PRESS RELEASE
Children of Armenia Fund (COAF) – Yerevan Office
53-55 Pavstos Byuzand Street, 375010
Yerevan, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Inessa Grigoryan
Tel: (+374 10) 522076; 562068
Fax: (+374 10) 522076
E-mail: igrigoryan@coafkids.org
Web:
Children of Armenia Fund – New York Office
630 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2100,
New York, NY 10111, USA
Contact: Mariam Dilakian
Tel: 212 – 994 – 8201
Fax: 212 – 994 – 8299
E-mail: mdilakian@coafkids.org
Web:
PRESS RELEASE
COAF Establishes Two Adolescent Clubs to Promote Livestock Farming
In the Villages of Lernagog and Argina
Lernagog, Armenia, May 12, 2006 ¾ Today, the Children of Armenia Fund
(COAF), in partnership with the Center for Agribusiness and Rural
Development (CARD), formed adolescent clubs in the villages of Lernagog
and Argina of the Armavir District of the Republic of Armenia. The
selected twenty 12-13 year-old adolescents gathered in their respective
school yards and cheered the sponsors as they arrived with the sheep.
After congratulatory remarks by the Lernagog Mayor, Mr. Sargis
Margaryan, and COAF and CARD project managers, the participating ten
adolescent residents of Lernagog received two sheep each, together with
a care package. The Argina distribution immediately followed
Lernagog’s.
The project aims at teaching youngsters how to take responsibility for
taking care of the sheep ¾ caring, feeding, and controlling diseases.
The broader objective is to develop livestock farming in the region.
Adolescents from disadvantaged, needy, or single parent families are
selected to join the club provided they satisfy a set of pre-established
criteria, including their personal level of interest in livestock
farming and the existence of a suitable sheep shed adjacent to the
family home. Under the close watch and direction of an expert
veterinarian, the youngsters will gain knowledge of animal science and
take daily notes on their sheep. CARD will be responsible for
organizing trainings, providing educational materials and hygienic
supplies. COAF has purchased the livestock and will provide animal
feed, if necessary. Monitoring and supervision of the project will be
done in a partnered way by both COAF and CARD project staff.
This project is expected to contribute to the economic development of
the Model Cluster villages. Particularly in animal husbandry, COAF
plans several other initiatives that will increase the supply chain in
agricultural products and ultimately lead to milk and wool processing
businesses or cooperatives.
Children of Armenia Fund was founded in 2000 with the aim to reduce
poverty through the revitalization of rural Armenia and the realization
of projects that are instrumental for the revival of communities. With
the introduction of its novel approach to clustering in February 2006,
COAF is currently implementing the Model Cluster working in six villages
in the Baghramyan region of the Armavir District. The key components of
COAF’s Model Cluster project comprise Infrastructure and Economic
Development Programs, and Community Development including Health, Social
and Educational Programs. In 2006, besides its Model Village Karakert,
COAF is also working in Myasnikyan, Shenik, Dalarik, Lernagog and
Argina.
The Armenian Rural Youth Development Program, initiated by the Center
for Agribusiness and Rural Development, is a voluntary non formal
educational program that supplements formal school education. It is
modeled after the US 4-H Program. The program is helping young people
gain skills needed to become responsible, self-directing, productive and
contributing members of society. The Extension Youth Development Program
provides real experiences and an opportunity for youth to gain life
skills, project development and implementation skills, basic
agricultural knowledge in order to be engaged in community development
activities.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress