QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER

Spring 2016, Issue 23

Spring Tree Planting

Look deep into nature and then you will understand
everything better. Albert Einstein
On March 18th, 2016, Syunik NGO, in collaboration
with the Yeghegnadzor Municipality, organized a
tree planting in the scope of its Social Development
Program and Youth for Peace Project. The event
pulled together a diverse and enthusiastic number
of attendees such as Vardan Avagyan, Deputy
Mayor of Yeghegnadzor, Vardan Nersisyan, Mayor of
Khachik Village, Armen Aghajanyan, Yeghegnadzorbased architect, and Syunik NGO staff members

including Peace Corps volunteer Brooke Burrows.

Youth from Syuniks Yeghegnadzor Community
Center Young Architect Club in combination with the
Youth Initiative Group participated in planting the
trees with the help of the official guests, working
together towards a cleaner and greener city for
the future. This is just one of many ongoing joint
activities sponsored between Syunik NGO and the
Yeghegnadzor Municipality in the effort to create
an interactive and inspiring local community.

A New Playground Established in Chiva Community Center

As part of the Social Development Programs Small
Funded Project Initiative and with the financial
support of World Bank, Syunik NGO supported the
establishment of new playground for the Chiva
Community Center to help make local youths daily
life more active and engaging. During the project
implementation period, the area of the playground
was cleaned and prepared for use by the many
supportive members of the Chiva community.
Through the project, the Chiva community has
acquired a true childrens sport complex complete
with new trash cans, benches, and a fully equipped
and functional playground. The opening ceremony of
the project was organized on the 17th of March and
was celebrated by many guests including Abraham
Archbishop Mkrtchyan, head of Vayots Dzor Diocese,

Syunik NGO staff members, teachers from the

Chiva community, and the many local community
members that both helped develop the project
and who will benefit from it in the coming years.

Supporting our Heroes on the Frontline

On the night of April 1 and early morning of April
2, Azerbaijan launched large-scale attacks on the
southern, southeastern and northeastern line of
contact between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan
using military helicopters, drones, artillery, tanks and
other heavy military equipment. This was the largest
offensive operation pre-planned and organized by
Azerbaijan since the cease-fire in 1994. Moreover,
massive shelling of border villages and cities were
part of the operation as well, and as a result,
peaceful civilians, including children, were killed.
During times of war, people in Armenia forget
about their social issues and political differences
and come together to support soldiers on the front
line. Thousands of Armenians living both in Armenia
and abroad immediately started mobilizing people
and resources to aid soldiers on the front. Many
volunteers went to the border to support 18-20
year old soldiers not only professionally, but also
emotionally. In collaboration with the Armenian
Apostolic Church, Vayots Dzor Diocese, Syunik NGO
called an emergency meeting to discuss the best
way to support soldiers on the front line. A high level
official from the army was also contacted to find
out the most urgent needs of front line soldiers. As
a result, Syunik NGO launched the Let's Support our
Heroes on the Frontline initiative. Many individuals
and organizations joined the initiative by donating
food, first aid materials, medical equipment, clothes,
hygiene items, and other supplies that soldiers

would need. The Atken Armenian Foundation of

Canada facilitated a donation of 7 high tech blood
infusion pumps donated by Trasos Therapeutics
of Montreal, of which two arrived just in time
to help civilian casualties in Artsakh. In addition,
the Saro Manoukian Foundation of Montreal
provided Syunik NGO with the equivalent of $100
Canadian to distribute to each volunteer who
went to the border from the Yeghegnadzor region.
Two trips were made to the front line and
collected goods were delivered to soldiers by a
number of volunteers from Syunik NGO under
the leadership of Vayots Dzor Diocese Archbishop
Abraham Mkrtchyan. Syunik NGO extends its
gratitude to everyone who joined the initiative
and helped to support our heroes on the frontline.

Literary Evening in Chiva Community Center

On April 30th, 2016, Syunik-Development NGO's

Chiva Community Ceneter was filled to the brim with
enthusiastic community members. On the initiative of
Anna Demirtchyan, Community Center Coordinator,
and with the help of the students from the center
and local school, a literary evening dedicated to the
great Armenian poet Paruyr Sevak was brought to
life. During the evening students presented about his
life as well as performed and staged several of Sevak's
poems. The literary evening was attended by the

teachers of the Chiva community, the staff of Syunik

NGO, and many additional community members.
At the end of the event, the Chiva secondary school
teachers warmly praised the patricipants and shared
their impressions of the evening, exclaiming how glad
they were to see community youth demonstrating
love and appreciation for the the great poet's art. By
participating in the literary evening and other similar
events, students can help to stimulate the revival of
culture life in their community.

