Armenian Caritas’ OPO’s ARAMAZD: Within the framework of the “Community for Community Program” Vanadzor’s Arrajynt’ats’ NGO implements the project “Community-Based Socio-Economic Development through Poultry Farming Development”. The goal is to promote socio-economic development of the Lejan and Agarak settlements in the Lori Fortress area of the Stepanavan district, located in the Lori region, through the introduction of poultry farming and sustainable income opportunities. The beneficiaries of the project are 40 socially vulnerable families of each of the above mentioned settlements (80 families in total). These families took part in trainings on the topic of cultivation and care of 1-2-day-old chicks.

On May 16, 17 and 21, children from the Drawing group of the Armenian Caritas Charitable Non-Governmental Organization’s “Little Prince” social center in Gyumri, participated in a group of ceramics organized by the Aslamazyan sisters’ gallery. The trainings were held in 3 rounds, on the first day, with acquaintance with children and their skills, on the second day the work process, and in the final, the final stage of the work. Gallery Guitar Guide Michael Vardaponian notes that this is also a field therapy. Lyova Varosyan, a child, was so interested in carpeting that he even thought to be specializing in the future and to become a carpenter,

Within the framework of “HIV/AIDS Prevention and Support in the Post-Soviet Countries” Project an information event, a flash mob and candle lighting was organized in Gyumri for the International AIDS Memorial Day. Young people added the pieces to the traditional AIDS quilt and the interested passers-by approaching the AIDS awareness symbol ribbon-stand pinned small red ribbons on it to commemorate those who died of AIDS. After they started a march with candles from Vardanants Square to Dramataic Square. AIDS Candlelight Memorial takes place every 3rd Sunday in May, however it’s not mere Memorial Day but also a community grassroots movement to end the HIV epidemic.

On 11 April, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs RA and Armenian Caritas on the launch of the first small group home in Vanadzor. The memorandum of understanding aims to increase the effectiveness of social work serving children who are in difficult life situations and their families, to change the methods of round the clock care, as well as a child’s right to live with a family. During the meeting, reforms in the area of children, particularly the process of reorganizing institutions with round the clock care, were discussed. Minister of Labour and Social Affairs Artem Asatryan has found the current work important and hopes that within the framework of cooperation to start the reorganization process based on the needs and proper assessment of a child and and matching them with the appropriate family and social services.

On April 4, on the occasion of Motherhood and Beauty Day, within the EU funded “Recognise. Protect. Realise.” project, the “Armenian Caritas” Benevolent NGO, the Ministry of Diaspora of the Republic of Armenia, the Center for Coordination of Syrian-Armenians’ Issues NGO with support of Caritas Austria and the Municipality of Yerevan opened “The Breath of Syrian-Armenian Culture in Yerevan” Charity Fair near the Swan Lake. Handmade works of Syrian-Armenians, sweets and jewelry were presented at the Charity Fair. At the Charity Fair RA Deputy Minister of Diaspora Serzh Srapionyan, Representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Christoph Bierwirth,