2011 Shen NGO Annual Report - Shen Union

After the deep economic crisis in Armenia the averagerate of economic growth was 3.3% in 2011. It is considerablylower than the pre-crisis growth rate. This led to a lower GDPrate than it was in 2007. The weak recovery was the result oflow increase rates in the fields of agriculture, industry andservice provision, besides the stagnant construction fieldhas hindered the economic development considerably. Theeconomic growth recorded in agriculture in 2010 was onlydue to the productivity decrease in previous years that hadunfavorable weather conditions as its background. Theexport sector has not grown in satisfying speed during recentyears and the economy was based on the inner demandfinanced by external savings. The corruption, administrativepersecution, the weak implementation of contracts and theunequal competitive field continue to hinder the economicgrowth. These developments have occurred based on drasticdeterioration of the social conditions.The poverty that comprised 27.6% in 2008 has increasedsteadily. According to the official statistics the 35% of thepopulation has been under the poverty line in 2011. Theofficial statistics of unemployment is obviously unreliable.According to the unofficial sources the number of unemployedhas sharply led to the resumption of the population outflow.This is why the activities implemented by Shen in 2011 weretowards the creation of workplaces both in the agriculturaland non-agricultural fields. More than 50 projects directedtowards the restoration of rural infrastructures wereimplemented due to the cooperation with our permanentpartners (Shen-France, EED, USAID, World Vision, CHF,and OXFAM NOVIB) more than 15000 temporary (person/day) and 125 permanent workplaces have been created inthe beneficiary communities.It was another priority of the year year to implementprojects that will promote the increase of incomes in ruralhouseholds. The main tools here were the trainings devoted3

5T In December, 2011 several assemblies,meetings, a fair etc. took place in Paris wherethe French-Armenian diaspora was presentedthe outcomes of activities implemented during the 20 years.Also, the upcoming plans of the organization werediscussed.Guided by the best European criteria of civic work, theorganization has implemented around 100 humanitarianthese 20 years. Paying great attention to training andeducational direction, Shen-France tries to stabilize thepoor villages and make them become self-efficientcommunities where people and especially young peoplecan live a prosperous life. The best proof for this is theprovision of computers to all the rural schools in theproject for Informatics teachers.

[ PROJECTS TOWARDS INCOME INCREASE ]61The 5-year community development strategic plan ofparticipation of the community. The work was donethe inclusion of invited specialists. The process lastedmore than 6 months. The rich experience of the organizationin the rapid participatory appraisal, the comprehensiveeconomic analysis of the community, the discovery ofpriorities and the efficient usage of community means wasused when preparing the document.As the well prepared document showed, the civic actiongroup considers the projects towards family income increaseto be a priority. The situation is the result of the bad socialconditions. The community investment is considerable in allthe presented initiatives which shows the correct selection ofits turn leads to the active participation of the community.During the development of the project Yalkezyan Foundation,an old friend of Shen, joined the process and decided tofinance the restoration of the internal irrigation net of thecommunity in 2012. As the community development strategicplan shows, the implementation of the project will double theincome of the families. Encouraged by the news, thecommunity civic action group looks for the means to solvethe other problems mentioned in the strategic plan.

2 over the world attended the symposium. The mainsubject and discussion topic was apricot and theapricot produce.research center, one of the first organic orchards establishedprocessing of apricot to the participants. Fresh and driedapricot was presented during the trade-fare organized in theframework of the symposium.We are glad to inform our partners that the numbers of apricotsaplings are increasing yearly and reach such volumes thatthe mass export of the crop can already be started.7

83Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation is seeking toincrease productivity of orchards in the Meghriregion. The activities are directed towards reachingthe objective.The project generally promotes private sector developmentinitiatives and makes partnership with market developmentactors to achieve sustainable change in the market. A numberof activities were implemented in 2011: Market players, who are interested to develop anagricultural input shop, have been identified andcollaboration with them established. The collaborationincluded promotional events, meetings with farmers andmayors and establishment of distribution channels ofinputs through agents and village mayors. The projectalso organized a successful agricultural trade fair to createcontacts and promote distribution of inputs. As a result ofthis activity there is sustainable link between farmers andinput suppliers in Yerevan. The project co-financed two sprayers that are now usedby the horticultural association in Meghri and the Nrnadzormunicipality to provide affordable spraying services. The project has carried out soil and water analyses in theregion to determine the content of heavy metals andcontamination rate in soil and water Three technical training sessions in Meghri on newagricultural techniques and technologies, plant protectionand farming activities were conducted in the region. In thesecond part of 2011 Training of Trainers session (ToT) forselected lead farmers and nursery owners was organized. 11 demonstration orchards, including one with anti-hailnet system, were established in the region. Exchange visit to an advanced nursery in Yerevan wasorganized. Testing of new varieties of imported saplings wascontinued in 2011 The project has facilitated the entrance of ANIV microfinancial institution to Meghri. As a result 2 agriculturalloans have been disbursed so far. A number of brochures,guidelines have been printed and distributed to farmerson financial and farm management. The project selected7 potential financial agents from 7 municipalities and builttheir capacity to become advisors for villagers in financialissues. A memorandum of understanding was signed withthe Meghri cannery to set up a storage facility andpurchase a cold transport. The project also supportedsome Megri farmers to attend and present their productsin a national agricultural trade fair organized in Yerevan.

6The organic orchard established in Dprabak community (Chambaraksubregion) by the support of the UN Global Environmental Fund, hasprovoked serious interest in the neighboring communities. Shorja andTsapatagh villages are going to establish their own organic orchards ofcommunity importance.117During the recent years the usage of nitrogenous fertilizers in agriculturalproduction has considerably increased leading to the accumulation of nitratesin plants. As a result, the land-plant-fertilizer ratio has been violated. This inits turn resulted in the widely seen decrease in resistance of crops againstthe pests and diseases and in productivity decrease. However, what happensin the land remains unseen. In these conditions the balance of soil humus andnutritional elements is being violated. One of the solutions of the problem is to gethumus from the manure and organic waste with the help of Californian red worm.The special microflora of the humus restores all the functions of the soil and increasesthe productiveness. Humus exceeds the manure by its bacterial flora and by its main as an organic fertilizer for all crops.Farmers started the production of the biohumus with the support of our agriculturalgroup and use it in their orchards in 35 communities of the country. As the lastmonitoring visit showed, 6 farmers already sell their products successfully in the localmarkets, and a producer from the Gegarkunik Marz exports his products.

128The numbers of people who want to engage in B&Bbusiness is rising in Vardenis subregion. Wecontinued to support (with the help of Oxfam Novib)the young families that successfully participated inthe UCOs operating in the region for the loans in order tostart their own businesses.Six communities from Daranak, Tsapatagh and Pambakvillages have already received their loans from differentcredit organisations for managing B&Bs in their houses.

13[ CAPACITY BUILDING ]1The training project of the civic action groups in 8communities of Chambarak region. The trainingsare implemented with 2 subgroups. Each grouphave learned to separate the priorities among theproblems in the community, analyze the possibilities ofsolutions and mastered the principles of project writing.At the end of the training phase each civic action groupwas asked to present a pilot project. The second phase wasdedicated to the discussion of the presented pilot projectsand to the deficiency corrections. This helped the skillsdevelopment process during the work on the concrete pilotprojects presented by the participants. Three communitieshave already presented a garbage gathering project to the Council of Churches,and the project has been approved.2The B&B promotion project that has started 3years ago provoked such great interest in thevillages of Sevan basin that Shen specialists had manual prepared by the University of Armenia in 2007 andThe manual will be distributed to the beneficiaries who wantto start a B&B business.3This year the cooperation with NGOs operatingin the field of our activities continued. With theof Global Environmental Fund of the UNDevelopment Projects and started to implement the project system in Gargar and Gyulakarak communities for the

]161marz) kindergarten took place on March 17. Communityresidents and guests participated in the event.by the community means in 2011. Orange ArmeniaCompany has fully furnished the kindergarten and built akindergarten and 9 women in the community will havepermanent jobs. As in other cases, the kindergarten activityexpenses will be done together by the village municipalityand parents.2Vazashen village (Tavush Marz) community centerhas been built in 2011 with the means of theOrange Armenia, a sports hall furnished with modernequipment and a library will operate in the building.3 issituated in the community center. The communitycenter has been renovated by the US InternationalDevelopment Agency, CHF/Armenia, Shen andcommunity means. The chess club, library and theentertainment hall has been operating there already. Nowthe computer hall equipped by the means of Orange Armeniawas added to this. In the computer center it is possible notonly to learn different computer programs but also use highspeedinternet.

