QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER

Winter 2015, Issue 19

Syuniks Collaboration with HEKS-EPER Enters a New Phase

New Agricultural Initiative for Rural Communities in Armenia
In January of 2015, Syunik NGO, jointly with Shen
NGO, started a new agricultural project entitled Improvement of the Livelihood of Rural Households
in Vayots Dzor and Gegharkunik Marzes Through
Horticulture Development. The three-year project
is funded by HEKS-EPER and is being implemented
in two regions (marzes) - Gegharkunik and Vayots
Dzor. Eighteen villages will directly benefit from
this initiative: ten from Vayots Dzor and eight from
Gegharkunik region. Other villages in both regions
will indirectly benefit from the initiative as well. The
ten villages in Vayots Dzor region are Rind, Chiva,
Areni, Arpi, Getap, Qaraglukh, Taratumb, Shatin,
Hermon and Aghavnadzor while the eight villages
in Ghegharkunik region are Lusakunq, Akunq, Tsovak, Shatjrek, Karchaghbyur, Kachaghbyur, Mets
Masrik and Geghamasar. The overall goal of the
project is to increase income and improve living
conditions of target regions farmers through participation in sustainable fruit value chain. The project will also empower the target communities and

enable them to become self-sustainable which will

in turn provide a dignified life for their citizens. The
project is currently in its preparation phase, which
includes recruiting personnel, and assisting farmers in forming informal groups. The first training of
farmers has already been conducted. Farmers were
introduced to the content of the project and its next
steps. More information on the agricultural project will be included in our upcoming newsletters.

Youth for Peace in South Caucasus

Syunik NGO, with the financial support of HEKSEPER, started a new phase of the Peace Camp project entitled Youth for Peace in South Caucasus. The
project is going to be implemented within the period
of January 2015 to December 2017. Youth for Peace
in South Caucasus aims at building a sustainable
peace in the South Caucasus region. Within this initiative trainings and sessions on conflict transformation and mediation, photo and drawing exhibitions,
movie watching and discussions will be conducted
with the goal of spreading general spirit of tolerance and diversity within and between the countries.

Various Events at Our Community Centers

Exhibition Fair at Vayk
Theatre Organized by Jermuk
CC Students
Community Center
Syunik NGOs Vayk community centers income
generating clubs students organized an exhibition
fair at Vayk Community center. The official opening
of the exhibition fair was held on December 5th,
2014, and was attended by many guests including
Syunik NGO staff, Dr. Eberhard Gohl, an external
evaluator from Brot fr die Welt (BfdW), parents,
teachers and other members of the community. The
exhibition fair aimed at providing opportunities for
community members to learn about the centers activities as well as the things made by the community
Recently Syunik NGOs Jermuk Community Center students have organized puppet theatres for
children living in Jermuk and surrounding communities. On January 29, 2015, the students organized a performance in the kindergarten of
the village Kechut. They performed one of thier
beloved fairy tales called The Dog and The Cat.
As the children loved the performance, the students decided to organize repeat performances
in other places. On January 30th a performance
was organized in Ararat Mother and Child Sanatorium health center which is located in Jermuk town.
The theatre group consists of 10 students in different ages from 12-18. The theatre is an excellent opportunity for participant students to develop their acting talents
further and make their daily life more interesting.

centers beneficiaries. Among the works presented

at the exhibition were beadwork, unique crochet
designs, clay and pottery sculptures, and jewelry
made by polymer clay. Our gratitude goes to Brot
fr die Welt (BfdW) and Syunik NGO for supporting
beadwork, crochet and other clubs in our community centers in the region, said the coordinator of
the center on behalf of the centers beneficiaries.

Performances in Yeghegnadzor CC
It is no secret that activities organized by Syunik
NGO are becoming a tradition for residents living both in Yeghegnadzor
and other communities of
the region. On December
3rd 2014, surprise performances were given by
Syunik NGOs Vayk and
Yeghegnadzor
community center students, as

well as Hover Folk Dance

Ensemble. The exciting
and impressive event was
held at Gitelik University,
Yeghegnadzor. The event
became even more beautiful when Syunik NGOs
unique Hay Fire show
performed. Attendees enjoyed the event and expressed appreciation to
the organizers of the event.

Syunik Hosts an External Evaluator

From December 2-10, Syunik NGO hosted Dr. Eberhard Gohl, an external evaluator from Brot fr die
Welt (BfdW). The aim of the visit was to evaluate
the Social Development Program in South Armenia,
Vayots Dzor Region (2012-2015). Dr. Gohl met with
the program team and the staff members of Syunik
NGO and learnt about the projects implemented
by Syunik NGO. During his visit he managed to visit
all six community centers (Yeghegnadzor, Vayk, Jermuk, Hermon, Taratumb, Chiva) of Syunik NGO. He
was introduced to all clubs running in the centers
and met with the community center beneficiaries as
well as the parents and other people living in those
communities. He also interviewed the community
centers beneficiaries and the other members of
beneficiary communities (parents, teachers, other
school children, etc.) who are directly or indirectly
benefiting from the centers. In addition, Dr. Gohl
met with young specialists and volunteers of the

NGO and discussed issues related to the program.

Three years ago I visited Syunik NGO as an external evaluator. Now I am here again but I see a big
difference. Syunik NGO young specialist program
is an excellent program which gives young people
opportunities to make the first stem of their career
and become experienced, said Dr. Eberhard Gohl
when reflecting on the results of his evaluation.

Hover and Zartonk Ensembles Receive Prizes

Syunik NGO has two active dance ensembles - one
in Yeghegnadzor Community Center called Hover and
one in Taratumb Community Center called Zartonk.
Both ensembles are very active not only in the region but throughout Armenia. Within the year of
2014 the dance ensembles participated in many

dance festivals and contests. On December 15, 2014,

a festival was held in Yerevan State Conservatory hall
gathering over 15 ensembles from different regions
of Armenia. The first prize was awarded to Syuniks
ensembles for their outstanding performance.

Nerses the Great Charitable Foundation

Continues Supporting People in Need
Charity is more than the value of the donated
funds, when it is done on a regular basis and without unnecessary solemnly. For years, Nerses the
Great Charitable Foundation has been implementing
many programs to benefit orphans, disadvantaged
families and other groups at risk. Many children and
families living in Vayots Dzor region have benefited
from the traditional charities offered by Nerses the

Great Charitable Foundation as well. Recently the

foundation donated shoes and clothes to Syunik
NGOs community centers beneficiaries as well as to
the members of other villages of Vayots Dzor region
such as Bardzruni, Zedea, Khndzorut Artavan, Nor
Aznaberd Goghtanik, Arin, Aghnjadzor, Vardahovit,
Hors, Gndevaz and Por. A sincere gratitude is extended to the foundation on behalf of all beneficiaries.

Office of International & Public Affairs

Syunik Development NGO
Momiki St. 5, 3601 Yeghegnadzor
Vayots Dzor Province, Armenia

Tel/Fax: +374 (0281) 24009

Email: oipa.syunikngo@yahoo.com
www.syunikngo.weebly.com

Editor-in-Chief: Nara Martirosyan, Sam Houston State University