Protection of Consumers’ Rights NGO
Bridge Of Hope
IDHR (“Public Participation and Monitoring in PRSP Implementation” Project)
Mission Armenia
Hask-96
KEDC (Kapan Entrepreneurship Development Center)
EDRC (Economic Development Research Center)
Kamk & Korov (Will and Strength)
STC (Support To Communities)
FAVL (Fund Against Violation of Law)
Alpha Plus Consulting
NGOU (Non Governmental Organizations' Union of Shirak Region)
SDA (Strategic Development Agency)
Future Generation Union
TQMA (Total Quality Management Assistance)
Education for Sustainable Development Foundation
“Coalition” Collaboration for Development of Democracy NGO.
“SHOGHER UNION” NGO
Armenian Civil Society Partnership Network

 

Protection of Consumers’ Rights NGO

Abgar Eghoyan, President
Hanrapetutyan 76/1, apt.28
Yerevan, 0001, RA
Hot line: (374 10) 543818
Fax: (374 10) 543843
E-mail: upcr@web.am

“Protection of Consumers’ Rights” NGO (PCR) is a consumer NGO operating in Armenia since January 1997. For already nine years PCR works in Armenia aiming at assuring of safe consumer commodities in the country and redress of consumer right infringements.

1. Bridge Of Hope

Non-Governmental, Non-Profitable, Non-Political Organization of the Republic of Armenia

Address

Koriuni 19-a, 375009 Yerevan , Republic of Armenia
Telephone: (3741) 58 91 86; (3741) 56 01 43
e-mail: bridge@arminco.com
URL: www.bridgeofhope.am

Beneficiaries are children with disabilities and their families, educators, and children with educational special needs.
The geography - Yerevan , Ijevan, Dilijan, Berd

“Bridge of Hope” is an NGO for all children and together with all children works to build environment free from barriers and discrimination

The NGO “ Bridge of Hope ” was established in 1996 to help children with disabilities and their parents to overcome their isolation and to help them participate in community life on an equal basis with others. While “ Bridge of Hope ” has long been a mainstreaming placement for children with disabilities, today the focus is on inclusion. This means not only allowing children with disabilities to be in close proximity to their typically developing peers, but also maximizing their full participation in the program. Our programs are directed to create equal opportunities and improve the conditions for children with disabilities so that they can achieve their own goals free from physical and attitudinal barriers.
OUR Mission
Promote inclusion of children with disabilities in the society.

OUR Goals
• Provide supports and services to children who have disabilities or who are at risk of developing disabilities, which will allow their participation in, and contribution to community life.
• Make basic education accessible for children with disabilities.
• Raise public awareness and change the prejudice, stereotypes and attitudes towards people with disabilities.
• Empower parents of children with disabilities and foster their participation in realization of their children's rights.
• Influence changes in disability policy, practices, ideas and beliefs in the country that will help to create equal opportunities for people with disabilities to participate equally with others and enjoy their rights.

“Bridge of Hope” believes that
• It is possible to eradicate discrimination towards children with disabilities in Armenia if the state and the society will demonstrate willingness to follow the principles of equality and justice.
• Man gives birth to discrimination and man can eradicate it.
• No one in the world is insured from disability or becoming a parent of a child with disability so solving problems that the persons with disabilities face in everyday life, we insure indirectly ourselves.

Bridge of Hope” realizes that
People with disabilities and their families are the poorest and the most vulnerable part of the population and will continue to be like that until their basic rights to education, health, participation, jobs and a decent life are protected.

Projects

Open the door for all

Inclusive education

According to the agreement with the Ministry of Education of Armenia, “Bridge of Hope” is building an inclusive education practice in 5 regular schools in Yerevan with the support of NOVIB (Oxfam in Netherlands) www.novib.nl . The experience is still a model that is going to bring changes in education policy, which will guarantee the sustainability of the project and its expansion in other regular schools. The 1 st school that started the project in 2001 is school # 27 (www.ac2k.am/sch/yerevan_sch27/ ) in Yerevan (with support of Oxfam GB) www.oxfam.org.uk and since 2003, the project has started in 4 other schools: # 59 ( www.iatp.am/resource/educat/schools/59/59-e.htm ); #100 ( www.ac2k.am/sch/yerevan_sch100/index.htm ), # 150 ( school150@ac2k.am ) and the school named after M. Sebastatsi.
The school entrances are physically adjusted to children with disabilities. “ Bridge of Hope ” also set a Children's Resource Room in each school.
The inclusive education models in these schools are very important to influence inclusive changes in the policy of education. They will demonstrate to the Armenian Government that this type of education is child centered, cost effective and realistic. Since 2001, the Ministry of Education and UNICEF regularly organize in-service trainings on inclusive education for teachers from these schools.
Building teams within these schools is the key to inclusive education. Inclusion of students with disabilities and other special needs cannot be met without help. These teams of like-minded people have the power to make many things possible. The team is built on the principle that each voice is valued and necessary for effective inclusion. The roles that each member in the team plays are very important in developing a caring community for all children.
Building teams within these schools is the key to inclusive education. Inclusion of students with disabilities and other special needs cannot be met without help. These teams of like-minded people have the power to make many things possible. The team is built on the principle that each voice is valued and necessary for effective inclusion. The roles that each member in the team plays are very important in developing a caring community for all children.
The school principals facilitate cross-disciplinary collaboration by removing the barriers to change: offering incentives to educators to participate in training, building the time into teachers' schedules to allow collaborative problem solving, team meetings and adaptations of materials. The team approach provides multiple perspectives and the best way to develop a program to include the student.
The teams at schools include – a regular education teacher, a special education teacher, a disability coordinator, a social worker and the child's parents. The child's parents participate in every scheduled meeting and talk to every person that is involved in the team, and discuss with them what they like/dislike, their goals, hopes, fears and dreams that they would like to see children achieve.

Parent-to-Parent Support
The birth of the child is both a feeling of pleasure and responsibility for parents and the whole family. But when the child appears to have a disability the family needs more psycho social support than ever. Many mothers tell that as soon as they learned about their children's disability, they felt pity for themselves and gradually became isolated living in suffering and vagueness.
Throwing a glance over their past life's path, many parents who experienced the same situation confirm that if they would have had a chance to meet and communicate with other parents having the same experience, they could possibly help overcome the psychological and physical barriers that they had. Parent to parent support fills this gap. The program is very clear: parents of children with disabilities support other parents of children with disabilities. No one can realize the intensity of emotions and the depth of the problem like another parent experiencing the same situation. The network of parents empowers them and fills their hearts with strength, enthusiasm and joy and gives them pride.
This is a relationship built on an “I know and understand” principle.

Our Goal
• Bring together experienced families of children with disabilities to help other parents overcome isolation and support active participation in their children's issues.
• Raise families' awareness and knowledge in disability issues in local and international conventions and laws, those protect their children's right.
• Raise families' confidence and activeness, through providing them with regular psychological support and opportunities of getting adequate information.

What We Do
Make relations between families and encourage them to increase new connections.
Support parents and family members to form parents' support groups.
Organize round tables and “Parents' Leadership” seminars for parents' groups.
Inform the parents of the rights of their children and the laws that protect those rights.
Develop relationships between parents' groups and local bodies of self-governance.
Develop a network between parents' groups.

Children's/Youth Magazine “Sunflower”
Why “Sunflower”?
“Sunflowers are beautiful flowers with all seeds together – small and big, fruitful and not, surrounded with yellow leaves making the flower to look like the Sun and it always looks at the Sun. We want our society to be like this beautiful flower where no one is excluded because of his or her differences and all are together and valued equally”.
“Sunflower” is a magazine for and by children. It was founded in 1999 with the support of Oxfam and the British Embassy in Armenia.
The most important goal of the magazine is to build individuals and communities where all are equal. The best place to begin this is with the youngest and most vulnerable members of our communities – children. The principle of the magazine is: “What we live with, we learn. What we learn, we practice. What we practice, we become. What we become has consequences”.
Children feel free to express their opinion and identify problems concerning their peers, raise the questions and try to make sure their voices are heard. It has become an outlet for children/teenagers to raise their voices.
Children feel free to express their opinion and identify problems concerning their peers, raise the questions and try to make sure their voices are heard. It has become an outlet for children/teenagers to raise their voices.
Children with and without disabilities from schools in Yerevan and the BoH center are working together to create each issue of the magazine. The global productivity of this publishing activity is that the children's full potential is developed and the young journalists are engaged in the magazine not only as beneficiaries but also as participants and problem-solvers.