The school in Davit Bek village (Syunik Marz) andthe sportshall in Malishka village (Vayots DzorMarz) renovated within the USAID Small ScaleInfrastructure Program with the joint effort of CHFArmenia, Shen and the communities. Both hallswere equipped by the means provided byOrange Armenia.The schoolchildren and as the school headmaster assured,the young people of the village will have the opportunity totrain in the equipped hall which has heating system andwhere sanitary conditions are kept strictly.Malishka has always been famous for its sports traditions.Even in the dilapidated building professional box and wrestletrainings were held. As the specialists present during theopening ceremony mentioned, the renovated sportshall canbe compared to the best sportshalls in the country, and statecompetitions can be held there.175The computer center of the Tavush community inTavush Marz is the first in Berd region. It has beenfully renovated by the community means, and thecomputer technology was provided by OrangeArmenia. Today the village already has high-speedinternet and computer trainings are organized.6The construction activities of the community center inAvazan village (Gegharkunik Marz) have beenvillage community, UN Development Projects andShen means. The Furnishing was provided by OrangeArmenia Foundation. From now on Avazan residents will havea wonderful hall for 100 people, a furnished library, an aidstation, and a meeting place for seniors and a village municipality.

7 (Aragatsotn Marz) has been renovated by CHF, Shenand community means. The center has also beenprovided with modern computers and high-speedinternet by Ornage Armenia. According to theagreement made with the community council, the roadsleading to the village have been cleaned by the young residentsof the village. Also, 100 decorative trees provided by anotherproject of Shen NGO have been planted in the roadside.188The ruined building of Vahan village kindergarten(Gegharkunik Marz) has been renovated by theCHF Armenia, community and Shen means. OrangeArmenia organization in its turn has donated thenecessary equipment. The kindergarten with warm,clean and light playrooms was planned for 20 children. Afterthe opening it turned out that the number of children whowant to attend the kindergarten is doubled due to the thechildren,Orange Armenia organization donated thechildren to attend the kindergarten.The kindergarten operates successfully and its sustainabilityis beyond any doubt as the parents pay the half of the monthlyfee and the other half is reimbursed by the village municipality.

[ INFRASTRUCTURE REHABILITATION ]1 that started in 2010 by the financial support of USAInternational Development Agency and coimplementationof the CHF International, ended thisyear. The project was implemented in Shirak, Gegharkunik Marzes where there is high-quality localworkforce. The following projects were implemented this year.1. The restoration of Meghrashat village community centerin Shirak Marz2. 3. The reconstruction of Shahumyan village community The reconstruction of Arevshat village internal watersupply system in Shirak Marz5. The reconstruction of Aygepar village water supplysystem in Tavush Marz6. The restoration of Myasnikyan village school sportscenter in Armavir Marz7. The reconstruction of Nor Artik village water supplysystem in Armavir Marz (construction of daily regulatoryreservoir)8. The reconstruction of Voskevan village water supplysystem in Tavush Marz9. 10. The reconstruction of Zarinja village water supply systemin Aragatsotn Marz11. The restoration of Avazan village community center inGeghakunik Marz19

2012. The restoration of Torfavan village community center inGeghakunik Marz13. The restoration of Dprabak village community center inGeghakunik MarzThe restoration of Malishka village sports center in VayotsDzor Marz2Yalkezyan foundation finished its developmentproject in Pambak village inhabited by refugees.This year the open playground and school sportsyard of the village were constructed and equippedwith necessary equipment. Besides that the villagealready has well-constructed central square and thecommunity center yard is fully renovated.After taking part in the B&B management trainings 3 familiesreceived loans for starting their business. The village haspermanent drinkable water now; the streets are renovatedand have night lights. We think that Pambak will soon becomea summer B&B center for city residents and tourists.