Conflict Transformation Training of Trainers

Syunik NGO recently announced a call of participation

for 10 Armenian and 10 Georgian youth leaders living
in different regions of both countries. The training
of trainers (ToT) is designed to equip participants
with the skills and experiences necessary to serve
as trainers on conflict analysis, management,
transformation, mediation and resolution in their
own local communities. The ToT will be held in the
newly renovated Lucy-Tour Hotel Resort located
in Hermon Village, Vayots Dzor region from 1st to
8th of July. The initiative will be implemented by
Syunik NGO in close collaboration with the Youth
for Diplomatic Engagement organization in Georgia.

During the ToT, participants will attend daily

educational and hands-on seminars while also being
provided with the opportunity to explore and discuss
the many historical and cultural places in Vayots
Dzor region. The project is open for undergraduate
and graduate students, young leaders involved in
community, NGO staff and volunteers, as well as
activists and entrepreneurs from the ages of 21 to
35. Following the initial training and as alumni of the
ToT, participants will organize follow-up seminars in
their own communities. More information on the ToT
initiative will be included in our future newsletters.

Creative Hands Exhibition

Life is short but art can be eternal.

youth to be recognized for their creative works and
On April 7th, 2016, an opening ceremony of an have the public appreciate their multifold talents.
exhibition entitled Creative Hands, dedicated to the
Blessed Virgin Mary Annunciation Day, was held in
the National Gallery of Armenia Yeghegnadzors
branch. The exhibition presented the handmade
crafts of creative and talented Vayots Dzor youth,
including student members of Syunik-Development
NGOs Yeghegnadzor, Vayk, Jermuk and Chiva
Community Centers batik (fabric dying), beadwork,
polymer clay, embroidery and puppetry clubs. The
exhibition was an inclusive opportunity for local

Monitoring Visit: Primary Project Overview

From March 3rd to 4th, Silvia Frei, HEKS-EPER
Caucasus Programme Officer, Nana Topuridze, HEKSEPER Regional Director of South Caucasus, Ramaz
Giogobiani, HEKS-EPER Agricultural Advisor for the
South Caucasus, and Vakho Mshvidobadze, HEKSEPER South Caucasus Programme Officer, paid a
visit to Syunik NGO. HEKS-EPER is one of the Syunik

NGOs long-term partners whose financial support

is fundamental in allowing Syunik NGO to carry
out its Horticulture Development Project in Vayots
Dzor and Gegharkunik regions as well as its Youth
for Peace in the South Caucasus Project. The aim of
the visit was to discuss achievements, challanges
and possible implementation barriers within the
Horticulture Development and Youth for Peace in
South Caucasus Projects and provide guidance
for further development. The project partners
first visited Syunik NGO headquarters located in
Yeghegnadzor and learned about the ongoing
implementation of the projects as well as had an
opportunity to meet and discuss project matters
with the leaders of the Youth for Peace Project. Later
on, the partners made it out to the field, visiting
the beneficiary communities where they met with
many individuals participating in the projects in
order to hold open conversation about the impact
of the work, success stories, ongoing challenges,
and potential solutions to these challenges.

Monitoring Visit: Horticulture Development

Ramaz Giogobiani, HEKS-EPER Agricultural Advisor
for the South Caucasus, and Vakho Mshvidobadze,
HEKS-EPER South Caucasus Programme Officer,
paid a visit to Syunik NGO from April 19th to 20th,
2016. The goal of the visit was to carry out the
quarterly monitoring of Syunik NGO's Horticulture
Development Project. During the two-day monitoring
period, Ramaz and Vakho visited Syunik NGO's
agriculture demonstration plot and became better

acquainted with the actual work implemented on

the ground within the frame of the project. They
also visited one of the project beneficiaries living
in the Chiva community and learned about the
work, especially cultivation and spring pruning
in his garden during the project implementation.
The guests also discussed the work implemented
by the NGO during the first quarter of 2016.

Agriculture Senior Expert Visits to Syunik NGO

Syunik NGO stresses the importance of raising
awareness of international best practices in the field
of horticulture and regularly hosts international
industry experts. For several years, Syunik NGO and
the PUM Netherlands senior experts organization
have had a strong partnership based on mutual
understanding, and with the help of this cooperation
many projects have been implemented in order to
develop horticulture practices in Vayots Dzor region.
Recently Syunik NGO hosted Mr. Frans Heldens, an
agricultural senior expert of PUM, who met with
our demonstration nursery and orchard farmers and
provided additional consultancy on intensive garden
cultivation, particularly in the area of springtime
pruning. Recently Mr. Helden published a book

about Syunik NGO and its activities implemented in

the field of agriculture, demonstrating the strength
and longevity of this important work partnership.

