KAMARIS VILLAGE KINDERGARTEN RENOVATED THROUGH THE COMMUNITY SELF-HELP FUND
ArmRadio.am
26.12.2006 12:56
On December 27, 2006 at 13:00 the official opening ceremony of the
kindergarten in Kamaris village will take place. The kindergarten
was renovated through the US Embassy and USAID-funded Community
Self-Help Fund (CSHF) program, which is implemented by Save the
Children. Representatives of the US Embassy, USAID, Save the Children,
Kotayk Marzpetaran, Kamaris local government and the community will
participate in the event.
The kindergarten of Kamaris village (with 2,500 residents) is a
two-storied building built in 1976 with a capacity of 95 children. Due
to the lack of financial means it had not been renovated for many
years. As a result, only two playrooms of the kindergarten had
been operating over the past years, with up to 30 children enrolled
and run by 12 staff. Yet the building’s state was turning for the
worst day by day. The roof was damaged and leaked; the water pipes
and internal sewage system were eroded and blocked; the electric
network, floors, walls, doors and windows were deteriorated. Given
the deteriorated conditions of the kindergarten, two years ago the
village municipality had to cease its operations. However, taking
into account the kindergarten’s importance for the pre-school aged
children’s care and education, as well as their mothers’ numerous
requests, the village council decided to initiate the renovation
of the kindergarten. As the available funding was very limited,
the community applied to Save the Children for a CSHF program grant.
The Community Self-Help Fund program helped create improved
educational and care conditions for the children through renovation
of the kindergarten’s roof, kitchen, laundry, playrooms, events hall,
nurse’s rooms, and the storage.
Due to the program, 75 children will attend the kindergarten and 20
new staff will be hired.
The total cost of the project was USD 30,831 of which USD 16,802 was
provided by the Community Self-Help Fund, while USD 14,029 (about 46%
of the project cost) was contributed by the Kamaris village community
in form of labor and construction materials.