Inclusive Children's Theatre Group
Bridge of Hope established the theatre group in 1997 with the support of OXFAM and the British Embassy in Armenia. Bridge of Hope 's inclusive theatre group has brought together children from different social backgrounds: children with disabilities, refugee children, children of disabled parents, children from poor and well-to-do families. Indeed, it has succeeded in joining children from different backgrounds in theatre training and productions.
The group raises public awareness and promotes social integration and inclusion, supports and encourages the establishment of positive images of children with disabilities and collapses the barriers that separate the children with disabilities from the mainstream. The actors of the group have improved their skills, they work inclusively and display considerable expertise in their respective disciplines and win the respect and admiration of their peers.
The repertoire of the theatre is quite rich: “Cinderella”, “The Snow Queen”, “The Beauty and the Beast”, “The Snow White and 7 Dwarves”, K. Goldone's “The Servant of Two Masters”, B. Shaw's “Pygmalion”, Y. Shvarts's “The Dragon”, D, Demirtchyan's “The Brave Nazar” and Gogol's “The Inspector”.
Since its establishment the theatre, it has participated in many festivals in Armenia and out of it – in Georgia and Turkey. Since 2002, the theatre participates in the Armenian annual National Festival of Children's Theatre Groups, “Nran Hatik” (translated “The seed of a Pomegranate”), and enriches the festival through its spirit and talent.

Debate Clubs
The organization experience in the field of disabilities and education shows that there is interdependence between inclusive and civil education. BoH organizes education for responsible citizenship via Debate Clubs in BoH centers in 3 cities: Yerevan , Dilijan and Ijevan . It gives the children a solid understanding of the concepts of rights and responsibilities, it teaches the children to respect diversity that exists between children/people and shows the benefits of being active and responsible citizens.
The debate clubs are designed to develop children's knowledge-skills-attitude-value concerning human rights, conflict resolution, identity/diversity/gender, health, education, poverty, social injustice and discrimination and also to motivate the new generation to internalize global values in order to be responsible citizens of a constitutional democracy. It builds self-esteem and allows children to experience themselves as being a part of a larger network of people who are helping to create a better world.
The curriculums of the clubs are conducted from Oxfam's curriculum of Global Citizenship.

The key elements of the curriculum are:
• Knowledge and understanding: Social justice and equity, diversity, globalization and interdependence, sustainable development, peace and conflict.
• Skills: critical thinking, ability to debate effectively, ability to challenge injustice and inequalities, respect for people and things, co-operation and conflict resolution.
• Values and attitudes: Sense of identity and self-esteem, empathy, commitment to social justice and equity, value and respect for diversity, concern for environment and commitment to sustainable development, and the belief that people can make a difference.

Community based centers
The existing rehabilitation and social services in Armenia are mainly based in Yerevan and they are reaching no more than 2% of children with disabilities and their families. These services are mostly inaccessible to remote rural areas of Armenia. The situation is the same with NGOs. From the Ministry of Justice of Armenia 's data, there are more than 3000 registered NGOs in Armenia and about 80% are based in Yerevan . There are very few NGOs in other regions, especially NGOs dealing with disabilities. These small amounts of disability NGOs in other regions are mainly busy with humanitarian assistance (distributing food or second hand clothes to families) and don't seem to change their approach from a charity model to a social model of disability. Adding to this, there is a limited amount of special services to children with disabilities in regions from the side of local governments and as a result, these children grow up in isolation and are excluded from the education system.
With the realization of the magnitude of the problems of children with disabilities in remote areas of Armenia and with the growing appreciation of the principles of social integration and participation, “Bridge of Hope” NGO has established 3 community based centers in Tavush region ( a large region in the North –East of Armenia bordering Azerbaijan ) at regional centers in Dilijan, Ijevan and Berd. The centers provide psychosocial rehabilitation services to children with disabilities and their families, non-disabled children from families living in poverty (as a result part of these children are excluded from the education system). They also support the development of inclusive education practices in the regions and provide in-service training to teachers from regular schools to prepare them to teach children with disabilities in regular classrooms. The centers provide range of training for parents to raise their active participation in the program and reach their full potential to help their children as well resource and counseling services on social and human rights issues.
The centers pay special attention to the needs of children with disabilities and their families. At the same time, the same services are available for all children and create joined activities of all community members.
The centers provide services to children with mental and physical disabilities and non-disabled children to develop their social skills to participate in school and community life. The large part of the learning experience is socialization through Art Therapy, Speech Development, Life Skills and Physical Therapy. Children learn to cooperate and share with peers, to take part in group activities and talks, and to take responsibility for their own actions and for their own learning. Through individualized programs children develop skills they need for social interaction and participation.
Disability Information and Resource services facilitate learning and information sharing; parents education and enhance networking between parents groups, persons with disabilities, community, local government, service providers. The centers promote and support research on disability issues in the region and support advocacy processes and campaigns. Leadership and human rights training are organized for activist parents (mainly women) and persons with disabilities. The community based services for families strengthen their capacities to overcome social, attitudinal and bureaucratic barriers.
The local governments in Dilijan, Ijevan and Berd have gradually increased their participation in development of BoH centers. This kind of participation is the key to sustainability and success of the centers. The communities start to realize that the lives of its members with disabilities must be improved and that the community itself has the capacity to do it. The Municipalities Ijevan and Berd have subsidized large offices to the centers and support the staff with expertise and counseling.

• D I L I J A N
In 2001, Bridge of Hope established a “Child development” community based center in Dilijan. The office for the center was purchased with the support of the Armenian community of Toronto, Canada . The establishment of the center was supported by DFID and UNICEF. Since 2003, NOVIB (Oxfam in Netherlands) has supported the center.
Number of children: 120 children (50 with disabilities

Schedule of services
Social skills, art classes, physical therapy, speech therapy, debating club activities for children with and without disabilities.
Consulting in social, legislative and health spheres for adults/children with disabilities and their family members.

Achievements:
• Community based center proposes a model of community based services and the interest towards the center is high among the local Government bodies, NGOs and local community.
• The considerable change took place in public attitude towards social model of disability and social integration of children with disabilities in Dilijan.
• 125 children with disabilities are improving their skills and abilities and their self-esteem is raised.
• Parents of children with disabilities are raising their capacities through range of advocacy, leadership, human rights and community development training to influence the local government to take responsibility for their disabled members.
• 125 children without disabilities have improved their communication and social interaction skills and their perception about their peers with disabilities.
• More than 200 people are consulted and protected their rights due to consulting and information center.
• the public awareness in Dilijan about disability is considerably higher than before.
• 4 children with special needs are ready to attend school next year.
• Collaboration with 4 mainstream schools of Dilijan.

• I J E V A N :
In 2002, Bridge of Hope established a “Child development” community based center in Ijevan. The municipality of Ijevan subsidizes the office for the center. The center was established with the support of NOVIB (Oxfam in Netherlands) and co- funded by UNICEF and DFID.
Number of children: 150 children (60 with disabilities

Schedule of services:
Social skills, art classes, physical therapy, speech therapy, debating club activities for children with and without disabilities.
Consulting in social, legislative and health spheres for adults/children with disabilities and their family members.

Achievements:
• Community based center proposes a model of community based services and the interest towards the center is high among the local Government bodies, NGOs and local community.
• The considerable change took place in public attitude towards social model of disability and social integration of children with disabilities in Ijevan.
• 150 children with disabilities are improving their skills and abilities and their self-esteem is raised.
• Parents of children with disabilities are raising their capacities through range of advocacy, leadership, human rights and community development training to influence the local government to take responsibility for their disabled members.
• 100 children without disabilities have improved their communication and social interaction skills and their perception about their peers with disabilities.
• More than 100 people are consulted and protected their rights due to consulting and information center.
• The public awareness in Ijevan about disability is considerably higher than before.
• 10 children with special needs are ready to attend school next year.
• Collaboration with 5 mainstream schools and 3 local Universities of Ijevan.

2. IDHR - Institute for Democracy and Human Rights

Armineh Arakelian, President
Hripsimeh Manoukyan, Executive Director

Aygedzor 4/1, Yerevan
Tel: (3741) 264712, (3741) 272980, (3749) 432119
Fax: (3741) 365485
E-mail: idhr@arminco.com, idhr@web.am
URL: www.idhr.am

IDHR is an independent non-governmental organization registered under the Association Law of the Republic of Armenia (August 1999), based in Yerevan - Armenia.

IDHR's main objective is to promote sustainable democracy and human rights in Armenia.

· Attempts to analyze, discuss, and raise public issues in a comprehensive and holistic manner, as well as facilitates and pro motes the resolution of issues of public importance in Armenia and in the South Caucasus region.

· By means of active cooperation with active forces and instances of the society, and ensuring people's participation in Armenia, as well as, in the region, IDHR tries to enhance public awareness and participation and, to make major issues of concern in Armenia and in the region part of the national and regional public agendas and policy decisions.

· Attempts to facilitate the development of a dialogue and cooperation between various parts of civil society and the state.
· Attempts to create an environment in which people will have the opportunity to develop their knowledge, exchange information, share views and new ideas, as well as cooperate with each other.

· Attempts to foster the democratic development of a civil society and the strengthening of cooperation in the South Caucasus region.
IDHR`s activities are directed towards:
· Promotion of human rights, democratic values and mechanisms
· Development of processes and institutions for the protection and promotion of human rights and democracy
· Development of a civil society at the national and regional levels
· Development and promotion of a culture and mechanisms of dialogue and cooperation between the civil society, State, and the private sector
· Inclusion of issues with a public relevance in the public agenda
· Enhance public participation and monitoring of public policy development and implementation mechanisms

IDHR's activity tools:
· Information campaigns
· Consultations
· Facilitation of dialogue
· Public discussions
· Advocacy and networking
· Surveys, analyses
· Producing publications that are accessible to the public
· Provision of policy advice
· Education and training
· Participation in different regional and international forums and civil society events.

IDHR believes that the formal reforms, which the State is undertaking or intends to fulfill in the field of democratization, could effectively improve human rights situation and democratic processes in Armenia and in the region. The only prerequisite for this is the civil society as an active part of the process and the joint commitment and close co-operation between State, civil society and private sector in adopting and respecting human rights and democratic principles and their implementation. The civil society in Armenia as well as in the South Caucasus s at the regional level needs to be reinforced vigorously, with a special focus on the empowerment of the disadvantaged groups such as women, refugees, poor, and dialogue and co-operation culture and mechanisms to be developed and promoted in order to ensure State / civil society / private sector collaboration hence development of democratic state. This could be achieved within the perspective of a regional cooperation in the South Caucasus in order to ensure sustainable human security and development for the majority of population in this part of the world.

Since 1999 IDHR's Programmes have been focusing mainly on promoting development, implementation and monitoring of public policies for strengthening democratic institutions, mechanisms and culture based on human rights principles in the country within a regional cooperation perspective. Its efforts are directed towards a) facilitation of a dialogue and cooperation between various sectors of civil society, as well as between civil society, state and private sector with regard to the major problems of the society and for generating national and regional democratic agendas; b) enhancing participation of population, especially, of disadvantaged groups in the decision making processes; c) raising awareness and knowledge of human rights and democratic principles and processes at both policy making and civil society levels; d) promoting institutional reforms and their compliance with international and European standards e) promoting regional co-operation among civil society actors in the South Caucasus.

During 2002-04 the IDHR's programs will be in continuity and complementary with the earlier efforts and contribution made by the organization in the major focus areas initiated and carried out effectively during last two years, mainly, in the areas of poverty reduction, participation, civil society development; public policy monitoring and promotion of democratic public agendas at national and community levels. In this regard, the programs include projects involving various sectors of civil society as well as State/civil society/private sector co-operation. For the years of 2002-2004 the following are the main priorities:
· Organization of participation and monitoring of PRSP within the context of poverty reduction
· Reinforcement of civil society, and especially, in terms of representative of disadvantaged groups, such as women, poor, refugees.
· Enhancement of non discrimination and democratic development mechanisms and culture
· Promotion of the dialogue and co-operation between state, civil society and private sector to develop national and regional democratic agendas and partnership
· Promotion of institutional reforms and their compliance with the international and European standards
· Promotion of good governance within a regional co-operation perspective between civil society, state and private sector entities in the South Caucasus.

In 2002, IDHR conducted six-week training courses on ''Human, Right and Society in Armenia: Contemporary Perspectives on Democratic State and Civil Society Formation and Major Issue of Human Rights'' and ''Democracy in Armenia: Foundation Problems and Prospects''. Young boys and girls, in the age range of 20-30 years of age, attended the training courses.
At the end of the training courses, 48 young participants who completed the courses received their certificates during an official ceremony. The courses were conducted within the framework of the three-year ''Strengthening of Democratic Development'' program initiated in cooperation with the Dutch NOVIB non-governmental organization.

On August 23, 2002 in the warm and frank atmosphere in Byurakan, the third anniversary of the founding of IDHR was celebrated. The members of the IDHR's satellite Youth Club, the IDHR management, members and staff took part in the celebration

“Public Participation and Monitoring in PRSP Implementation” Project

The purpose of the project was to study the public opinion, especially that of the poor and socially vulnerable segments of the population, and to develop proposals and recommendations on its basis in order to enhance their participation in the PRSP elaboration process and to protect the right of poor women and men to have their voices heard.

The penultimate draft of the published PRSP still had numerous shortcomings, namely the inconsistency between the poverty reduction goal and the poverty definition incorporated in the Paper, the poverty indicators, and the uncertainties of priorities in classifying poor segments and reducing poverty, as well as in other categories. In the recent published versions of the PRSP (May and July 2003), the aforementioned deficiencies had grown to be more severe than before. Despite that in a structural sense, the PRSP has undergone significant improvement, its substantive part has become more exposed to risks than before. The issue is that the priorities underlined in the last draft of the PRSP overlook what we find to be a pivotal concern in terms of reducing poverty, i.e. that of equal opportunities. Our assertions about the need to prioritize equal opportunities is consistent with the fifth main objective of OXFAM, i.e. the Right to Equity, because our survey showed that the poor and socially vulnerable segments of the population believe that the main cause of poverty in Armenia is the unfair situation arising out of the inequalities of opportunities to explore, develop, and realize the human abilities.

In this situation, as the Poverty Reduction Strategy in Armenia declares economic growth to be an absolute, and effectively sole priority, poverty reduction altogether is jeopardized.

One of the causes of these uncertainties is that in defining poverty and determining ways of overcoming it, policy-makers have often failed to consider, or have been unaware of, the position of the poor concerning these issues and their vision of how to overcome the present obstacles. Therefore, the preparatory stage of the survey has focused on studying the opinion of the primary beneficiaries of the PRSP, i.e. that of the poor.

During the survey, for the first time ever, an attempt has been made in Armenia at assessing the level of poverty with the participation of the poor segments of the population. Geographic, natural, climatic, accessibility/inaccessibility of communications, large-medium-sized-small, and urban/rural differences have been taken into account.

The survey was carried out using a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods.

In the implementation of the survey, a new principle was introduced into the policy of carrying out the PRSP participatory process, i.e. that of surveying the opinion of the poor in order to mobilize them into the PRSP elaboration process;

As a matter, this research project was aimed at not only carrying out the survey, but also realizing the right of the PRSP beneficiaries, i.e. the poor, to have their voices heard in order to influence the development of measures to overcome the issues affecting them;

Decisive importance was attached to opinions of the poor in defining poverty, developing assessment criteria, formulating priorities in the poverty elimination process, and affecting policy change in the PRSP implementation stage, and to collaboration with civil society organizations aimed at overcoming the systemic causes of poverty (especially the network of OXFAM partners) and a synchronized policy in the participation, social monitoring, and assessment of PRSP elaboration and implementation.

3. Mission Armenia
Hripsime Kirakosyan, President

42, Garegin Nzhdeh, Yerevan, 375026
Tel: (3741) 444792, (3741) 444793
Fax: (3741) 444792
E-mail: ripsik@arminco.com

Mission Armenia offers care services for elderly and disabled people. It also operates soup kitchen for homeless people. This is a single page on the Social Transition Program in Armenia site.

Although created about a decade ago, however, the NGO already has good traditions and rich experience. Several years ago no one could predict, that the novelty made by the NGO Mission Armenia against the crystallized non-efficient, incomplete and highly expensive institutional system, could withstand, becoming a feasible model, a substantial way for many elderly/disabled to have access to various socio-health services.
Mission Armenia has developed and has been executing an innovative community-based health care and social service model in the country as a viable and feasible scheme for response to the manifold needs of the socially excluded, being its promoter in the country and the Caucasian region. The success is so obvious that other Caucasian NGOs have agreed to adopt this model in their countries as well, given the fact that all the three countries are under the similar conditions and are facing the same range of difficulties.

Mission Armenia's model has already been included in the strategic planning of the Government of Armenia for 2001-2003 as a great opportunity for hundreds of disenfranchised persons to have free access to various socio-health and nutrition services.

