 |
Latest News
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.
|
|
 |
|
        
Small Scale Infrastructure Program
As a response to the global economic crisis, The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission in Armenia has partnered with CHF International and Shen, to implement Small Scale Infrastructure Program (SSIP) to support job creation targeting increasingly poor and vulnerable rural communities.
SSIP will work in vulnerable communities in seven marzes: Shirak, Aragatsotn, Lori, Tavoush, Siunik, Vayots Dzor and Gegharkunik, where we will seek to increase employment through innovative mechanisms focused on leveraging donor resources, maximizing labor content and harmonization with national development efforts. The program's objective is to provide emergency employment opportunities through small-scale, labor-intensive infrastructure projects in close collaboration with the Government of Armenia, local organizations, and communities.
SSIP will build upon CHF's construction management experience and Shen NGO's twenty years of community mobilization efforts to work with communities to target the most needed infrastructure improvements; identify community labor resources; rehabilitate potable water systems; install village gas distribution systems; rehabilitate kindergartens, community centers and other essential infrastructure; and ensure that SSIP's projects are sustained after the project ends.
By December 2010, we will complete 48 infrastructure projects, providing more than 47,000 person days of employment.
Implemented projects
1. Twenty two children, aged 5-6 years, will attend pre-school classes in Nor Edessia, Aragatsotn marz. Children gain basic knowledge and social skills that will help them prepare for and transit to elementary school.
"The project that we celebrate today represents the first of nearly 50 infrastructure facilities that USAID will renovate with our partners CHF and Shen this year" USAID/Armenia Mission Director Dr. Jatinder Cheema said at the opening ceremony.
All operating expenses of renovated pre-school during the 2010 will be reimbursed by the community and starting from 2011 the financing will be done by the Ministry of Education and Scinece of the RA.
USAID/Armenia Mission Director Dr. Jatinder Cheema with happy parents. The pre-school backyard improvement is done by the community.
The pre-school class is ready. During the opening ceremony
2. Events hall of Aygedzor village of Tavush marz was completed in May. All the construction works were carried exclusively by village labour (23 people had paid job for 5 month). The community also had a significant investment in the project.
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the USA Ms Yovanovich, Head of USAID Mission Armenia Ms Chima and Tavush marzpet A.Ghularyan and other were present at the official opening ceremony on June 10
and made a speech.
The official opening ceremony of the event hall of Aygedzor village. Speech of the US Ambassador Mrs. Yovanovich to the opening ceremony of the events hall of Aygedzor village. The event hall of Aygedzor village is ready for the first event
|
|
