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PRESS RELEASE
October 12, 2006
CONTACT: Aramazd Ghalamkaryan
E-mail: aramazd.ghalamkaryan@undp.org
UNDP AND CHILDREN OF ARMENIA FUND CONTINUE RURAL POVERTY REDUCTION
PROGRAMME
Two remote villages benefit from an enhanced partnership
Yerevan, October 12, 2006 – Today, at the UN office in Armenia, United
Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Children of Armenia Fund
(COAF), and the mayors of Yervandashat and Shenik villages launched
two projects aimed at community development and rural poverty
eradication – a priority both for the government and the international
community.
Rural poverty eradication was the focus of the recently held
Armenia-Diaspora Third Conference, where UNDP and the Children of
Armenia Fund also participated and presented their corresponding
programmes. An initiative by Mr. Garo Armen, founder of the Fund, was
considered as exemplary and UNDP is proud to partner with such a
renowned and respected organization.
The two village projects are only part of a broader community
development programme that UNDP implements in 20 border villages of
the country. Village development plans were developed with direct
participation of the village inhabitants and the local self-governance
bodies, with UNDP’s assistance. UNDP-COAF cooperation started from
Karakert, another village in the Armavir province. The projects
launched for Yervandashat and Shenik villages are a continuation of
the success in Karakert.
UNDP and partners will rehabilitate, in fact – revive, the water
system Yervandashat village: this will provide the inhabitants with
clean and around-the-clock water supply. In Shenik we will
rehabilitate the secondary school building and thus provide children
with an acceptable educational environment.
It is noteworthy that the communities constantly transform from a
"receiver" to a "partner": in this case, communities of Shenik and
Yervandashat were directly involved in the planning process, are
involved in funding the initiatives and will contribute to the
implementation.
As UNDP resident representative Ms. Consuelo Vidal noted in her
speech: "The projects that UNDP supports in the villages and urban
areas, are based on joint local priorities and, in particular, on
those who will help overcome poverty and create jobs a the local
level, outside the capital city Yerevan."
After the signing of memorandums, a film produced by Internews-Armenia
titled "The Life on Border" was screened: the film tells about the
life in Yervandashat and Bagaran villages that border with
Turkey. Packages of 20 village development plans were distributed to
the journalists and partners.
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The story on UNDP website: ;id=326
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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress