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2 September 2010

The official opening ceremony of the computer training centre situated in the community centre of Shenik village of Armavir marz was held on the 1st of September.

Orange-Armenia Company has supported the implementation of this project with necessary computers and super-speed internet. The centre has been thoroughly renovated and furnished with the joint efforts of Shen and the community. The community medical aid post which is situated in the same building has also been renovated.

With the 1st of September being the Day of Knowledge in Armenia, the first-grade school-children received presents from Orange-Armenia, and the library situated in the same building received 300 pieces of fiction books which had been collected by Orange and Shen employees.
The following were present at the opening ceremony – the Chief Corporate Social Responsibility Officer of France Telecom/Orange group Mr Mark Fossier, the CEO of Orange-Armenia Mr Bruno Dutoit, a representative of Shen-France Mr Hrayr Hrachian, all the population of the community.
Right after the opening ceremony one of the community members, a highly qualified IT specialist Yervand Ayvazyan, started his work as a system administrator of the computer centre.




9 August 2010

A field seminar on "Organic agriculture and ecology" was held by Shen NGO one of these days in Dprabak community of Gegharkunik marz. The seminar was organised in the frame of project of "Introduction of sustainable land use and biodiversity conservation practices in Dprabak community of Gegharkunik region" funded by UNDP Armenia GEF SGP. The training was planned for 7-11 grade students of 6 communities of Chambarak region. The field-seminar was held in the organic community orchard of Dprabak aiming to present the pilot project of establishing a community unit to the youth of Dprabak and neighbouring communities.

During the seminar Shen NGO specialists presented reports on "Organic agriculture as a prospective direction", "Production of biohumus and preparation of compost mix", "Mechanisms of diagnosing domestic animals". During the second half of the seminar all participants took part in the preparation of a compost mix on the orchard using red Californian worms.

The example of Dprabak community orchard pilot project will not only contribute towards the sustainability and social development of communities, but also will indirectly link the rural youth to with communities.



Young people in Lorout hope that from now on the garbage collection will be organized periodically by local authorities  Oak casks and barrels produced by Hayk Isakhanyan thanks to Aniv loan  What can we prepare with wood, thread or paper?  Newspapers delivered to this faraway village are the only source of information for the local population.  USDA representative visits the first organic fair organized by Shen.  Shen supports the community to get rid of stones on the reserve land, after which it will be privatized to the villagers  The nurse of refugee village Torfavan has passed appropriate training  An up-to the standards milk collection site operated with Aniv's support  The first newborn at the hospital rebuilt by Shen-France

Environmental Activities



Updated January 20, 2010.

Our ultimate goal is to promote environmental consciousness, conserve the nature and provide sustainable development opportunities for the rural population.

Currently we work in six directions:

Promotion of Organic Framing - Shen is pioneering in introducing organic agriculture practices in Armenia. In the frame of a regional project funded by Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and EPER, we are promoting organic farming methods with farmers groups and individuals, developing extension service, and building awareness about organic food among consumers.

Efforts of Shen towards promoting organic agriculture were supported by the Regional Council of Ile-de-France and Association Chene-France. This support was in form of funding in 2007-2008 as part of Shen's overall project.

Our opportunities are beneficial climate for a variety of vegetables and fruits, unpolluted areas and waters, diligent farmers. Organic food produced in Armenia has all potential to enter the growing European markets.



Hands-on training of organic farmers.


Shen NGO, since 2002 has been actively supporting the development of organic agriculture in Armenia and creation of awareness of organic food in the country. This is a complex and multi-dimensional task. Already there are localy produced as well as imported organic products in some shops of Yerevan. Armenian organic juices and dried fruits are exported to EU. Shen strives to lay grounds for balanced and cohesive development of all involved components:

  • farmers' education and extension service

  • promotion of production and processing

  • promotion of marketing and sales

  • certification

  • information sharing and stakeholder collaboration.