Today Mission Armenia is active in 9 Marzes (administrative regions) in the Republic out of ten and has set up firm infrastructures for the provision of community-based social - health services and through its numerous Health Posts, Community Centers, Soup kitchens today Mission Armenia provides assistance to more than 15,000 vulnerable persons and about 120,000 disenfranchised households addressing their specific needs in a differentiated, individual manner.

For the local population the NGO arranges the provision of services through the Community Centers that have been set up by Mission Armenia. The refugee caseload is being served through Mission Armenia's staff visits to the refugee group dwellings. Once helping hundreds of socially excluded, bedridden, undernourished elderly/disabled to overcome starvation, winter colds, health hazards, now Mission Armenia directs all its efforts to restore human dignity and identity of elderly people, to ensure their participation, independence, self-fulfillment, preventing their socio-psychological segregation from the community, making socio-health non-institutional services accessible for as many as possible.

Apart from mitigation of the elderly socio-health status, the community-based elderly support programs by Mission Armenia have strengthened the communities as well. Considerable progress has been made in mobilizing the community authorities and different society groups to jointly respond the multifaceted needs of the elderly.

The goal of the organization is favorable setting created for the senior citizens in the Shengavit Community at social and health levels and community of formal and informal structures mobilized on jointly overcoming elderly problems.

The objectives of the organization are:

· Non-institutional disenfranchised older persons of the Shengavit Community trained on age-related health and other issues through regular group training sessions at the Senior Citizens Center.
· Health and social needs of the vulnerable older persons of the Shengavit Community mitigated through Center based and home health and social services/consulting.
· Elderly-related issues advocated and formal and informal structures of the Community mobilized for joint actions in responding the elderly issues.

4. Hask-96

Silva Harutyunyan, President

Komitas ave. 44, Yerevan
Tel: (3741) 261780
E-mail: oxfam.credit@netsys.am

"Hask-96" SPO is community developing social public organization. It has objectives to:
· Provide employment for socially vulnerable strata of the population, refugees and unemployed women, families of perished soldiers, single mothers and old women. "HASK-96" is aimed to protect the above mentioned strata interests and rights.
· Assist in small and medium business development in Armenia, through providing consulting services free of charge.
· Protect interests of the organization and its members in Armenia and abroad.
· Assist in solution of the legal, market relations and business development problems of the organization and its members and increase in awareness in those fields.

HASK-96 NGO aims to increase ability of local vulnerable and refugee women in Northern regions of Armenia and in Yerevan in generation of secure livelihoods through provision of employment and through access to local and international markets.

In accordance with the proposal about 100 people will benefit from the program and after break even in accordance with the market condition, the program will be able to provide jobs for approximately 60 people (100% women) on long-term basis.

The NGO has already 6-year work experience of successful implementation of OXFAM different projects and especially Micro-credit sector.

The project contributes to the SCO 1.1 - Right for secured food & livelihoods and to SCO 1.2- Employment, supporting vulnerable groups to raise their family income and thus reduce vulnerability.

5. KEDC (Kapan Entrepreneurship Development Center)

Robert Tevanyan, Director

Smbat Melik-Stepanyan str. 6, Kapan
Tel. (37485) 63876
E-mail: oxfam@syunik.am

"Kapan Entrepreneurship Development Center" (KEDC) NGO was established in 1998 under direct supervision and with great support of OXFAM (GB) Armenian branch office. Starting from November 1998 and up to now KEDC is the implementing partner of OXFAM micro-credit program in southern regions of Armenia.

Simultaneously to the micro credit program in cooperation and with financial aid and technical support from the side of OXFAM and GTZ (German Technical Support agency) KEDC have prepared and trained number of business trainers and consultants, purchase needed equipment and it became possible to organize trainings and business support other services both for the clients of OXFAM credit program and also for other businessmen of the region.

In cooperation with other business centers of the region The Center also compiled the list of entrepreneurs in Syunik Marz and created Database of producers and suppliers of the region.

"KEDC" NGO is a community based regional non-governmental organization. It has the following objectives:
· Provide employment for socially vulnerable strata of the population, refugees and unemployed women, multi-children families, single mothers, elderliness etc through "self-employment". KESC is aimed to protect the above mentioned strata interests and rights.
· Support micro, small and medium business development in Armenia, through provision of consulting services, business and legal advice, business communications services etc.
· Protect interests of the organizations and its members in Armenia and abroad.
· Assist in solution of the legal, market relations and business development problems of the organization and its members and increase awareness in those fields
· Assist farmers in terms of organized sales and marketing of the products produced, creation & development of strong marketing links with Yerevan big agricultural markets and trade institutions.

6. EDRC (Economic Development Research Center)

Mushegh Tumasyan, Chairman

48 Mamikonyants str., 1-st building; Yerevan, 375051, Armenia
Tel: (3741) 234420; (3749) 401871
Fax: (3741) 236589
E-mail: info@edrc.am

EDRC is a non-profit and non-political organization, which intends to overcome social and economic problems in Armenia. The mission of EDRC is to promote social-economic development in Armenia, encourage public participation in economic policymaking process and enhance public literacy of economic, social and democratic issues.

Founders of EDRC are economists that have work experience in the state machinery, international organization and private sector. They are specialized in the areas of economics and social policymaking and programming, research, analyzing financial markets and banking.

Beginning from spring 2001, EDRC has initiated the Project of "Economic Information Center" under support of the US AID Tax, Fiscal and Customs Reform Project. Website www.EIC.am is one of the outcomes of this

Project. It contains a comprehensive database of macroeconomic indicators and independent economic analyses, as well as information on implemented policies, projects and economic developments.

With the support of OXFAM GB EDRC is performing "Policy Choice for Poverty Reduction" project and as an outcome of the latter a research paper "Growth with Equity" was published (see in www.EDRC.am/poverty). Besides, three economic models for economic policymaking, decision making and monitoring was built. Within frameworks of the Project of "Policy Choice for Poverty Reduction" EDRC became experienced in conducting policy analyses; made recommendations on policies of poverty reduction and social equality, gained expertise in economic statistics and legislative environment and researches and analyses conducted in this area by international and local organizations.

EDRC is a non-profit and non-political organization, which intends to overcome social and economic problems in Armenia. The mission of EDRC is to promote social-economic development in Armenia, encourage public participation in economic policymaking process and enhance public literacy of economic, social and democratic issues.

Founders of EDRC are economists that have work experience in the state machinery, international organization and private sector. They are specialized in the areas of economics and social policymaking and programming, research, analyzing financial markets and banking.

Beginning from spring 2001, EDRC has initiated the Project of "Economic Information Center" under support of the US AID Tax, Fiscal and Customs Reform Project. Website http://www.edrc.am/project.html?cat_id=17 is one of the outcomes of this Project. It contains a comprehensive database of macroeconomic indicators and independent economic analyses, as well as information on implemented policies, projects and economic developments.

With the support of OXFAM GB EDRC is performing "Policy Choice for Poverty Reduction" project and as an outcome of the latter a research paper "Growth with Equity" was published (see in http://www.edrc.am/project.html?cat_id=27). Besides, three economic models for economic policymaking, decision making and monitoring was built. Within frameworks of the Project of "Policy Choice for Poverty Reduction" EDRC became experienced in conducting policy analyses; made recommendations on policies of poverty reduction and social equality, gained expertise in economic statistics and legislative environment and researches and analyses conducted in this area by international and local organizations.

7. Kamk & Korov (Will and Strength)

Mari Pahutyan, President

Yeznik Koghbatsi str. 69, Yerevan
Tel: (3741) 538541, (3741) 538523
E-mail: kamkorov@netsys.am

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of RA, order N 27/1-3, 23 August 1996.
Re-registered in the Ministry of Justice of RA, orders N 143, 21 January 2000.

Goal:
· Integration of the disabled youth into the mainstream society. "Kamk & Korov" promotes hearing-impaired and deaf young people to grow rightful members of the society regardless of their gender.

Mission:
· To create conditions for psychological rehabilitation
· To raise education level
· To provide attainment of professional skills
· To raise public awareness of the main concerns of deaf youth
· To raise knowledge of young disabled people and their parents dealing with the rights and freedoms of disabled people

Activities:
For the first time in Armenia foundation of
· The ceramic studio, 2001
· The courses of English and computer, 2002
· Round tables and meetings with government and parliament representatives
· Training sessions and workshops relevant to advocacy, human rights, lobbying, gender issues and organizational management for staff members and beneficiaries

Our sponsors
OXFAM (Great Britain) Armenian branch,
NOVIB (OXFAM Netherlands),
OSI AF (Open Society Institute Assistant Foundation).

