U.S. PEACE CORPS FUNCTIONS IN ARMENIA FOR 13 YEARS

Noyan Tapan
May 15 2006

YEREVAN, MAY 15, NOYAN TAPAN. The 45 anniversary of creation of the
U.S. Peace Corps is marked this year. The Corps has implemented
its activity during the recent 13 years in Armenia as well. On
this occasion, the U.S. Embassy organized on May 12 a visit to the
marzes of Gavar and Tavush where journalists were given possibility
to get acquainted with works of the Peace Corps at place. 25 years
old Kim Spigelmire has voluntary worked at secontary school No7 of
the city of Sevan already for 2 years. Within the framework of the
health care education program of the community, he, jointly with his
Armenian partner nurse Knkush Grigorian organizes courses addressed
against AIDS, introduces methods of prevention of diseases to
Armenian children, tells about consequences of smoking and using
alcohol. With the volunteer’s participation, a linguistic study
for teaching English was created in school. 24-years old Tony Kim
implements his voluntary activity in Dilijan, at the “Dilijan”
children’s anti-tubelcular health resort. As his Armenian partner,
Director of the health resort Yevgenia Hovhannisian mentioned, Kim
is engaged in entertaining children, holding computer and sports
courses with. Due to the volunteer’s efforts, the health resort
got text-books, solved problems connected with restoration of the
gym. According to the information of the Voluntary Corps Office,
482 volunteers have served in Armenia during the recent 13 years,
and 80 volunteers work in the republic at present. The Peace Corps
implements at present in Armenia 4 main programs: English language
teaching, community and business development, community health care
education, nature protectional education.