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Fax: (+374 10) 522076
E-mail: igrigoryan@coafkids.org
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For immediate release

COAF Holds Roundtable in Armavir to Review Work-in-Progress

The Governor and Other Representatives of Armavir District and the
Mayors of the Model Cluster Villages Reviewed the Progress of the
Integrated Rural Development Program

Armavir District, Republic of Armenia, August 25, 2006 ¾ Today the
Children of Armenia Fund (COAF) held a roundtable in Armavir to
review the progress made to date in the implementation of the Model
Cluster activities. Launched in February 2006, COAF’s Integrated
Rural Development Program uses an innovative approach that places
emphasis on the critical needs of each community, especially the
children and youth. In a participatory process, the residents of the
Model Cluster ¾ Argina, Dalarik, Karakert, Lernagog, Myasnikyan and
Shenik ¾ have identified the most critical problems in their
respective villages, ranking the development priorities in an order
that benefits the highest number of beneficiaries and has the highest
impact on the revitalization of the community. Ongoing development
activities include economic, infrastructure, as well as health,
social, and educational programs.

Participating in the event from the Armavir District were the Mayors
of the Model Cluster villages, headed by Governor Albert Heroyan, and
accompanied by representatives of each Municipality Council Avagani,
and representatives of the elected Coordinating Committee of each
village. Making presentations on behalf of COAF were Garo Armen,
COAF founder and chairman of the board, Arpie Balian, Resident
Country Director, Ovsanna Yeghoyan, Program Manager for
Infrastructure and Economic Development, and Naira Gharakhanyan,
Program Manager for health, social and educational projects.

In his opening remarks, Governor Heroyan stressed the importance of
project ownership and responsibility. In turn, each mayor presented
the activities accomplished in their respective village since the
launch of the Model Cluster program in early 2006. The presentation
of the accomplishments of the precursor program, the <?xml:namespace
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/>Model Village project in Karakert, also included community
activities that aim at the preservation of the completed projects.

Speaking for COAF, Dr. Garo Armen emphasized the importance of
communication, both within a community or among the villages. Dr.

Arpie Balian elaborated on the three pillars that make COAF’s
Integrated Rural Development Program unique in its design:
Participation, Productivity, and Preservation (leading to
Prosperity). Subsequently, COAF’s Program Managers presented a
comprehensive report on the 2006 activities, especially highlighting
the activities carried out for the entire cluster. The round table
concluded with an open discussion, during which participants had the
opportunity to exchange ideas and propose innovative solutions to
common problems.

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