"Kamk & Korov" is definitely unprofitable, benevolent public NGO aims to help the Young Disabled people to get integrated into the mainstream society.

The NGO analyses the disabled peoples' status by representing their interests to the legal and executive authorities. Besides, it passes lobbying by involving the disabled people into the social life of the country. The NGO has worked out an educational program for the beneficiaries by ensuring their professional understanding.
· Funded by OXFAM and NOVIB charitable organizations, "Kamk &Korov" grew stronger. Hence, the NGO occupies its fitting place among different Armenian NGOs.
· Funded by "OXFAM" British Charitable Organization in 1998 "Kamk & Korov" established the Deaf Pantomime Theatre-Studio. The theatre-studio is the unique one in Armenia where the integrated study of hearing impaired and hearing young people is conducted.
· Periodically the Deaf Pantomime Theatre-Studio gives performances on different stages of Yerevan.
· Funded by OSI Assistance Foundation /"OSIAF"/ the Deaf Pantomime Theatre-Studio has gone on tour either to Shirak, Lory regions of Armenia or to Georgia.
· The modern dance band of the Deaf Pantomime Theatre-Studio occasionally participates in different TV-contests.
· Funded by "NOVIB" Dutch Charitable Organization in 2001 "Kamk & Korov" established the pottery college-studio for the young hearing impaired young people where the unprecedented integrated study of hearing impaired and hearing young people was conducted.
· The pottery college-studio is a real property of "Kamk & Korov " and is registered in its name.
· Periodically the NGO organizes sale-exhibitions of beneficiaries' creations of pottery.
· Owing to the literacy studies the beneficiaries' word stock and their literacy standard have been enriched.
· Owing to "Kamk & Korov" all the deaf population of the Republic of Armenia has gained an opportunity of watching informative TV-programs with sign language translation for 3 years.

Emanating from the experience having gained during 1998-2002 project realization period "Kamk & Korov" represents the program named "Disabled young people's professional skill acquisition and their representation to the society". The project has been worked out taking into account the hearing impaired beneficiaries' interests, special requests and their proper suggestions.

"Kamk & Korov" states the great role of the beneficiaries in reaching its most important goal, i.e. promote hearing-impaired young people to grow rightful members of the democratic society. The NGO considers the beneficiaries to bear and later on to realize this basic idea. The NGO should be guided by the principles of equal rights, which are supposed to be responsibilities too. Both girls and boys should be equalized in their rights without any gender bias.

The goal of the organization is to help the young deaf boys and girls to raise their professional standards, to acquire a specialization, to be employed somewhere, by assisting them to be integrated into the mainstream society, to get active part in the society's economic and spiritual life as well as to become rightful members of the society.

8. STC (Support To Communities)

Karen Arakelyan, President

Kievyan 5, apt. 4, Yerevan
Tel: (3749) 413097,
Tel/Fax: (3741) 226924
E-mail: stc@infocom.am

In 1999 the experienced Public Health team within Oxfam (GB) Armenia Branch evolved from it and was registered as a local NGO "Support to Communities" (STC). Oxfam handed-over the implementation of its PHC/RDF programs, retaining its role as a technical advisor, senior partner and main donor. Having grown up within Oxfam, the STC inherited Oxfam's approaches and attitudes, ways of working and implementation procedures (programmatic, institutional, financial, etc).

Hence, the programme is run in 64 villages of Southern Armenia, which implies the following:

· 59 health posts/ambulatories (PHC facilities) are renovated/constructed and 5 villages under construction / renovation.
· 59 PHC facilities are provided with office supplies, furniture and equipment featuring the PHC level and 5 villages under the process.
· 64 PHC facilities are provided with seed stock of essential drugs and supplies which is regularly being replenished under RDF programs
· 70 nurses are trained in PHC for upgrade of knowledge and skills
· In 41 villages internal and external water and sanitation systems were constructed/repaired upon needs and 5 villages under construction renovation process and will be completed at the end of 2002.
· In 41 villages water users' groups were established and trained for maintenance and exploitation of rural water/san systems
· For local capacity building of established village health and water committees Leadership, Management, nurse and water use trainings was organized to train 225 members.

The STC provides continuous support to the community-based PHC programme and RDF in 64 villages until they become completely self-managed. In the year of 2001-2002 two foundations were established and legally registered to ensure Institutional sustainability of the program.

Vayots Dzor Health Care Foundation with its 36 branches,
Syunik Health Care Foundation with its 28 branches

Having a respectful reputation the program is under the attention of other communities in the region. Based on the needs of population non - RDF communities are very interested in intervention of program for their communities. Besides the enlargement of the program and the representational number of communities will be the critical mass for the risk pooling of the scheme, will increase the sustainability of the program by enhancing the generated revenues for regional Foundation and the large coverage rate will be the strong enough leverage to influence the national policies for farther presentation of the program as replicable model on national level for policy/practice changes and will highlights the gaps of governmental investments and State budget resource allocation effectiveness.

9. FAVL (Fund Against Violation of Law)

Larisa Alaverdyan, Executive Director

Arshakunyats ave. 6, Yerevan
Tel: (3741) 568272, (3741) 588372
Tel/Fax: (3741) 582819
E-mail: favl@netsys.am

The Fund Against Violation of Law is a charitable non-governmental organization working in the human rights area. It was founded in the 1991 and registered by the Ministry of Justice in April 1992.
The aim of the organization is assistance to establish of democratization, strengthening of the institution of Local Self-Governance and development of communities in Armenia. The aim of the organization is also assistance to protection of human rights, including social, economic and cultural rights, and spreading international humanitarian law in Armenia and South Caucasus. We are seeking for peaceful relationships between nations of our region.

The beneficiaries of the Fund without difference on race, nation, religion and citizenship are hostages, war prisoners, missing people and their families, torture victims and supervisors of organized violence, refugees, displaced people, national minorities and so on.

The main objectives of the Fund include the following:

· Search of hostage and missing people and support to their return
· Withdrawal of violation against people in prison, prevention of torture in prison
· Social, legal, human rights protection services as well as assistance to medical-psychological rehabilitation of beneficiaries
· Revealing the legal aspects of the Karabakh problem and seeking peaceful settlement in the region
· Support and promotion to the processes of democratization in Armenia.

In the aim of achieving intended goals the Fund cooperates with national and international organizations. Members of the Fund participate in international, regional and national conferences, workshops and seminars.
Projects fulfilled by the Fund are:

· Social and legal assistance to the torture victims (refugees, hostages).
· Several projects on integration of refugees and spreading about RA Law about citizenship and other laws concerning refugees and migrants: "Refugees Today", "Legal Protection of Refugees", "Know Your Rights", "New Citizens of Armenia" - refugees integration in social life by increasing legal awareness (financed by USAID through Eurasia Foundation).
· "FULCRUM" - legal assistance to forcibly displaced people.
· Establishment of rehabilitation center for torture victims and survivors of organized violence.
· "Eritsuk" Integrated farm development project for needy people in Noravan community sponsored by HPR and UMCOR
· Community Development Project in Syunik Marz, aiming at changes in Local Self-Governance Law, sponsored by World Bank.
· "Civil Centers in Syunik Marz" Project sponsored by Oxfam.
The plans of the Fund for next two years
· Development of participatory process in the preparation and implementation of Poverty Reduction Strategy Program with a focus upon places where refugees stay compactly
· Spreading International Humanitarian Law in Armenia
· Peaceful settlement of Karabakh problem and post-conflict rehabilitation of the society.

In expiring years hundreds of hostages were returned (20 of them are children) due to organization's efforts. The Fund supported to saving several persons sentenced to death in Armenia as well as in Azerbaijan.
The Fund is talking an active part in adopting the RA Law on refugees, systematically protects the rights of the refugees. The Fund formulated political and legal aspects of Karabakh problem.

As the experience of FAVL shows, the influence of more advanced NGOs and their activities directed toward strengthening local organizations positively affect the development of local civil society, making the voices of the poor, vulnerable and rejected to be heard, and improving the level of positive expectations in the remote populated parts of the country. Thus, these groups become involved in decision-making process in places, gain the feeling of ownership, and take part in the social-political and economic transformations in the country.

Within past three years FAVL has implemented 5 projects in Syunik Marz, covering a range of aspects from legal support and advocacy for diverse vulnerable groups to educating farm-organization skills, disseminating community self-governance methods, and elaborating RA law on local self-governance. FAVL enjoys trust of population and power structures, maintains connections with local NGOs and volunteers. In the course of its 11 year functioning, FAVL has gained a valuable experience of cooperation with donors, constantly enlarging technical abilities, increasing professional level, and enhancing the effectiveness of project activities.

