Talks and discussions on the topic “Gender and Gender Equality” were held in Tsoghamarg and Arpeni communities on December 19, 2011. The discussions were held by the invited specialist Jina Sargizova. The meetings had a goal to get the participants to know gender issues, to differentiate the notions of gender and sex, to speak about the problems of gender equality in our country.

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The quarterly reporting meeting of WFD NGO beneficiary villages Community Centers took place on December 17, 2011, with the participation of the village heads and Community Centers responsible persons. This time the meeting was a holiday one and had the goal to summarize the joint work, achievements and successes of the WFD NGO and beneficiary communities, as well as to discuss future plans and suggestions.

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On December 1, 2011 the responsible persons for the beneficiary Community Centers and volunteers of the NGO “Women for Development” participated in the training “AIDS problem and projects directed to its Prevention in Armenia” in the frames of “16 days of Activism against Gender Violence” campaign in Armenia. The training was conducted by Jina Sargizova, “16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence” Campaign Coordinator.

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Starting from October 2011 meetings on healthcare issues are being held in the Community Centers of 3 beneficiary villages of the NGO “Women for Development” – Tsoghamarg, Torosgyugh and Arpeni. The meetings are conducted by the responsible for the healthcare department of the NGO, medical doctor Karine Haroyan.

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On November 7, 2011 the NGO “Women for Development” office hosted Armenian Representative of the German Goethe Institute Julia Kramer. The goal of the visit was to present books and didactic material to the school of Musayelyan community in Shirak regian to make the teaching of the German language in the school more interesting and productive.

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A reporting meeting with the Community Centers’ responsible persons and volunteers from 8 beneficiary villages of NGO “WFD” took place on October 15, 2011 in Lanjik Community Center. The goal of the meeting was to present the Lanjik Community Center and its activities, as well as to summarize the work carried out in the beneficiary villages during the previous 3 months.

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On October 13-15, 2011, the NGO “Women for Development” hosted mobilizers and activists from “Women’s Assistance” Centers, based in different regions of Georgia by “Sukhumi” Foundation. The goal of the visit was to get acquainted with the activities of the NGO WFD and to exchange experience.

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On October 3-5, 2011, in the frames of the Organizational Development and Capacity building project 4 members of the NGO “Women for Development” participated in the 3-day training “Designing and Planning Projects”. The project is being implemented through financial assistance of ICCO, in the frames of which 6 members of the organization have participated in different trainings raising their professional skills and abilities.

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International Day of Peace was celebrated on September 23 at the UN Armenia Office under the slogan “Peace is the mission of UN”. The event was organized by UN Department of Public Information jointly with the Embassy of Federal republic of Germany, Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Gyumri NGO “Women for Development”. The directors of the NGO “WFD” beneficiary schools and members of “Peace Education Center” of Gyumri school N 20 were also invited to participate in the event.

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On July 7 and 8 the Community Centers’ opening ceremonies took place in 3 beneficiary villages of the NGO “WFD” – Tsoghamarg, Arpeni and Torosgyugh. The Community Centers were fully renovated and equipped by the NGO “WFD” in the frames of the project “Community mobilization through increasing participation, healthy lifestyle and peace education in Armenia”

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On June 24 a meeting of the Community Centers’ responsible persons and volunteers from 8 villages of Shirak region took place in Bayandur Community Center. The goal of the meeting was to summarize the work carried out in the Community Centers during the past 3 months.

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On June 18-19, 2011 Arianna Caoilli had meetings in the Community Centers of the organization’s beneficiary communities and spoke about Australia’s history, culture, values and traditions. The meetings in Goghovit, Musayelyan and Krashen communities were held in a very warm and easy atmosphere.

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On May 30, 2011 the vice president of the NGO “WFD” Liana Mikayelyan conducted a training on the topic “Advocacy and Policy Influencing” for the team of “WFD” NGO, sharing the knowledge and skills gained at the training on the same topic in Oxford.

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On May 18, 2011, a seminar “Role of Mass Media in causing conflicts and their prevention” was organized in the WFD NGO office. The participants of the seminar were 19 members of “Journalists’ Clubs” established in the Community Centers of Shirak region 5 villages. The training was conducted by the Public Relations Responsible of NGO “WFD” Marina Juharyan.

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Welcoming Speech

Dear colleagues,

The month of November 2007 marked 10th anniversary of “Women for Development” NGO. Recalling the activities implemented throughout these years and based on the results of external evaluation conducted in April-June 2006 by independent experts, as well as the feedback received from our beneficiaries, local and international partner organizations, we can claim that all these years were not a waste of time. Our organization possesses necessary human and material resources for implementation of projects in several outlined spheres with a target to contribute to development processes of Shirak province and Armenia in general.
Organization’s last 6 years’ input in the sphere of Peace Education is of a special value. Peace Education project implemented in schools of Shirak province and Gyumri State Pedagogical Institute created a sustainable base for integrating this subject into the school curriculum. Organization’s role is also notable in raising awareness of province’s rural women and youth on reproductive health and HIV/AIDS prevention. As the result of the activities carried out by the organization, main beneficiaries – women, young people and schoolchildren not only acquired substantial knowledge and skills, but also became self-confident.
Currently we are facing new challenges, which are guiding us in the direction of doing everything for making our direct beneficiaries apply their knowledge and skills for the sake of community development and creating healthy and peaceful communities.

Organization’s mission, vision and main strategic directions were revised in 2007 and were adjusted to the challenges of Shirak province, Armenia and the region.

Strategic plan for 2008-2012 presented by “Women for Development” NGO shows that we have rather big plans for the future targeted to the creation of healthy and peaceful community model in Armenia, integrating Peace Education subject into the school curriculum and becoming a regional leader in this sphere.