Reuters, UK
April 28 2006

Renovated kindergartens and schools for children in Armenia
28 Apr 2006 08:41:24 GMT

Source: World Vision Middle East/Eastern Europe office (MEERO)

Children get good daytime sleep in the kindergarten’s newly renovated
bedroom

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More than 25 children from the mountainous village of Tsav, 40
kilometers away from Kapan town in southern Armenia, now receive
pre-school education in clean and comfortable conditions. World
Vision’s Kapan Area Development Programme in close partnership with
the local community completed the renovation and furnishing of the
village kindergarten earlier this month.

‘I did not want to send my child to the kindergarten before,’ said
Elena Arustamyan, the mother of five-year-old Alen.

‘The toilet smell spread all over the place, and the dishes were
being washed in the room adjacent to the toilet. The children often
had diarrhea, because of the poor sanitary conditions. Now the
kindergarten has changed beyond recognition,’ she continued.

This kindergarten is the only place, where young children receive
preschool education and learn social skills through play and
interactive activities.

The previous dilapidated and unhygienic conditions of the
kindergarten’s rooms, kitchen and bathrooms created an unpleasant and
unhealthy environment for the children. The furniture was old and
broken, and there was a lack of toys, games and teaching materials.

This is sadly all too common in many other villages in the region,
where schools and kindergartens have not been renovated for many
years due to the lack of funds.

In addition to complete renovation of the kindergarten, the Kapan ADP
provided furniture, toys and games for the children’s playroom.

‘Most of our children had never seen board games before. Thanks to
World Vision, they now enjoy their leisure time at the kindergarten’s
renovated playroom,’ says the village Mayor Seyran Zakaryan.

‘This project has helped to mobilize our community. People now
believe that much can be done if they work together,’ said Jasmin
Abgaryan from Geghanoush village, where World Vision has
rehabilitated the sanitation system at the local school.

[/rquotebox]This kindergarten is the only place, where young children
receive preschool education and learn social skills through play and
interactive activities[/rquotebox]The Kapan ADP, which is funded by
World Vision Switzerland, has already completed three
community-initiated projects this year. Fifteen more projects,
including renovation of schools, kindergartens, recreational areas
and community centres in the villages, are currently being
implemented. World Vision provides construction materials, while
community members carry out renovation or construction works.

World Vision has also renovated dilapidated toilets at the school in
Tsav with 56 children.