The development of active civil society in Armenia is crucial at this point to democracy building and to effective implementation of PRSP. The activities on the grassroots level are the critical component of poverty reduction process as they are the main guarantee for transparent, effective, and accountable state institutions. It should be mentioned that Armenia has no prior experience in democratic decision-making and public participation in the policy making process. This project is one step forward in activation of civil participation and building a productive dialogue between population and authorities.

Thus, the goal of the project is to provide effective civil participation in decision-making process and develop a dialogue between people and authorities in the framework of Poverty Reduction Strategy Program. This includes enabling local NGOs and representatives of poor and vulnerable population to follow, oversight, and influence policies and decisions affecting their lives.

10. Alpha Plus Consulting

Alexander Poghosyan, PHD, Managing Director

Baghramyan Ave. 21, Suite 8, Yerevan
Tel: (3749) 407565
Tel/Fax: (3741) 271071
E-mail: alphaplus@interline.am
URL: www.alphaplusconsulting.com

Alpha Plus Consulting is an international consulting unit, which is specialized in providing international organizations and donors with economic and development consulting and research services. Alpha Plus is well-known in such organizations as World Bank, UNDP, TASIC, DAI/USAID, ECLOF, Oxfam, UMCOR and others. It has accumulated strong expertise in project evaluation, sector analysis, and impact assessment areas.

11. NGOU (Non Governmental Organizations' Union of Shirak Region)

Mkrtich Chartaryan, President

V. Sargsyan str. 8, apt. 4, Gumry
Tel: (37441) 30205
Tel/Fax: (37441) 32497
Mobile: (3749) 424785
E-mail: revival@web.am

The initiative group of twenty-five NGOs founded the Union of Non-Governmental Organizations of Shirak Region in August 1996. Thirty-two NGOs are the members of the UNGO as of January 2003.

1. Meeting/field discussion in Amasia district of Shirak region with community leaders in the framework of NGOU project

The mission of the organization /UNGO is strengthening and development of NGO sector, the unification of NGO-s in Shirak Region and coordination of their activities for the achievements of the best results, effective utilization of the NGO sector potential, which will benefit the NGO-s and the society as well.

The objectives of the organization are:
· To promote democratic values throughout our society.
· To ensure active participation of civil society in formation of developed democratic state.
· To coordinate the activities of NGO-s according to their mission.
· To implement different social research programs.
· To perform NGO publicity campaigns.
· To develop and implement joint projects.
· To establish large set of links with governmental institutions, local and international donor organizations.

The goal of the organization is:
· To assist participation of Shirak region's population in strategic process of poverty's reduction informing them of governmental and international organizations' activities directed to measures of poverty's reduction.
· To explain reasons that give raise to poverty by means of round tables and meetings, and analyzing opinions and suggestions to find possible ways of poverty's reduction.

2. “New Gyumri” network of Gyumri NGOs, coordinating by Urban Institute. The aim of the Network is active participation in Earthquake zone recovery activities, implementation of joint projects.

· To provide the results of implemented works in the forms of suggestions to PRSP working groups.
· To ensure possession of information for Shirak region's population about the final variant of PRSP.
· Through Advocacy and meetings to ensure possession of information for Shirak region's population about strategy of governmental and international organizations directed to reduction of poverty.

3. Meeting with Shirak region governor and regional government staff in frames of “Poverty in Shirak region and ways of its overcoming” project

· By means of Investigations and meetings to clear up the problems that give raise to poverty and cause and effect tie. To assist formation of healthy, public opinion, imparting new ideology and favoring population's possession of information.
· To organize Round tables, analytic discussions that will include discussion of necessary themes flown from investigations and meetings' results, then as a result of it we'll implement analysis directed to working out of ways for poverty's reduction strategy.

4. Round table/discussion with representatives of Healthcare field of Shirak regional government.

· To publish informational reports, where discussed results' analysis will be concluded and also suggestions directed to reduction of poverty.
· To implement active cooperation with NGOs, which deal with poverty's reduction problem and NGOs involved in PRSP activity process, with the help of which we'll introduce Shirak region and disaster zone's problems.

12. SDA (Strategic Development Agency)

Mkrtich Ayvazyan, Director

Khanjyan str. 29, apt. 8, Yerevan
Tel: (3741) 540996
E-mail: sda@netsys.am
URL: stradaarm@yahoo.com

"Strategic Development Agency" (SDA) NGO is a non-government organization registered in 2002. The NGO unites a number of professionals from both: Armenia and abroad who have decided to join their efforts to contribute to the country development through research, analysis, education, exchange etc. The NGO has the following objectives:
· To assist in the country economic, social etc. development through research, analysis, educational programs, seminars, "round-tables", conferences etc.
· To promote the country business environment and private entrepreneurship development through provision of business & legal advice, information, raising public awareness etc.
· To develop the country micro-finance sector through provision of "non-financial services" such as training, research, information exchange, consulting to both: the micro-finance services providers and private enterprises
· Networking and cooperation with local, regional and international institutions having similar goals and objectives to stimulate the country international integration process
· To contribute to the country socio-economic proportional development (at both: branch and regional levels, marzes, communities etc.)
· To pioneer pilot projects and develop innovative approaches in different areas

Beginning from September 2002, SDA has initiated "OXFAM Armenia Micro-credit Program Impact assessment & Survey on Micro-finance and Access to market" Project under support of the OXFAM GB.

Within the project -
(a) An impact assessment of OXFAM Armenia Micro-credit Program is to be conducted to explore the influence of micro-finance services on poor entrepreneurs lives, that is to assess the impact of micro-finance & evaluate its role in fighting against poverty from the point of view of socio-economic changes on peoples' livelihood at household level.
(b) A survey in the whole Armenia micro-finance sector to find out what are the links there (or can be) between micro-finance services to producers and access to market, in other words to assess the poor producers/producers groups positioning at the market, it's allow to identify the "relationship" between micro-finance services and access to market: whether that helps producers to approach the market or not, what are the preventing challenges and constraints, what are the areas external support might be needed. The "market survey" results will allow looking at micro-finance from a quite innovative point of view and design a strategy and/or making necessary amendments to the existing program conditions to make the impact of micro-finance greater.

Being circulated amongst the interested agencies (where found appropriate) final reports will essentially contribute to the "Micro-finance Policy Paper" raised public debates as an evidence-based argument defining the role of micro-finance as "a poverty reduction tool" and necessity to be included in the country PRSP development.

Since the significant part of OXFAM Micro-credit program active clients are women the proposed impact assessment will allow to provide a thorough gender analysis on different aspects such as women economic dependence on men, their self-confidence and decision-making level in family, change of economic opportunities and their business related skills development etc. at different levels: from household to local and national.

Periodically it is organized discussions & "round tables" with both: local and foreign non-government organizations and experts.

13. Future Generation Union

Rafael Vardanyan, President

Marshal Baghramyan ave. 61, apt. 7, Yerevan
Tel: (3741) 264633, (3749) 408267
Fax: (3742) 151795
E-mail: futgen@netsys.am

Future Generation Union is a non-profit, Non-Governmental, Non-Partisan Public Organization.

Future Generation union was formed in 1994. It was registered with the Ministry of Justice in 1995. Experienced Physicians- parapsychologist, skin venerologist, pediatrician, infectionist, gynecologist, psychologists, teachers, constructors are involved in the organization.
· The mission of the Future Generation Union is to promote sustainable and healthy lifestyle for the population in Republic of Armenia, promote community participation in
· Organization has conducted parasitological analysis, diagnosis and treatment of orphans from the age of 4 to 16 living there. 105 children, their nurses were diagnosed on skin and intestinal infectious diseases.

