QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER

Winter 2011, Issue 3

Benevolent

NGO

Syunik receives NGO awards

2010 was another successful year for Syunik NGO. Among many accomplishments, we were honored to receive two awards during the Momik 2010 NGO Ceremony, which was conducted at the end of year by the Vayots Dzor Youth Center in collaboration with the local regional government. There were nearly 200 participants at the ceremony, among them Samvel Sargsyan, a member of National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, representatives from local regional government, mayors, youth, representatives from the media, other non-governmental organizations and representatives from rural communities and other high-ranking guests. The award ceremony had five categories. We were recognized as the Most Active NGO in the region for 2009-2010 and our Summer Academy pilot project (funded by EED and implemented in summer 2010) was recognized as the best Youth Project in the region. Certificates and awards were given and special greetings and appreciation words were extended to Syunik NGO during the ceremony. Additionally, Syunik NGOs Development Program for South Armenia was nominated for the Best Community project. The awards

Nara Martirosyan (left) receives the Award from Mr. Samvel Sargsyan (second from right)

and the nomination were recognition for all the hard work done by Syunik NGO in order to develop local communities in Southern Armenia.

Helping people in need

In order to help people in need, the Youth Bank of Syunik NGO initiated a Food Bank project that aims to assist needy families in the region with the help of donations from local stores. As part of the initiative, the Youth Bank sent letters to 43 local store owners and asked for food donations that could be distributed to needy families. The list of needy families was obtained from the Mayors office in Yeghegnadzor. Of the 43 stores contacted, 21 provided food donations. These generous donations were collected, sorted, and later delivered to 11 needy families by the Youth Bank members, who were joined by local, American and German volunteers in the region. Along with the beneficiary families, we extend our gratitude to all of the stores who supported the project and we hope that their good will spread to other stores and encourage them to join a very worthwhile effort that supports people in need.

Youth Bank members with beneficiary familys children

Lucine Harvey Visits Syunik NGO

The charitable support of Diers to be involved in charitable work aspora Armenians living in the in order to help rural communities United States has been a signifiin Armenia to develop and become cant help to Syunik NGO since sustainable. its foundation. Generous contriNM: Isnt it challenging to orgabutions of many individuals have nize fundraising and find enough made it possible for us to impleresources to implement your misment our mission of helping the sion? Who are the people who priunderprivileged population in rumarily contribute to your mission? ral Armenia. One such individual LH: It can be challenging but I is Lucine Harvey from Florida, a trust in God. I have many friends person who in the last 15 years who I know through the Armenian has helped us to coordinate various Church in Orlando and they have From the left, Varduhi Aleksanyan, Lucine Harvey fundraising activities in her home been a great support to my misand Meline Araqelyan state and sent donations to Armesion. In addition to Diaspora Arnia. Recently she was again visiting Armenia and delivering menians, I also have foreign friends who contribute to my goods to underprivileged children in different parts of Ar- mission. In this mission, nationality doesnt play much of a menia. We had the honor of hosting and interviewing her, role. It is the human willingness to help others that plays a which allowed us to learn more about her mission. role and I have been fortunate to meet people who are willNara Martirosyan (NM): We are glad to have you here ing to help others as long as they know where exactly their and thank you for all your support to our NGO. We know support goes. that you have been helping us since our foundation and we NM: On behalf of our NGO I would like to thank you are very grateful to you. What is the purpose of your visit for all your efforts in helping the underprivileged children in this time? Armenia. Your support is greatly appreciated and we hope to Lucine Harvey (LH): I am happy to be here and try to see you in Armenia again. help underprivileged children in Armenia. I came to visit LH: I am already 70 years old and every time I visit Arthem and deliver various types of goods that they need. With menia I say this is my last visit. But when I meet children the help of my friends generous contributions and through and see how happy they are to receive various goods, I know fundraising activities in Florida I am able to support children very well that I will be back again. Childrens happy faces are in several institutions and organizations, one of which is the best satisfaction for me and I want to help them as long Syunik NGOs Siranuysh camp. I also try to encourage oth- as I can.

International skills for young activists

Young activists in Yeghegnadzor are eager to improve their English language skills and learn more about development cooperation. A couple of months ago, our Youth Bank initiated an informal English Club, which met regularly in Yeghegnadzors Social Service Center to discuss the use of a variety of tools for professional work with community members. During the Club meetings, they compared political systems, learned about the history and different approaches of international development cooperation, and worked on the vocabulary related to their activities and projects. The English Club was attended by activists of the Youth Bank project, the Armenian Young Women Association and the Civil Center of Yeghegnadzor. Sessions were facilitated by Lennart Lehmann, the CIM-consultant to the Syunik NGO, who has been providing continuous professional development activities for young staff members at Syunik.

