IN THIS ISSUE:
*** NGOs IN REFORMS WITHIN ARMENIA’S HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
*** ANTI-CORRUPTION INITIATIVE IN ARMENIAN COMMUNITIES
***NGO SAVES DOGS FROM BEING SHOT
*** DISABILITY DOES NOT SLOW DOWN ATHLETE
*** CONFERENCE: SUSTAINABLE MODELS OF COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS
*** SEMINAR FOR JOURNALISTS ON THE TOPIC GENDER ISSUES IN THE MIRROR OF MASS
MEDIA
*** NGO’S RESEARCH REVEALS THE ATTITUDE ON EDUCATIONAL REFORMS
*** NGOs IN REFORMS WITHIN ARMENIA’S HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
On April 6, 2004, the Armenian Assembly of America’s NGO Training and
Resource Center hosted the NGOs in Reforms Within Armenia’s Healthcare
System NGO/Media thematic roundtable discussion. Participating in the event
were healthcare NGOs, foundations, international organizations, as well as
representatives of media and state structures. During the roundtable, Samvel
Hovhannissyan of the Armenian Association of Family Physicians NGO, David
Petrosyan of the Human Health Humanitarian Fund, Irina Ghazaryan of the Drug
Utilization Research Group NGO and Melita Hakobyan of the Anna National
Association of Consumers NGO made presentations on the following topics
respectively: Role of NGOs in Provision of Healthcare Services, the Right to
Free Medical Service, Patients Rights, Problems in the Sphere of Medicaments
Usage, as well as on Collaboration of NGO-State-Business sectors in Solving
These Essential Problems. In their presentations, the speaker NGOs outlined
issues of concern related to healthcare system reform in Armenia and came up
with suggestions. Prioritizing the role of Mass Media, a suggestion was made
to be “both competent and popular” while covering the reform process through
outlets highlighting reforms.
Contact:
Samvel Hovannissyan
Armenian Association of Family Physicians NGO
Tel.: (374-1) 23-48-51; 23-48-62
E-mail: [email protected]
David Petrosyan
Human Health Humanitarian Fund NGO
Tel.: (374-1) 56-65-21; (374-9) 43-71-58
E-mail: [email protected]
Irina Ghazaryan
Drug Utilization Research Group NGO
Tel.: (374-1) 56-65-51; (374-9) 42-72-46
E-mail: [email protected]
Melita Hakobyan
Anna National Association of Consumers NGO
Tel: (374-1) 24-92-04; 52-04-40; (374-9) 47-05-79
E-mail: [email protected]
*** ANTI-CORRUPTION INITIATIVE IN ARMENIAN COMMUNITIES
The Information Training Center for Local Self-Government Development NGO’s
We In Our Communities project is currently underway in 48 communities of 10
regions of Armenia. The project is designed to contribute to the reduction
of violations of law (corruption, abuse of power by those in office,
plundering community resources) within the local self-governing system.
Within the framework of the project, the ?1 TV Channel airs weekly
documentaries, highlighting the activities of local self-governing bodies in
rural communities and current violations of law. Based on specific community
cases, the films cover issues related to the ability of local self-governing
bodies to make community resources available to the community, collecting
taxes and ensuring the community budget is administered to meet the
community’s needs. Through a separate TV program, comments are made on
issues related to real cases from the films. Though the project ends in June
2004, the NGO has leveraged funds to continue the TV programs. The current
project is implemented with the assistance of World Learning, through USAID
funding.
Contact:
Arevik Harutiunyan
Information Training Center for Local Self-Government Development NGO
23 Burnazyan St.
Tel.: (374-1) 55-70-62
E-mail: [email protected]
***NGO SAVES DOGS FROM BEING SHOT
On April 13, 2004 The Dunay Dogs Protection Support NGO presented its
forthcoming program to interested parties and Mass Media. With the
assistance of the Yerevan Municipality, the NGO has designed a series of
activities aimed at solving the problem of stray dogs. These activities are
an alternative to the shooting and killing method applied in the past. The
program is comprised of the following activities: picking up dogs,
registering, sterilizing, inoculating against rabies, providing other
vaccines and, with numbered collars, returning the dogs??? to previous
places. As stated by the NGO Chairman A. Ghazaryan, “Picking up and healing
stray dogs will contribute to the betterment of not only the sanitary and
hygienic situation, but also the environment.”
