ArmenPress
Nov 19 2004
UMCOR CELEBRATES 10-TH ANNIVERSARY OF ACTIVITIES IN ARMENIA
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 19, ARMENPRESS: The United Methodist Committee
On Relief (UMCOR) celebrated today its decade-long activity in
Armenia with a tree planting in the “Motherhood Park” at
Malatia-Sebastia Community Site in cooperation with the Armenia Tree
Project (ATP).
UMCOR has donated a total of 1,000 trees to this park, a portion
of which has already been planted and the remained part was planted
today by the heads and members of UMCOR, ATP and other guests at the
event. Among the planted three were thujas, ashes and junipers, that
will serve as a beautiful gift from UMCOR to the local community,
ensuring future generations with a flourishing dense green park, in
place of the site’s current deserted land.
Invited to participate in the ceremonial tree planting were
representatives from UMCOR’s partners and friends, government
ministries, and over 55 local and international organizations who
have shown support for the Armenian transition over the years.
Following the welcome speeches planting commenced supervised by
agriculture specialists from ATP, who explained and demonstrated the
methodology of tree planting in order to secure the survival of each
and every seedling.
The hope of this event was to foster community awareness of the
urgent environmental need to restore disappearing green areas.
Furthermore, the event established a basis for further UMCOR-ATP
collaborations with respect to community outreach and poverty
reduction programs throughout the city.
UMCOR and ATP already have had an opportunity to collaborate with
each other. It was in June 2000, when 3 volunteers through UMCOR’s
“Global Justice Volunteer” program joined ATP staff doing volunteer
work in ATP’s programs. These volunteers were hosted by ATP
employees’ families and they spent their time helping and supporting
ATP in its daily activities.