UNICEF’s Armenia Office Representative Leads Grand Opening of COAF’s Psycho-Social Center

Dalarik, Republic of Armenia, September 25, 2006 — Today, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Children of Armenia Fund (COAF) jointly held the grand opening of the Dalarik Psycho-Social Center. The Center was initiated in June 2006 through a co-sponsorship between COAF and UNICEF-Armenia. By making psycho-social services available to the six communities of COAF’s Model Cluster — Argina, Dalarik, Karakert, Lernagog, Myasnikyan, and Shenik — the partners aim to secure the integration of children with special needs and their families in the larger society.

The event host, Dr. Naira Gharakhanyan, COAF Community Development Program Manager, introduced the guests, including the mayors and deputy mayors of COAF’s Model Cluster villages, the Psycho-Social Center staff, and other key members of the community. Also present at the event were the student-journalists of the newly established Cluster Press Club and a dozen beneficiaries of the Psycho-Social Center.

Mr. Sheldon Yett, the Representative of UNICEF-Armenia, led the ribbon-cutting ceremony. In his address, Mr. Yett articulated the significance of the program for children with special needs and acknowledged the exceptional cooperation demonstrated by the local municipality in the creation of the Center. Mr. Yett congratulated the project staff, stressing the importance of teamwork among teachers, parents, doctors and the community for achieving the shared vision and project goal.

In turn, Dr. Naira Avetisyan, UNICEF-Armenia Child Protection Officer, emphasized the positive impact of multi-level cooperation on the success and sustained functioning of the Center. As an integral part of UNICEF’s larger program in this domain, she highlighted the principal aim of the Center in defending the rights of children, to give them the opportunity to live and grow in a safe and supportive environment. Most importantly, “we must raise public awareness of child’s rights,” by training parents and educators on the rights of socially disadvantaged or disabled children.

Dr. Arpie G. Balian, COAF’s Resident Country Director, spoke of the importance of this partnership between COAF and UNICEF, “organizations that have children at the center of every project they realize.” She emphasized the importance of this partnership as part of COAF’s Integrated Rural Development program and hoped for continued cooperation. Dr. Balian also provided an overview of the initial data gathered in the initial period of four-months since implementation of the project. “These initial numbers show that such endeavors are critically important, not only in the capital, but also for rural Armenia.”

CONTACTS: Sunny Uberoi, (212) 994-8206; or e-mail info@coafkids.org