NEW ADPS FOR ARMENIA

Reuters, UK
Source: World Vision Middle East/Eastern Europe office (MEERO)
March 30 2007

In 2007, World Vision Armenia is to launch two Area Development
Programs (ADPs) in Gavar, East of Armenia and Alaverdi in the North,
bringing hope and new opportunities to 20 more communities.

Gavar and Alaverdi were selected as locations for the new ADPs taking
into consideration the difficult social and economic conditions of the
regions. Up to 50% of the population in Gavar and Alaverdi is not able
to meet their basic needs, and 10% of children live in extreme poverty.

‘We have a chance to serve new communities across the country.

Working with communities enables us to represent them with authority
and knowledge to regional and national level government,’ said World
Vision Armenia’s National Director Mark Kelly.

Both districts face major problems with infrastructure. Most water
reservoirs and internal systems are currently not functioning; as a
result, some villages are completely deprived of irrigation and depend
on rainfall and snow to irrigate their arable lands. Along with the
infrastructure problems, land cultivation in Gavar and Alaverdi is
also complicated by the lack of agricultural machinery.

The majority of families for whom agriculture is the main source of
income struggle to provide their children with daily bread. The focal
problems of the rural communities also include poor community roads,
sewage and drinking water systems, health and educational facilities.

All previously operating factories and production plants of Gavar and
many of Alaverdi are no longer in operation, resulting in a high rate
of social vulnerability and migration to find employment.

In January 2007 assessments of the current situation, identifying
opportunities, vulnerabilities, and capacities, and creating a basis
for designing the future interventions of the ADP were all started.

The assessment was conducted in close cooperation with the future
stakeholders, including government officials, community leaders,
NGOs, churches and the general population.

‘Assessment is an essential step in the development of a new program.

A good assessment also enables communities to better understand
their own reality and its implications,’ said Astghik Movsisyan,
World Vision Armenia Program Officer.

Interventions in Gavar and Alaverdi will include sectors where
World Vision Armenia has extended experience, in particular;
economic development, health, education, child protection, Christian
Commitments and Community Partnership as crosscutting themes to all
the above. World Vision Armenia is likely to consider environmental
protection as a priority sector of intervention.

[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and
not of Reuters. ]

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress