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Grand Opening of COAF's Psycho-Social Center

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  • Grand Opening of COAF's Psycho-Social Center

    PRESS RELEASE
    Children of Armenia Fund (COAF) - Yerevan Office
    53-55 Pavstos Byuzand Street, 375010
    Yerevan, Republic of Armenia
    Contact: Inessa Grigoryan
    Tel: (+374 10) 522076; 562068
    Fax: (+374 10) 522076
    E-mail: [email protected]
    Web: www.coafkids.org

    Children of Armenia Fund - New York Office
    630 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2100,
    New York, NY 10111, USA
    Contact: Anna Sargsyan
    Tel: 212 - 994 - 8201
    Fax: 212 - 994 - 8299
    E-mail: [email protected]
    Web: www.coafkids.org


    UNICEF's Armenia Office Representative Leads the Grand Opening of

    COAF's Psycho-Social Center

    Dalarik, Republic of Armenia, September 26, 2006 ¾ Today, the United
    Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the Children of Armenia Fund (COAF)
    jointly held the grand opening of the Dalarik Psycho-Social Center. The
    Center was initiated in June 2006 through a co-sponsorship between COAF
    and UNICEF-Armenia. By making psycho-social services available to the
    six communities of COAF's Model Cluster ¾ Argina, Dalarik, Karakert,
    Lernagog, Myasnikyan, and Shenik ¾ the partners aim to secure the
    integration of children with special needs and their families in the
    larger society.

    The event host, Dr. Naira Gharakhanyan, COAF Community Development
    Program Manager, introduced the guests, including the mayors and deputy
    mayors of COAF's Model Cluster villages, the Psycho-Social Center staff,
    and other key members of the community. Also present at the event were
    the student-journalists of the newly established Cluster Press Club and
    a dozen beneficiaries of the Psycho-Social Center.

    Mr. Sheldon Yett, the Representative of UNICEF-Armenia, led the
    ribbon-cutting ceremony. In his address, Mr. Yett articulated the
    significance of the program for children with special needs and
    acknowledged the exceptional cooperation demonstrated by the local
    municipality in the creation of the Center. Mr. Yett congratulated the
    project staff, stressing the importance of teamwork among teachers,
    parents, doctors and the community for achieving the shared vision and
    project goal.

    In turn, Dr. Naira Avetisyan, UNICEF-Armenia Child Protection Officer,
    emphasized the positive impact of multi-level cooperation on the success
    and sustained functioning of the Center. As an integral part of
    UNICEF's larger program in this domain, she highlighted the principal
    aim of the Center in defending the rights of children, to give them the
    opportunity to live and grow in a safe and supportive environment. Most
    importantly, "we must raise public awareness of child's rights," by
    training parents and educators on the rights of socially disadvantaged
    or disabled children.

    Dr. Arpie G. Balian, COAF's Resident Country Director, spoke of the
    importance of this partnership between COAF and UNICEF, "organizations
    that have children at the center of every project they realize." She
    emphasized the importance of this partnership as part of COAF's
    Integrated Rural Development program and hoped for continued
    cooperation. Dr. Balian also provided an overview of the initial data
    gathered in the initial period of four-months since implementation of
    the project. "These initial numbers show that such endeavors are
    critically important, not only in the capital, but also for rural
    Armenia."

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