FIVE MARZES OF ARMENIA TO GET ASSISTANCE BY 5TH STAGE OF COMMUNITY
SELF-HELP FUND PROGRAM

YEREVAN, AUGUST 25, NOYAN TAPAN. Five marzes of Armenia will get
assistance by the 5th stage of the Community Self-Help Fund program
being financed by the U.S. Embassy to Armenia and the U.S. Agency for
International Development (USAID). The goal of the program having been
implemented by the Save the Children organizations since 2003 is to
improve social and economic conditions of communities, giving small
grants for current programs of communities. As Irina Saghoyan, the
head of the Save the Children organization Armenian Office mentioned
at the August 25 ceremony of giving the grants, the 5th stage of the
program was announced in this March. In her words, 6 of the presented
134 programs were chosen. Those are the creation of the Antenatal Care
Center at the Agarak hospital; renovation of the Community Center in
the Artavaz-Pyunik Community of the marz of Kotayk; reconstruction of
the potable water pipeline in Areg village of the marz of Aragatsotn;
improvement of the drinking water supply system in Mets Parni village
of the marz of Lori; renovation of the kindergarten No4 in Sevan,
the marz of Gegharkunik; construction of the fence in Gavar special
school, the marz of Gegharkunik. The total cost of the 5th stage of
the program is 101.817 U.S. dollars. John Evans, the U.S. Ambassador to
Armenia handed grants to representatives of the marzes. In his words,
international organizations undertand that it’s time to pay attention
to marzes of Armenia. It was also mentioned that 40 programs of vital
meaning for inhabitants of communities were financed during the 4
stages of the Community Self-Help Fund program. Communities have
contributed over 30% of the projects’ costs, providing volunteer
labor and donated materials.