Contact:
Armen Ghazaryan
Dunay Dogs Protection Support NGO
3rd Tigran Mets Sidestreet, #3
Tel.: (374-1) 52-96-14
E-mail: [email protected]
*** DISABILITY DOES NOT SLOW DOWN ATHLETE
Onik Hovakimyan, athlete of Pyunik Union of the Disabled, participated in
the annual Los Angeles Marathon held on March 7. Only 59 of 19 526
wheelchair driven disabled crossed the finish. Improving his best-time from
last year by 40 minutes, Hovakimyan completed 42 kilometers in 2 hours and
17 minutes. The Los Angeles Marathon was the third in 24-year-old Onik’s
life since 1999 and 2000. “There was a time when I felt disabled,” Onik
said. “However, in the Pyunic family, sometimes we don’t even think about
it.” Pyunic not only provides the disabled with opportunities to get
involved in athletics, but also contributes to their social and
psychological rehabilitation, solution of their educational and health
problems, rights protection with its true mission of integrating the
disabled in Armenia into the society.
Contact:
Hakob Abrahamyan
Pyunik Union of the Disabled
16 Tsitsernakaberd St.
Tel.: (374-1) 56-07-07
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
*** CONFERENCE: SUSTAINABLE MODELS OF COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS
On April 20, 2004, Eurasia Foundation’s Representative Office in Armenia
organized a conference on development of local community based
organizations. Representatives of ROA Government, local authorities, local
and international organizations, community based organizations and Mass
Media participated in the event. The goal of the conference was to present
activities carried out in Armenian communities by evaluating past
achievements, identifying challenges and developing strategies for
development. After presentations, working groups were formed. During
thematic discussions on NGO activities, legislation and fundraising,
obstacles hindering activities and solutions to those obstacles were
presented.
Contact:
Yulia Antonyan
Eurasia Foundation’s Representative Office in Armenia
4 Demirchyan St.
Tel.: (374-1) 56-54-78; 58-60-59
E-mail: [email protected]
*** SEMINAR FOR JOURNALISTS ON THE TOPIC GENDER ISSUES IN THE MIRROR OF MASS
MEDIA
Between April 14-18, 2004, the Association of Women With University
Education NGO, jointly with the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutes and
Human Rights, organized a seminar on Gender Issues in the Mirror of Mass
Media. Journalists, representatives of NGOs and international organizations,
as well as experts invited from the Russian Federation and Georigia
participated in the seminar. They discussed current gender problems and the
importance of highlighting gender issues in the Mass Media. Issues related
to gender in the fields of political, social and economic development and
women’s political participation, carrying out campaigns in Mass Media,
gender expertise of the social sphere, gender censorship, overcoming gender
stereotypes in Mass Media and highlighting trafficking in the Mass Media
were also presented. Participants discussed issues of professional ethics of
journalists, regional media, as well as Mass Media-NGO cooperation. At the
conclusion of the seminar, participants defined conclusions and
recommendations on solving the problems.
Contact:
Jemma Hasratyan
Association of Women With University Education NGO
33 Sayat Nova Ave.
Tel.: (374-1) 58-15-83
E-mail: [email protected]
*** NGO’S RESEARCH REVEALS THE ATTITUDE ON EDUCATIONAL REFORMS
Between October-December 2003, the Armenian Sociological Association
researched attitudes towards secondary education reforms, as well as
assessments of reforms carried out to-date. The project was financially
supported by the World Bank and results are now available. The research
aimed at revealing the stakeholder attitude towards reforms in the secondary
education system in Armenia and the evaluation of the reform process. About
600 teachers and directors of 100 schools in Yerevan, Shirak, Aragatsotn,
Gegharkunik and Syunik regions were surveyed. Eighteen advanced group
discussions were held with teachers and highschool children at 12 schools in
the same regions. Interviews were also conducted with 160 experts,
(including those in the field of education, regional government officials,
Community Council chairmen, journalists, NGO and international organization
representatives, National Assembly Deputies, businessmen and school
directors.)Research results show that Armenian society recognizes the need
for changes in the secondary education system. These changes will best meet
the requirements needed to develop a national culture and secondary
education system, adopted in the modern civilized world. The results prove
that the reforms are insufficiently covered by the media and the public
awareness on its goals and process is low.
Contact:
Gevorg Poghossyan
Armenian Sociological Association
44 Aram St.
Tel.: (374-1) 53-08-22; 53-10-96; 53-05-71
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: