PRESS RELEASE
Children of Armenia Fund (COAF) – Yerevan Office
53-55 Pavstos Buzand Street, 0010
Yerevan, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Inessa Grigoryan
Tel: (+374 10) 522076; 562068
Fax: (+374 10) 522076
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
Children of Armenia Fund – New York Office
162 Fifth Avenue, Suite 900,
New York, NY 10010, USA
Contact: Samantha Wagar
Tel: 212 – 994 – 8234
Fax: 212 – 994 – 8299
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
Spring Brought Cheers to all Dalarik School Children
624 Dalarik school children moved to their new school on March 3
March 12, 2008 Dalarik, Armavir District ¾ On March 3, 2008, 624
school children of Dalarik moved to their fully refurbished school. The
Children of Armenia Fund (COAF) was there on the first day of school to
share with the children and staff the joy of walking into such a modern
building. The Dalarik School is the ninth completed building
reconstruction project of COAF’s Participatory Integrated Rural
Development Program. Since late 2005, COAF has completed the
reconstruction and refurnishing of two pre-schools, four schools, a
health clinic, a sports complex, and a community center. These
projects, along with the educational, social, health and economic
development projects realized by COAF have turned the lives of 12,115
residents of Dalarik, Karakert, Lernagog and Shenik, of whom 3,018 are
children.
Hayser Kirakosyan, former director of the Dalarik School and currently a
history teacher is elated by the transformation of his dilapidated old
school. In Mr. Kirakosyan’s words "This building is a real gift to all
of us, but especially to the children of Dalarik. For too long, our
children were deprived of the most basic conditions for learning in a
healthy school environment. For none of their fault, this generation
inherited a deserted village and poor conditions all around. This
school is like a miracle for all of us. I am absolutely convinced that
our children will strive for high standards and they will attain greater
results."
The Dalarik School capital reconstruction project began in November 2006
and was completed by Akhuryan Coopshin Ltd., a Gyumri-based company with
extensive experience in reconstruction. COAF and the contractor worked
closely with the local community in all phases of the planning and
implementation of the project. About 20 percent of the workforce in
this project came from the local community.
The revitalized Dalarik School has a usable area of 3,300 sq. m., with
22 classrooms, 12 lavatories, 2 science laboratories, 5 administrative
offices, a fully equipped computer room, a workshop, a nurse’s station,
a music room, a library, an arts center, a gymnasium, a teachers’
conference room, and a performance hall. All rooms are fully
refurnished.
The building is provided with power, water and heat supply systems. The
external and internal walls and foundation of the school building have
been reinforced. Access to the school and other specifications meet
required norms for the disabled. Thanks to this completed project, the
children of Dalarik will grow in a safe environment, guided by teachers
recently retrained in instruction methodology including child centered
classrooms, cooperative learning, thematic teaching, lesson planning and
other related topics. These trainings and other educational projects
are continuous and intend to contribute to rural children’s
multifunctional development and growth. Additionally, COAF’s upcoming
projects include the continued expansion of infrastructure, economic
development, health and social programs in all six cluster communities.
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