    One of the primary goals of the project is the creation of new marketing opportunities for the farmers as it is a strong argument for following organic methods in their practices. Shen believes that real growth of organic produce in Armenia is possible in case of both export and domestic sales. As organic farming has also a strong social dimension, most of the export can be realized through Fair Trade channels. Already for three years, organically dried apricots and herbs are sold by our beneficiaries in Switzerland through Fair Trade Company Claro.

    Farmers' education and extension service- During the project implementation our extension group has trained over 300 farmers: The extension team reglarly visits the interested farmers, presents them the idea of organic agriculture, provides consultancy in the process of applying for certification.


    Organic raspberry farm in Kotayk Marz.


    In Lusakn village of Aragatsotn marz and Argina village of Armavir marz there are now two fully organic fruit orchards planted with the support of EPER, ICCO, EED and Christian Aid with a total acreage of about 100 ha. One apricot orchard of 20 years old on 6 ha in Ashtarak was transformed into organic. All three orchards have a corresponding certificate provided by local organic certification body-Ecoglobe Ltd. Organic apricots and peaches produced in the orchards will create added value to support several impoverished beneficiary communities in solving their urgent needs.

    Promotion of marketing and sales- To promote domestic sales, as a temporary solution, Shen's partner "Organic food producers and consumers association" (OFPCA), throug its "Amur koriz" CJSC pioneered in introducing home delivery system in Armenia - as a way of direct producer-consumer link. This strategy was successfully tested with a group of socially and environmentally conscious clients. The produce of beneficiary farmers in nice paper bags is currently presented in the local market under "Amur koriz" brand. In addition consumers can make orders on-line at www.organic.am.




    Armenian organic products in ArmProdExpo 2008. Certified Armenian organic produce next to the European products in the Shop of CARD AgroSevice LLC. Certified Armenian organic produce in the supermarket


    Environmental Education for Rural Schoolchildren- This includes lessons on environment, ToT, practical application of the environmental knowledge in school orchards and environmental advocacy. The project has expanded its geography to seven marzes of Armenia involving more and more schools. In the frame of the project, a manual "Environment and Ecology" was published which is approved and recommended by the Ministry of Education for use as a textbook.

    In Sardarapat, Nor Armavir and Argina villages of Armavir marz, Berdavan of Tavush marz, Ghukasyan and Hayanist of Ararat marz, Teghenik, Nor Geghi, Qanaqeravan, Mrgashen and Argavand of Kotayk marz, Panik and Getap of Shirak marz the regular garbage collection is organised. This fact is considered as an important development of the project.




    Hands-on lesson on organic gardening with schoolchildren. The textbook "Environment and Ecology"


    Reconstitution of forests- Severe energy crisis caused huge damage to the environment and particularly to the forests. In 2002 Shen produced the documentary "Armenian forests" on critical condition of the forests, which was broadcasted by National TV channel. Another Shen's project studed the condition and possibilities of reconstitution of an artificial forest in the vicinity of Yerevan, Jervezh. As a practical part of the project a tree nursery was established on three hectares. The first 6000 oak trees have already been donated to State Forest Department for the rehabilitation of Hrazdan forests and 2000 trees were donated to three rural communities.


    Forest tree nursery in Jraber


    Biodiversity protection- Shen NGO presented a proposal "Implementation of sustainable land resources' usage and biodiversity protection experience in Dprabak community of Gegharquniq region" for a competition launched by the Global Ecological Fund small-grants' project implemented by UNDP, Armenia. In March 2010 the proposal was confirmed by the National Head Committee of UNDP/GEF. Taking into account Shen's experience in establishing community orchards during the history of its existence, as well as the problems of the region, Shen will try to present the population of the neighboring Dzoravank, Antaramej, Barepat, Kalavan communities with the idea of rational usage of community resources and the idea of community orchards by the example of Dprabak. The implementation of this pilot project of organic orchard will not only lead to sustainable income generation for the community, creating new employment opportunities, improving the social conditions of the population, but also establish a basis for the development of organic agriculture in Chambarak region.


    Dprabak today. Here an organic orchard will be planted.


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