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.

Within the framework of Promotion of Volunteer Structure and Volunteerism in Eastern European Countries project Armenian Caritas in cooperation with Armenian Tree Project has been carrying out an ecological micro-project since December of last year. Within the frames of this micro-project, volunteers and Gyumri Little Prince Social Centre children with the couching of the experts of Armenian Tree Project created an organic compost facility to get nutrient-rich compost from the remnants of food, made a seat from plastic bottles, a table, benches and chairs from pallets and Christmas tree and a snowman from tires. On the 16th of January the same group of people came together to make mattresses for the benches made by them.

On December 19, AC year-end meeting took place at Emily Aregak Center headed by the president of Armenian Caritas Raphael Archbishop Minassian. The activities of 2018 were summed up during the meeting, which was started with blessings of Archbishop Minassian and the Lord’s Prayer. “Caritas is not just a common workplace, where you can hold a well-paid position. Caritas is a humanitarian, charitable mission, which seeks to improve social life, to help people, to serve and support people with disabilities. In these fields Caritas officials should be only humanists. So our approach for 2019 must be kind, but, at the same time,

  “Armenian Caritas” benevolent NGO launches the Program “Inclusive and equitable quality education for All”, targeting 7 schools and 7 kindergartens in Shirak Province. On December 14 the official presentation of the Program to the directors of targeted schools and kindergartens, as well as the Regional authorities, took place in the conference hall of Gyumri “Commercial Center”. The Executive Director of “Armenian Caritas” Gagik Tarasyan congratulated everyone on being selected to be part of the Program and expressed hope that the cooperation would be long-lasting and productive. Welcoming the Program, the deputy Head of the regional administration Sophia Hovsepyan mentioned,