Ascarides, scabies, lousiness and other infections infected 66% of children.
· FG has conducted needs assessment in Noubarashen orphanage for mentally retarded children to conduct similar analysis, diagnosis and treatment project combining it with sanitation-hygiene education.
· "Preventive Healthcare and Sanitation Hygiene Education" on infectious diseases and STDs for 8500 children in Talin region, RA, in 44 schools and 15 kindergartens funded by USAID and SCF. Future generation has published and distributed comprehensive brochures "Infectious Diseases and their Prevention" to Talin children, their parents and teachers.
· "Legal and Healthcare Awareness Building for 500 women in Talin region, RA" for 500 women and 100 men on Family planning, STDs and women Rights. Published a brochure "Family, Health, Rights" funded by OXFAM Organization.
· 1996 summer camp for 350 vulnerable and orphan children in Hankavan summer camp "Baze".
· 1997 summer camp for 150 refugee and orphan children in Tsakhkadzor, funded by UNHCR.
· 1997 laying drinking water pipeline in Talin region funded by JMF.
· 1997 Repair of health-posts in Massis region and organization of openings, funded by UMCOR
· 1998 The II phase of the "Legal and Healthcare Awareness Building" in Tallin region with a new component of Revolving Drug Fund to promote sustainability of the organization.
· 1997 A joint project with 4 other NGOs - FPRH for refugees in Yerevan based communal houses in collaboration with the Ministry of Health. Funded by UNHCR.
· 1998 Advocacy and Healthcare Awareness Building and Community development program in 8 villages of Baghramian region funded by UNHCR.
· 1999-2000 - The III phase of the "Legal and Healthcare Awareness Building" in Baghramian region with a new component of Revolving Drug Fund in 4 villages funded by NOVIB/OXFAM
· 1999 - RDF in 4 villages in Lori marz - funded by UNHCR/UMCOR
· 1999- Decreasing mortality and malnutrition rate in 11 villages in Vardenis region among refugees - Funded by UNHCR.
· 2000-"Legal and Healthcare Awareness Building" in Armavir region with Revolving Drug Fund to promote sustainability of the villages - Funded by OSI.
· 2000 - Reproductive Health and Family Planning awareness raising program in villages in Vardenis region for refugees and migrants- funded by IOM.

Collaboration:
· Future Generation Union is one of the founders and a board member of a CONSORTIUM of Reproductive Health and Social Welfare.
· Future Generation is collaborating with the Diagnostic Center, Yerevan Skin-Venerological Center, Yerevan Scientific Research Institute of Epidemiology. Ministries of Health, Science and Education, Yerevan State Medical University, AAA NGOC, AUA.
· We are closely working with local authorities and community leaders and promoting collaboration among them.
· Future Generation Union is an Implementing Partner of UNHCR and OXFAM.

14. TQMA (Total Quality Management Assistance)

Eleonora Asatryan, President

Artzaj 22/2,50, Yerevan
Tel: (3741) 438804
(3749) 419593
E-mail: eleonora@web.am

TQMA is a non-profit organization, founded in 2001, which aims to assist the Armenian companies in the implementation of the principles of total quality management and quality assurance systems through consultant and advisory services, helping them to improve the quality of their production (services, work), to develop proper relations between the consumer, the manufacturers and regulatory agencies. Improve Our Life Quality!!! This is the motto of TQMA.

Concept of Life Quality in the current conception of quality is characterized as integrity of socio-economic, political, cultural, ideological and environmental factors and subsistence of an individual, as well as the state of a citizen in society.

Poverty is lack of necessary characteristics or modification in the "individual-vital activity sphere" system forming the category of quality of life, which results from constraint of relationships that are regulated by economically poor developed country. The category of poverty is formed as a result of reduction of life-span, inaccessibility of education, opportunity limitations for realization of working activity, unavailability of high quality products and services, including medical services, and isolation of large sections of public from social life.

Influencing on the quality of life of the citizens directly or indirectly and representing an integral qualification indicator of human life, product and services quality identifies vital activity and security, as well as vitality of the society as an integral social entity. The latter is considered to be capability of more effective implementation of social, spiritual and biological functions of an individual and society. Purchasing high quality products an individual gets an opportunity to satisfy his/her physical, cultural and other needs. Through stimulation of economic and employment growth of population the quality promotes increase in salary, social security and solvency needs. Besides, it facilitates formation of spiritual values and bringing up sensation of professional pride and patriotism.

Prioritizing the importance of high quality products and services in formation of a life quality for Armenian citizens, and observing the category of quality as a unified concept integrating spiritual, intellectual, social-economic, productive and administrative areas, and as an expression of participation by civil society, the NGO "Total Quality Management Assistance" proposed draft National Policy conception in the field of products and services quality at the discretion of local companies. The latter expressed their interest and encouraged this undertaking through presenting their comments and expressing willingness to participate in policy implementation envisaged by the conception. Within the framework of PREP the organization in 2002 published a brochure "Poverty and the Life Quality" and presented reforms paper in Standardization and related activities, offering to apply new, international approaches in the National programs of development for to increase the competitiveness of the national producers, to use them as a basis for the elaboration of quality policies and quality programs in different regions, branches and organization of our country.

TQMA has signed memorandums of cooperation with various companies of Armenia. Among the members of the organization, there are certified quality management expert and auditors of TUV Academy of Germany, RA and FR.

15. Education for Sustainable Development Foundation

Anaida Allahverdyan, Acting Director

9, Vardanants str. apt. 4, Yerevan
Tel: (3741) 524954
E-mail: office@esdf.am

ESDF meets its mission by: (a) conducting community-based trainings, workshops, meetings, round tables and seminars and (b) facilitating linkages to increase self-sustainability, alleviate poverty and improve the quality of life of vulnerable Armenian families.

ESDF's strategic direction is aimed at developing and using interactive and participatory methodologies that contribute to community development, alleviate poverty and strengthen civil society in Armenia.

Based on the previous experience of forming and developing local school-based parent councils, ESDF understands that its impact will be sustainable only if it works at the grassroots level and supports local initiatives.

One of our main partners is the British Council Armenia, which aims at creating enduring partnership between the United Kingdom and Armenia through supporting projects in the areas of arts, education, governance and science. In October 2002, in partnership with the British Council Armenia, ESDF launched the English Language Book Distribution Project. The project aims to support English language teaching and learning in five marzes of Armenia: Tavush, Shirak, Gegharkunik, Syunik and Vayotz Zor. The first phase of the project is the actual distribution of reading materials and manuals for teachers, while the second phase envisages trainings for English teachers to help them better use the reading materials. The reading materials are designed for readers with different levels of knowledge of English and present modern literature and film scenarios.

Throughout the first phase of the project we worked in close cooperation with the Departments for Education in each marz. As a result of the first phase of the project approximately 30,000 books were distributed to 103 schools, 239 English language teachers and 35,200 school children gained access to reading materials. The interest in the project expressed by English teachers was astonishing. Both schoolteachers of English and heads of schools and Marz Departments of Education emphasized the importance of the project. During the BDP meeting in Gegharkunik Marz the Head of the Department of Education Mr. Garik Badalyan stressed the need of increasing the level of teaching and learning English as the necessary tool for becoming part of the world of modern knowledge.

ESDF believes that the Book Distribution Project will not only support teaching and learning English in marzes of Armenia but will also increase the impact of other projects implemented by various benevolent programs working in those regions, for instance, providing Internet connectivity.

Education for Sustainable Development Foundation (ESDF) is a non-governmental nonprofit organization that promotes community development and the strengthening of civil society through the implementation of development education programmes.

Book Distribution Project presentation in the ESD Foundation’s office

BDP meeting in school after Byron in Gyumri, Shirak Marz

Book distribution in Gegharkunik Marz

These are photos from the training of trainers for English language
teachers
that was conducted on February 14-15 in ESD's office. The training was
the continuation of the Book Distribution Project

16. “Coalition” Collaboration for Development of Democracy NGO.

Gagik Chagharyan – the Chairman of the constituent council
Tavush region, Dilijan, s. Kalininy, 97/14
E-mail: demdev@narod.ru

“Coalition” NGO” is independent and doesn’t pursue political objectives. It’s registered and works since 2002.
We think that impetuous development of global processes that have global importance produce qualitatively new demands both to the management of public relations in different countries and to the international collaboration that is realized in the sphere of democratic development.
We believe that obsolete methodic arsenal does not lead us to the solutions of arising problems, doesn’t ensure the necessary progress, and prevents democratic development processes. In the conditions of vagueness in the transition period the problem of choosing an effective method of activity leads to the necessity of realizing the “Democratic development system” idea. This is formed by five elements accepted by UN: peace, economics, surrounding environment, society, democracy. Realizing the system we have these intentions.

Intention 1. Carrying out a social interrogatory to guarantee the activity of the automatic system that defend human rights.

Intention 2. To assist the civil society to act the role that is characteristic to democratic society and do their duties.

Intention 3. To confirm the global collaboration of democratic development in three levels: municipal, republican and international.

Intention 4. To provide an active participation and influence for the democratic development system during the elaboration and realization of strategic programs.

