In April 3-7, 2019 “Armenian Caritas” benevolent NGO hosted the Austrian participants of the project “We are the Change”. The project has been initiated by youngCaritas Austria and was funded by the European Union’s “Erasmus +” program. The project implementation was assisted by Caritas Austria and Armenian Caritas within the project “HIV/AIDs Prevention in the Post-Soviet Countries”. The aim of the visit was to gain as much information as possible about Armenia, as well as two projects ran by Armenian Caritas in Vanadzor (“Sabine” small group house; “Little Prince” social center). The members of youth club, which was initiated within the “HIV/AIDs Prevention in the Post-Soviet Countries” project,

On June 2, the Executive Director of Armenian Caritas BNGO Gagik Tarasyan and the Executive Director of Wired International Community Health Education Organization Gary Selnow signed a Memorandum of understanding. According to this Memorandum, health educational programs implemented by Wired International in Armenia will be coordinated by Armenian Caritas. “Armenian Caritas” also will assist with the translation of selected medical and healthcare modules, and assist in hosting the annual consultative meeting of Armenian Wired International CHEs. Later, a meeting with partner organizations took place in “Armenian Caritas”, during which representative of Wired International Sebouh Baghdoyan highlighted the activity and regular presentation of the work done to Wired International.

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 Dramataic Square to Vardanants 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.

Within the framework of Contributing to Better Protection of Migrant Workers through Strengthening Partnership in Armenia, Kyrgyzstan and Russia program human rights defender Valentina Chupik from program partner Tong Jahoni organisation was in Armenia. The goal of her visit was to train RA State Employment Agency employees and partner NGO representatives so that they could provide pre-departure counseling to Armenian migrants leaving for Russia. She presented the challenges that Armenians migrants face in Russia and how they can handle them. If you face migration related problems in Russia, you can get free of charge and 24-hour counseling by calling +7926 8347602.

Starting from the coming school year Shirak region will pass to overall inclusion. Till that a study was conducted in 12 schools of the region within the framework of “Community Action for Full Inclusion in Education” project. On February 22 the project closing conference was organized in Gyumri Technological Center with participation of the Head of EU Delegation to Armenia Piotr Świtalski, Member of Parliament Sophia Hovsepyan, Deputy Minister of Education and Science Lusine Arakelyan, Shirak Governor Tigran Petrosyan, Deputy Mayor Ruben Sanoyan, etc. The conference was opened by the song “We are all equal” prepared by the students of Artik school N1.