Creating a Safe Environment for Pre School Education in Sevkar

On November 12, 2010, the USAID-funded Small Scale Infrastructure Program (SSIP), implemented by Cooperative Housing Foundation International (CHF) and Shen NGO, marked the completion of renovation works at the Sevkar community kindergarten in Tavush province, now allowing 100 children of the community to get proper preschool education in the village. The ceremony was attended by Governor of Tavush Armen Ghularyan, USAID/Armenia Economic Growth Office Director Conan Peisen, UN Resident Coordinator/UNDP Resident Representative in Armenia Dafina Gercheva, World Vision Armenia National Director Graham Strong, Mayor of Sevkar Vladimir Margaryan, and representatives of USAID, CHF, Shen NGO and the local community.

The building of the Sevkar kindergarten required extensive renovation to be operational again after sheltering Armenian soldiers in the 1990s. CHF completely reconstructed the kindergarten, including a re-design of the interior space, installation of windows and doors, replacement of the floor, plastering and painting of walls, electric wiring, construction of hot and cold water system and a new roof. CHF also improved landscaping at the site.

In addition to the USAID assistance to the village, the UNDP/GEF Small Grants Programme supported the construction of a solar heating system for the kindergarten and solar accumulators that provide environmentally friendly energy to the system, and the Shen NGO (with support from Orange/Armenia), World Vision Armenia and Bridge of Hope NGO provided furniture, kitchen appliances and a piano to the kindergarten.

Thirty nine unemployed community members received short-term employment during the SSIP project for a total of 2333 labor days, while fifteen people will receive full time jobs at the kindergarten providing a safe environment for preschool education for Sevkar children. The village administration will cover general maintenance expenses.

The project is one of the eleven projects USAID has committed to implement in Tavush Marz as part of forty-eight priority water and gas systems, sport halls and kindergartens across Armenia that will be renovated with partners CHF and Shen this year. “In Tavush, we will also provide water in Kirants, Verin Karmiraghbyur, Chinari, Choratan, and Artsvaberd and reconstruct external lighting system in Berdavan,” Peisen noted at the opening ceremony.

“Development challenges are multi-sectoral and complex, hence collaborative and partnership approaches to address those are required. By working together, we can make a difference,” said Dafina Gercheva. She further stressed that energy efficient practices, including the use of solar energy, can lower energy related costs and contribute to reducing green house gases.

As part of other ongoing USG investments in Sevkar, the MCA-Armenia program is building a tertiary canal and has a farmer demonstration site where ninety farmers have been trained in improved irrigation and farming practices. In Tavush, MCA-Armenia is also rehabilitating tertiary canals in seven communities, two pumping stations in Achajur and one in Noyemberyan.