During the trial process of the democratic development system we met an obviously aggressive attitude from the opponents of democratic development. This became a peculiar estimation for the vitality of our system and at the same time emphasized the inequality of forces. Taking into consideration the main principles of activities for the nearest future:
- To acquire an agreement about the main conceptions of democracy during reports and seminars.
- To come to an agreement about the ways and methods of collaboration with possible colleague organizations
- To estimate the real resources (human and financial) of democratic forces, compare with the forces of counteraction, and only then, if the result is affirmative, so appears in the structure of coalition of democratic forces as an organization that supports democratic development.

We think that the authority of democracy needs to be protected today, which is difficult because of the antidemocratic forces that use the word “democracy” and distort its meaning, and because of the democratic forces that are not professional and act feebly.
We think the most important role of democratic development system is that it’s an identific structure of democratic real forces.
“Coalition NGO” is thankful to such organizations as “Peace Corps” USA in Tavush region: collaboration with them let us generalize the solutions to democratic development problems in a united system in the countries that were in a transitions period. Our organization is thankful tothe volunteers that work in “Peace Corps” USA - Jully Slid, Jim Wilton, April C.Fain - for lasting collaboration.
Special thanks from “Coalition NGO” to Oxfam GB for collaboration and giving new opportunities.

17. "SHOGHER UNION " NGO

President of “Shogher Union” NGO:
Hasmik Aslanyan

47 Movses Khorenatsi, Apt. 108,Yerevan
375018, Republic of Armenia,
Tel.:(3741) 554 712,
E-mail: shogher@mail.ru, hasmikas@freenet.am;

"SHOGHER UNION" NGO began its activities in 1995.
It was registered with the Ministry of Justice on the 8th of May 1997 and was re-registered on the 17th of January 2000.
Mission
Promote democracy and society in Armenia. Improve status of women and children. Increase the role of women in educational, human rights, cultural, social- economic, environmental spheres.

The members of "Shogher Union" NGO are highly motivated intellectual women. The founders are mainly architects, engineers, teachers and doctors. The organisation implements its activities based on volunteer principles.
"Shogher Union" NGO has 150 members and volunteers.
The organisation has a great contribution to the promotion and development process of women's movement and civil society in Armenia. In its activities "Shogher Union" considers important the networking and coalition co-ordinated working process and the co-operation of state, local and international organisations and other structures. "Shogher Union" NGO has been a member of over 60 NGO-s and Social League Committee established by the Ministry of Social Security of RA. The member of working group of Yerevan marz of "NGOs 2002 Conference and Exhibition" assisted by AED, AAA NGOC, World Learning, 2002-2003 member of organising committee of Yerevan “Good will, Good deed, Good result” volunteering Action IFES.
The organisation implements its projects according to several basic directions:
1. Improvement of women's social-economic conditions.
· Creation of working places. In1997-2002 within the framework of UN WFP Food for Work project, "Shogher Union" has provided more than 200 unemployed, needy women in Yerevan, due to which they have improved the social conditions of their families.
· Survey of social-economic real conditions in the circle of Yerevan intellectual women and earthquake zone.
· Gender research made with the purpose to improve women's employment situation.
· Women's professional preparation.
· Displaying charity fair and performance - "Social assistance to women and children" charity programs.
A series of projects and offers have been worked out and presented to the Government, local and international organisations.
2. Public policy advocacy for the education of women and children and in the sphere of environmental action.
3. Children Issues - “Leave No Child Out” Campaign in co-operation with NGO/UNICEF National Network, "Ororots" project for pregnant and children in co-operation with "Hayastan" All-Armenian Funds and 20 NGO-s, the "Healthy Generation" project for teenagers.

Implemented Projects:
In earthquake zone
- 1995-2003 humanitarian, educational, psychiatric rehabilitation projects
- 1998-2000 “Research of social-economic problems of village communities of the zone earthquake /Gender research/ ” project. Survey of the social-economic, health caring, sanitary-hygienic conditions and the state of constructive works of village community in the zone earthquake. A special attention has been paid to schools constructing issue.
- 1998-1999 " Environmental Action Day in Shirakamut" and "Save the Nature for Future" within the project of TACIS Environmental Awareness Raising Program.
In Artsakh
- 1998 Research works made for multimember families in Kashatagh district.
- 1998 Qualification raising of nurses in Kashatagh district.
In Yerevan
- 2001-2002 Round Table. “Women rights, gender issues”. 16 Days of Activism Against ender Violence, WomenAid International-Caucasus.
- 2002 February-May. Psychiatric rehabilitation studies.
- 2001 “Research of social-economic problems of women with engineering education” (Gender Studies).
- 1997, 2000, 2002. “Armenian Fruit processing” project in co-operation with the UN WFP FFW.
- 1998-1999 Gender surveys for the improvement of women's employment.
- 1998-2002 Providing humanitarian aid with the partnership of UMCOR, Counterpart International, IRD AB, the Ministry of Social Security of RA, "Red Cross" Association, “Mission Armenia” NGO, “Monte Melconian” Fund and other individuals.

"Shogher Union" has actively participated in:
- 1997-2003 Human rights, promotion of democracy and civil society, in a set of actions, conferences, seminars, particulars regarding women's and children's issues.
- 2000-2003 PRSP participatory process, round tables, seminars and discussions held in the Ministry of Finance and Economics of RA, IDHR club discussions and round tables.
- 2000-2001 Round tables and Seminars on “The principals of democracy and the civil society development in Armenia" and "Ways of Poverty Reduction in Armenia" held on behalf of the IDHR NGO in co-operation with the Social League, financed by OXFAM.
- 2000, Yalta, Crimea, Ukraine” The Role of NGOs in Local Communities Development” project, OSI Assistance Foundation - Armenia.

"Shogher Union" NGO has co-operated with UN WFP, UNDP, TACIS TEAP, AAA NGOC, UMCOR, OSI Assistance Foundation – Armenia, IFES, AED, WORLD VISION, COUNERPART International, IRD AB and other international organizations, the Ministries of Education and Research, Social Security, Environmental, Economic Development and Trade of Armenia, National Service of Statistics, 50 NGOS, 25 women’s NGOs, 15 environmental NGOs, Research Institutes, individual benefactors.

The organisation is a member of the Armenian Civil Society Partnership Network, Caucasus Environmental NGO Network, UNICEF-NGOs Regional Network, REC Caucasus, Forum of the women’s NGO and the WomenAid International-Caucasus of Co-ordination Committee.

Armenian Civil Society Partnership Network

The Armenian Civil Society Partnership Network has been created in the context of Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) development as an effort to take the full advantage of the given opportunity to impact the long-term national strategy over poverty issues. Having in its mandate participation in all three phases of PRSP realization, namely elaboration, implementation and monitoring, however, the functioning of the Network will not be limited to this one program. In a further perspective it aims to provide a truly tangible contextual contribution to the solution of any issue of pressure that bears inherent implications for poverty thus acting as a "watch dog" guarding the decisions that affect lives of the poor and marginalized people and realizing an institutionalized defense of their rights.

Corresponding to the mentioned purposes, the missions of the Network are:
By the joint efforts of NGOs to provide a serious and organized participation on PRSP elaboration, implementation and monitoring processes as a result of which the Program will effectively serve to the growth of security, skills and opportunities of people.
Become a powerful structure of exerting control on the national policies that directly or indirectly affect poverty bringing to the widening of space of civil society participation in the processes driving the country.

The pivotal ideological principle for the Network is that economic growth should not be viewed as a guarantee for poverty eradication, but as the most important, the strategic objective for tackling poverty should be considered the achievement of poverty eradication through the creation and development of necessary conditions for the revealing, development and utilization of peoples' skills and abilities.

In order to fulfill its missions the Network has set the following objectives:
· Providing an opportunity for participation of the non-governmental sector and civil society representatives in the process of preparation, implementation and monitoring of PRSP as well as other national policy and legislative provisions that have potential connotations on poverty;
· Making an ex-ante analysis of PRSP and its separate components as well as other national policies and legislative provisions that directly or indirectly influence poverty, preparing expertise conclusions, recommendations and proposals for the purpose of their improvement and perfection;
· Defining advocacy strategies around important issues of pressure to ensure that government policies are informed with the policy recommendations suggested by the Network;
· Realizing a coherent and coordinated monitoring of the PRSP;
· Making wider population aware on the processes connected with PRSP and other national programs of importance in the poverty context;
· Defining ways and mechanisms for cooperation with other participants of the PRSP processes (as well as of other important issues of pressure, as deemed necessary) and initiating constructive dialogue with them;
· Becoming member of similar national and transnational Networks to increase the chances of bringing an impact;
· Initiating and driving advocacy campaigns as deemed necessary in order to influence the national policy agendas according to the priorities of the Network.