Empowerment of Six Communities
ACTIVITIES AND RESULTS
The social and economic situation in Armenia is improving however there are still areas that are left out of all kinds of help and consideration. In the result of the military conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno Karabakh 360000 ethnic Armenian from Azerbaijan found refuge in Armenia, leaving their homes and often all their property. According to the data of 1997, 311000 refugees from Azerbaijan have finally settled in Armenia.
More than 2600 Armenian refugees currently reside in the communities of Dzoravank, Dprabak, Aygut, Barepat, Kalavan and Antaramej, in Gegharkunik Province, Armenia. The social, economic and health situation in this area, often referred to as “forgotten villages’, is most difficult. Many of the residents are former urban inhabitants, and it is extremely difficult for them to get used to life in these villages, without roads, infrastructure, job opportunities, etc.
The ART is the only organization which has been working in this area for a long time. Starting from 2004 the ART tries to address social, economic and ecological aspects of development of the mentioned six communities. In 2005-2006 the Armenia Round Table, with the funding from the MFA of Norway through NCA implemented a project entitled “Water and Sanitation in Six Communities”.
In the result of project implementation drinking water and sanitation issues in this area are resolved, rehabilitated communal centers are gradually becoming resource centers, uniting necessary conveniences, as well as training possibilities for communities. Newly established health posts, bathhouses and laundries have visibly improved sanitary situation here. Social and psychological situation in this region had significantly improved.
Aimed to promote community development in an integrated way and empower civic groups in order to become actors for change in their own communities the project works to foster social, economic and ecological improvement in the abovementioned six communities of Tavush region.
Within the social development objective a number of trainings on community development issues were organized, including “How to write a project proposal”. Using newly acquired knowledge community activists developed a number of projects which they later successfully implemented. Among them the following is worth mentioning: libraries were established in all six communities, community resource centres were enriched with digital cameras, musical centres, and tape recorders. An interesting income generating project started in Dprabak and Dzoravank: a bed linen sewing workshop was established, with sales already started.
The centre territories were improved in Antaramej, Barepat and Dprabak. Several seminars on legal issues «Know your rights, be protected» was organized, as well as seminars on reproductive health issues for women, health examination of children, etc. Health posts were provided with pharmaceuticals, medical nurses provided free of charge services. To organize the leisure of the children different study groups were opened. Together with the existing dance group in Dprabak, another one was organised in Aygut, also painting, puppet making, macramé groups were very popular.
To ensure the economic development of the communities a number of trainings took place enhancing the capacities of the population and thus making them competitive in the labour market. Computer courses continued in Dparabak, Aygut, Kalavan, Antaramej and Dzoravank. The courses involved several age groups, in 2009 more than 120 passed the first step of computer literacy. In Dzoravank and Dprabak dress making trainings were organized, 70 children participated in the courses. In Dprabak a hairdresser's was established, fee for services partially covered the electricity bill. Another undertaking for future economic improvement through work from home was embroidery training in five communities under the guidance of experienced teachers. As to the ecological development seminars took place in 2009 as well. Waste cleaning was organized in Aygut. The UNHCR representative to Armenia Mrs. Bushra Halepota visited Dzoravank, Dprabak and Aygut and got acquainted with the projects. She was very interested and donated two sewing machines to the project. In the result of project implementation community centers in six locations, equipped and furnished with computers, copying, scanning and printing machines, were enriched with more equipment in 2009. Laundries, baths and health posts were working several days a week. People were gradually getting in custom of using their services. Improved social and psychological condition was visible, atmosphere of cooperation and mutual assistance, more active community life were confirmed by community leaders.
Target group
Direct target group are training participants: 1145 total. More than 1500 people will make use of baths, laundries and health posts. Indirect target group is the total population of this area, as all six communities will benefit, that is 2607 people (846 women, 944 children, 817 men, 718 elderly, 245 included into state social assistance schemes).
