COAF Expands its Youth Program

Two New Youth Clubs are Formed in Armavir District

Community of Shenik, Armavir District, Armenia, June 4, 2007 — Today, the Children of Armenia Fund (COAF), in partnership with the Center for Agribusiness and Rural Development (CARD), formed two new youth clubs in the villages of Shenik and Karakert.  These two clubs join the clubs of Lernagog and Argina, which were part of the pilot project launched a year ago.  The huge success of the pilot project and resulting achievements of the club members led the COAF-CARD partnership to expand this joint project to two more of the Model Cluster villages.  Just as in the forerunner pilot projects, these clubs will be dedicated to instilling in adolescent girls and boys a sense of responsibility and caretaking of their sheep. 

At today’s event, the twenty 12-13 year-old adolescent boys and girls gathered in their respective school yards and cheered the sponsors as they arrived with the sheep.  In turn, the Shenik Mayor, Mr. Koryun Minasyan, welcomed the guests and hailed the project as an important initiative for the individual development of the youth.  COAF and CARD representatives also addressed the participating adolescents and their parents.  Subsequently, the selected girls and boys received two sheep each together with a care package taking their first steps toward becoming full-fledged farmers in the future. 

The project aims at teaching youngsters how to take responsibility for taking care of the sheep ¾ caring, feeding, and preventing diseases.  The broader objective is to develop livestock farming in the region.  Adolescents from disadvantaged, needy, or single parent families are selected to join the club provided they satisfy a set of pre-established criteria, including their personal level of interest in livestock farming and the existence of a suitable sheep shed adjacent to the family home.  Under the close watch and direction of an expert veterinarian, the youngsters will gain knowledge of animal science and take daily notes on their sheep.  Khatutik NGO will be responsible for organizing the trainings and for providing educational materials and hygienic supplies to the club members. 

This project is expected to contribute to the economic development of the Model Cluster villages.  Last year’s outcomes have demonstrated full compliance with established standards in animal care and, in most cases, club members have exceeded the target performance results.

Children of Armenia Fund was founded in 2000 with the aim to reduce poverty through the revitalization of rural Armenia and the realization of projects that are instrumental for the revival of communities.  With the introduction of its novel approach to clustering in February 2006, COAF is currently implementing the Model Cluster working in six villages in Baghramyan Region of Armavir District. The key components of COAF’s Model Cluster project comprise Infrastructure and Economic Development Programs, and Community Development including Health, Social and Educational Programs. Since early 2006, besides its Model Village Karakert, COAF is also working in Myasnikyan, Shenik, Dalarik, Lernagog and Argina.

The Armenian Rural Youth Development Program, initiated by the Center for Agribusiness and Rural Development, is a voluntary non formal educational program that supplements formal school education. It is modeled after the US 4-H Program. The program is helping young people gain skills needed to become responsible, self-directing, productive and contributing members of society. The Extension Youth Development Program provides real experiences and an opportunity for youth to gain life skills, project development and implementation skills, basic agricultural knowledge in order to be engaged in community development activities.

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