English club group work session

Consultancy workshop for Syunik NGO staff members

In February, Ingo Mller, Syunik NGOs EED consultant, was invited to conduct a consultancy workshop on internal evaluation and program planning for our staff members. During the workshop, participants had an opportunity to discuss all aspects of an evaluation: the role of evaluation, its process, the main terms, data collection methods, data analysis and reporting techniques. Evaluation questionnaires were developed and pilot tested during the workshop. These questionnaires will be used for Syuniks internal evaluation of its Development Program of South Armenia. Discussion and a brainstorming session on the future development of our Social Service Centers were also part of the workshop. The workshop was an excellent opportunity for our staff members to reflect on their experiences, to learn about evaluation techniques, as well as to discuss the future direction of the NGO.
Workshop Session

Young staff training

Syunik NGO young staff members are trained on a weekly basis on subjects related to their work. The training sessions are conducted by CIM consultant Lennart Lehmann. The sessions provide them with an overview of Syunik NGO Young Staff Members development cooperation systems and introduces our young staff to working tools used by project managers. By building the capacities of young staff Syunik NGO aims to prepare its staff to become productive and efficient project managers in the future.

Staff and volunteers develop professionally

On December 17-18th 2010 Lennart Lehman attended Shaping the GTZ EU Approach GTZ Armenia Strategy workshop in Yerevan. He also took part in the meeting between German ODA staff at the German Embassy on January. From January 31 through February 4 EED volunteer Sebastian Mllner took part in a Weltwrts-volunteermidterm seminar in Saguramo, Georgia. The aim of the seminar was to exchange experiences and reflect on voluntary service in the South Caucasus. Nara Martirosyan took part in a Civil Society Startegic Dialogue at the US Embassy in Armenia. The dialogue consisted of a webcast lecture by Hillary Clinton and a round table discussion with representatives from the US Embassy including Ambassador Yovanovitch. Syuniks young staff members took part in various meetings and seminars organized within the Active Citizens project implemented by British Council in Armenia.

Lecture on voluntary work

Syunik NGO CIM consultant Lennart Lehmann was invited by the British Council to lecture on voluntary work in the context of their Active Citizens Program, an initiative that is currently being implemented in Yeghegnadzor. The lecture highlighted different aspects for the motivation and compensation of volunteers. About 20 young activists from the region took part in this training program including some of young staff members of the Syunik NGO.

Lecture on legal issues

Vardan Avagyan was a guest lecturer for training conducted by the National Institute of Education, Ministry of Education and Science, Armenia. The training was for school principals in the Vayots Dzor region. Vardans lecture included topics related to the current legislation concerning schools and educational institutions.

Various Events
Training for Farmers
An agricultural training course for farmers took place on February 10th at Syunik NGO. Topics included nursery cultivation techniques and business plan development skills. Fourteen farmers in seven communities of Vayots Dzor participated in the training course; these farmers are involved in our Rural Development Project funded by HEKS/EPER. The training was conducted by Mamikon Hovhanisyan, our agricultural and marketing expert who has been providing regular training and consultancy sessions for the farmers. Syuniks local and international staff members also participated and had an opportunity to discuss the Projects future steps with farmers.

Open Door Day in Job club

On February 25th the new Vayk Job Club was introduced to the public through an Open Door Day. Among the guests and participants were top representatives from From the left, James Macbeth, Bishop Abraham and Nino Schramm German International Cooperation (GIZ) in Armenia, the German Embassy, the State Employment Service Agency, the Vayots Dzor Employment Forum, the Municipality of Vayk, the Employment Agency in Vayk, and the Syunik NGO. Bishop Abraham, Chairman of the Syunik NGO, thanked GIZ and its partners for bringing together civil society, the Government and the Church through projects like the Job Club. GIZ country director James Macbeth noted that unemployment and jobs were the most urgent issues for the population of Armenia. Job Club Task Force representative Ruzan Ghazaryan called on the unemployed to remain passive no longer and to use the Job Club so that they become the main actors in their own movie. The Job Club is currently open to the public five days a week and offers space for job-seekers to work on their own, as well as provides training and information services to help them in their job searches. The Club is financed by GIZ and hosted in Syunik NGOs Social Service Center in Vayk.

Exhibitions in Vayk and Hermon Social Service Centers

Within the last quarter, two exhibitions took place in our SSCs: one in Vayk and one in Hermon. The exhibitions provided an opportunity for SSC students to present their handicraft works to their peers, teachers, parents and community members. During the Vayk exhibition, students attending other clubs (e.g., dancing, singing) had an opportunity to perform and show what they too have learnt during the last year. Exhibitions are being organized on a regular basis, not only because they encourage and motivate the children attending SSCs, but also because they increase community awareness about the youth activities in our SSCs.
The Vayk dancing club performs during the exhibition opening

Employment forum VI
The 6th Employment Forum took place on February 2nd in Vayk Tourism Center. The participants discussed ongoing strategies and initiatives aimed at promoting employment in the Vayots Dzor region. Presentations at the forum included a report on the results of meetings held between employers and educational institutions. Syunik NGO is an active participant in the Forum, with Nara Harutyunyan acting as Secretary of the Forum.
Tel/Fax: +374 (0281) 24009 Email: oipa.syunikngo@yahoo.com www.syunikngo.am

Nara Martirosyan Office of International & Public Affairs Syunik Benevolent NGO
Benevolent NGO

Momiki St. 5, 3601 Yeghegnadzor, Vayots Dzor Province, Republic of Armenia