Syunik NGOs Young Professionals Program

has Changed my Life

Success Story of Anna Demirtchyan, Syunik NGO

Chiva Community Center Coordinator

My name is Anna Demirtchyan and I was born on

August 9, 1992, in the Chiva Community of Vayots
Dzor region, Armenia. I went to school in Chiva from
1999 to 2009 and in 2012 I entered Gitelik University
located in Yeghegnadzor before going to continue my
studies at Haybusak University in Yerevan. Currently I
am in the fourth year of my studies in the Department
of Pedagogy and Methodology. At the same time, I
am responsible for coordinating Syunik NGOs Chiva
Community Center funded by Bread for the World
in the scope of their Social Development Program. It
has been several years since Syunik NGO opened a
Community Center in Chiva, and it is exciting to be a
crucial part of so many ongoing and special activities.
For example, Syunik NGO implements many
activities in the field of youth development which
help young people to gain new skills and knowledge.
The Young Professionals First Work Experience,
as part of the Social Development Program, is
one such activity where university graduates and
undergraduate students can get a start on cultivating
their professional careers. Young people like me are
provided with hands-on work experience, serving
as assistants in various projects implemented by
Syunik and having the opportunity to participate
in professional development trainings. When I first

heard about the program, I immediately thought

about getting work experience, enhancing my
administrative skills, and gaining concrete knowledge
about the NGO world. I knew that Syunik NGO is
one of the largest NGO in our region and extremely
active in promoting youth opportunities here.
Following my completion in the six month program
where I did my best to work hard every day, I was
lucky to be hired as part of Syuniks amazing team
as the coordinator of the Chiva Community Center.
I cant imagine how I would have been able to get
work without having this opportunity. Nowadays, it
is very hard to find work in any organization because
there is an expectation that you should have prior
work experience when applying for a jobeven your
first job. I always think that if we want to change our
life we should take action. I took action by applying
to the Young Professionals First Work Experience
program. I can easily say that Syunik NGOs Young
Professionals Program has changed my life.
I would like to express my gratitude to Syunik
NGO for giving young people such a powerful
opportunity and will encourage youth to take part
of this unique program which will help them to
develop a foundation for their professional lives.

Syuniks Staff Members Take Part in Local,

National, and International Trainings
Hasmik Galstyan, one of the Syunik NGO staff
members, was selected to participate in a fourstep qualification course on active citizenship in the
field of sustainability. The goal of the course is to
empower young people with skills and knowledge on
sustainable development and social environments.
The course is divided into four parts consisting of
three group meetings and one individual learning
and working practice. Participants from all over the
globe met for the first time in Germany from April
2nd to 10th and then again in Poland from May 7th
to 13th in order to develop their own sustainable
development projects via multiple workshops and
trainings. During this second meeting, Hasmik
Galstyan developed a project idea about the creation
of a farmers school which would be held in one the
villages close to the border in the Vayots Dzor region.
The projection of a project implementing period as
an independent learning and working process will
be Hasmiks and other course participants next step.
From May 20th to 24th, Gohar Harutyunyan, Syunik
NGO Social Development Program Manager Assistant,
participated in an academic exchange entitled
Youth Work in Rural Areas of Poland, held in Warsaw,
Poland. The exchange was organized by the Polish
National Agency for partners coming from such
diverse places as Finland, Portugal, Norway, Denmark,
Hungary, Lithuania, Ireland and several countries of
Eastern Europe and Caucasus. Participants explored
Polish best practices for youth work in both local
and international sectors. In particular, the exchange
focused on highlighting different youth exchange
projects, the European Voluntary Service (EVS),
and other small strategic partnerships. During the
exchange visit, participants were given an opportunity
to get to know each others organizations and create
professional networking contacts, another important
benefit of such collaborative work discussions.

From May 5th to 10th an international conference

was held in Lucerne, Switzerland for 29 young
leaders representing Armenia, Georgia, Moldova,
Azerbaijan, Switzerland, Croatia, Bulgaria, Italy
and Romania. The conference was organized and
hosted by Youth Exchange Without Borders NGO,
and Naira Harutyunyan, head of Syunik NGO
Community and Youth Development Projects,
presented about Syunik NGO during the meeting.
Overall, the goal of the conference was to establish
future cooperation between a diverse network of
individuals and organizations and also develop new,
collaborative project ideas between organization
from the South Caucasus, the Eastern Partnership,
European Union member countries, and youth
organizations from Switzerland to later be implemented
within the framework of the European Union
Erasmus+ and other similar international programs.
During the conference a new cooperative initiative
was established between Syunik and Youth Exchange
without Borders NGOs to organize an International
youth exchange to be held within Armenia.

New Initiative for a Border

Village Coming Up
Syunik NGO, in collaboration with Canadian Diocese
of the Armenian Apostolic Church, launched a new
initiative to renovate a playground and the cultural
house of Khachik village, Vayots Dzor region. The
project will start on July 25th and it is expected to
complete the renovation activities by August 7th,
2016. During that period Canadian and German
volunteers, accompanied by Ter Vazgen Boyajyan,
will be in Khachik community to carry out the
renovation activities. Cultural tours and events will
be part of the initiative as well. More information
on this initiative will be included in our next issue.

Office of International & Public Affairs

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

Tel: +374(281) 20788

Email: gevorg.syunikngo@gmail.com
www.syunikngo.weebly.com

Syunik NGO PR Manager: Gevorg Matevosyan

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