P U B L I C A F F A I R S O F F I C E NEWS RELEASE
EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
AMERICAN AVENUE 1
YEREVAN, ARMENIA
TELEPHONE (+374 10) 46 47 00; 46 47 01; 46 47 02
E-MAIL: [email protected]
June 1, 2005
U.S. EMBASSY INSTALLS BOILER AT ARABKIR KINDERGARTEN AS PART OF
“COMMUNITY SELF-HELP FUND” PROJECT
On June 1, the U.S. Embassy inaugurated the new boiler house of the
Kindergarten in Arabkir, Yerevan. A grant of $12,000 from the U.S.
Government and contributions from the local community funded the
procurement of two heavy-duty boilers and installation of piping in
the kindergarten building which had been capitally renovated with
the contributions from the local government and community leaders
earlier this year.
This project is one of a series of U.S. Government “Community Self-Help
Fund” initiatives in Armenia. At a formal grant ceremony on November
9, 2004, the U.S. Embassy announced the second round of Community
Self-Help Fund projects, including the Kindergarten in Arabkir. The
second round of projects awarded grants to ten communities in eight
marzes.
The Community Self-Help Fund assists local communities to
implement small, grassroots projects that address their most urgent
needs. Communities themselves help decide which projects deserve
attention from the donor community and must garner the support of
local businesses and communities if a project is to be considered
for a grant. In the case of the Kindergarten, members of the Arabkir
District of Yerevan contributed significant time and resources in
order to ensure the success of this project. The U.S. Embassy would
like to thank the community of the Arabkir District as well as the
Yerevan Mayor’s office for their commitment and partnership toward
this project. This project has proved once more that only through
strong cooperation between community members, local government and
donors it is possible to achieve sustainable results that will benefit
Armenia in the long-term.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) manages
the project through their implementing partner, Save the Children. For
further information about the program, please contact Save the Children
(tel. 56-23-35, or on the web at ).
Children at Arabkir Kindergarten perform during a ceremony celebrating
the installation of two boilers and the renovation of the kindergarten.
Two boilers that were procured with the help of a U.S. Government
grant.
David Letteney, Economic Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan,
speaks about the U.S. Government’s “Community Self-Help Fund”.