustrations with political parties and politicians. But they still believe that democracy holds the potential to improve their quality of life, and they want political parties to become more responsive to economic concerns and less focused on sectarian divisions.

As a boy in Germany, Academy Award-winning composer Hans Zimmer heard about the “romantic music and fairy tales of Gypsy life.” But he wasn’t satisfied with the stories and wanted to learn more about the Roma people and their plight.

An opportunity came last year when Zimmer, a long-time human rights advocate, heard about the deportation of Roma migrants from France and wanted to help. His interest led him to NDI, which has been working for the past decade to empower Roma activists in Central and Eastern Europe.