[ SOCIAL PROJECTS ]211 project was initiated and implemented by theFrench-Armenian Medical Union and with the supportof Shen NGO. The beneficiaries of the projectwere the residents of ten villages in AragatsotnMarz who are served by the medical ambulatory of villageNerkin Bazmaberd, also, the 15 villages served by theMedical Center of town Talin and the residents of town Talin.The group of French-American doctors that comprised ofophthalmologists initially organized training courses fornurses of Nerkin Bazmaberd and surrounding villages, Talinand surrounding villages, so that they are able to examineand find those who have visual problems amongschoolchildren. Thus, initially diagnosed 263 children wereexamined again and for 225 children glasses were madeand provided on the spot. The project did not overlook adultsAs Eduard Muradyan, the president of French-ArmenianMedical Union, mentioned at the end of the project, the sameproject will be implemented next year in another circle ofbeneficiaries of Shen NGO.2Vartan (USA) started this year. Cooperating with representative developed a project of donatingmedical equipment and goods to the poor hospitaland medical centers of villages. Today with the supportof International Medical Equipment Collaborative (USA) the

22 Government has undertaken the renovation of the building.The equipment gives the possibility for a higher qualityservice, i.e. the babies that need additional temporary careare taken to the incubator that they did not have previously.Old beds with seedy sheets were replaced with comfortableand functional beds and necessary furniture. There areeasily transportable specialized tables for medical tools andmedicine in the rooms. There is also equipment with medicalliquids needed for medical treatment that require long-terminjections.The surgery room furnishings can be compared to theones in the Yerevan hospitals. The modern anesthesiaequipment gives the opportunity to keep the patient'ssituation under control. This enables the implementation ofmore complicated surgeries. Before the renovation whenthere was a need for surgeries, the patients were advised togo to the hospitals in Yerevan or in other cities of the Marz.3from Aragatsotn Marz. This year the green areaswere added, the villages were cleaned from thegarbage and regular garbage collection wasorganized. Shen supported Vardablur, Tsaghkashen,Hartavan, Apnagyugh, Agarak, Nor Edesia, Voskevaz, development of garbage collection system and for creationof landfills.The civic action groups, the village mayors, village seniorsand the specialists of the ecological field of the Marz madean agreement on the organization of the garbage gathering.In all the mentioned communities the humus productiontechnology was introduced.

23Eghnajur (Amasya region) for the children frompoor families of Shirak Marz has an active life.The village has been restored and inhabited by Foundation. The camp activities are coordinated by the headof Shirak diocese of Armenian Apostolic Church, HisEminence Ter Michael Bishop Ajapahjan. Many activitieswere organized in the camp and the children from Eghnajurand neighboring villages always took part in the activities. from Germany, had her contribution in the process of makingthe camp daily life more interesting and rich. She activelyinvolved in the camp life, participating in the creative life ofthe camp, sports activities and activities connected with thekitchen. Teba-Christine taught interested children to communicatein English, French and German with simple vocabulary.

5The operating kindergarten in Arteni village(Baghramyan subregion) had a need forrestoration. Almost 50% community investmentshows the importance of the project. We give thepriority especially to such kind of projects in ourbeneficiary villages as the sustainability and viability of thelatter is beyond doubt.24

INCOME (Euro)19.2%19.7%17.1%SDC/Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation 251,363USAID/CHF InternantionalEED, Germany 218,20020.3%0.5%0.5%0.7%1.5%2.9%3.3%3.5%3.9%7.0%26 89,202Yalkezian Foundation, CanadaChene FranceKnights of Vardan / IMEC, USASDC/Helvetas Swiss IntercooperationUSAID/CHF Internantional Private contributionsCommunitiesInternational Bank of Reconstruction and Development 19,018Chene FranceUNOPS 9,110Orange Armenia CJSCDevelopmentCommunitiesEPER, SwitzerlandPrivate contributions 6,025UNOPSEED, GermanyRA Government (VAT exemption)Yalkezian Foundation, Canada

EXPENDITURES (Euro)Infrastructure improvements2724.4%Social support programs30.7%Income generation18.0%Capacity buildingAdministrationEmpowerment of Communities3.1%6.4%6.5%11.0%Environmental programsInfrastructure improvements Social support programs 289,736Income generationCapacity building 130,230Administration 76,560Empowerment of Communities 75,561Environmental programs 36,795