Armenia Read our March-April 2009 eNewsletter. (PDF) Save the Children has been active in Armenia since 1993, managing assistance and development programs funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. Department of State and others.  Since then, Save the Children has managed more than $47 million in aid programs reaching over 3.8 million of the most vulnerable children and families in Armenia.  We continue to be one of the leading assistance providers in the country, bringing expertise in health, education and social initiatives through community-based programs. Challenges for Children In recent years, Armenia's economy grew at about 13 percent, leading to the alleviation of a humanitarian crisis in the country. However, almost two decades after gaining independence from the former Soviet Union, Armenia is still suffering the social and economic impact of this tremendous change. Poverty is widespread and the quality of health, education and social services remains low. In the meantime, the global economic crisis has hit Armenia threatening to undermine recent economic gains and to create another humanitarian crisis in the country. Armenia falls into the list of the low income countries which are most vulnerable to the adverse results of the crisis, being especially sensitive to trade, aid, and remittances shocks. A sharp decline in growth and a rise in unemployment are expected to be the direct results of the crisis, which will bring about another wave of poverty to the already vulnerable population of Armenia, affecting children more than any other age group. Numbers at a Glance The children-under-5 mortality rate is 14 per 1,000 live births. The infant mortality rate is 10.0 per 1,000 live births. The maternal mortality rate is 15 per 100,000 live births. Our Response Child Protection: Save the Children's child protection programs contribute to creating more favorable environment for children in the country through ensuring equal opportunities, combating stigma and prejudice, raising public awareness on child rights and facilitating to children's access to basic services. The Acculturation through Learning program aims to promote education, acculturation and livelihoods development for Iraqi refugee children, youth and their parents living in Armenia. The program is implemented under a capacity building, participatory and resource mobilization umbrella designed to promote high levels of involvement of all stakeholders, especially refugees. The program is funded by the US State Department's Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration. The Children's Tolerance Education Program funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation is a regional initiative designed to promote values of tolerance, cooperation and compassion among children from five to eleven years old in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia - thereby helping to build and sustain peace and stability in the region. The program reached over 2 million children and their caregivers through TV puppet shows. In 2009, tolerance building was incorporated into primary school curricula. Health: In spite of the Government's efforts to make health care more accessible to the population, the quality of health services remains low in the country. This issue is especially painful in the rural areas where conditions of health infrastructures and the qualification of health service providers leave much to desire. Using a specific approach called Partnership-Defined Quality, Save the Children educates and mobilizes communities to promote provision of quality health services. Our Reproductive Health Project (Project NOVA) contributes to improvement of reproductive, maternal and child health services in the rural regions through increasing consumer demand for quality services. The project bases on building solid partnership between healthcare providers, community leaders and local authorities. Project NOVA is funded by USAID and implemented jointly by Emerging Markets Groups, IntraHealth International and Save the Children. Education: Save the Children is a recognized implementer of quality education programs working country-wide to improve access, quality and sustainability of pre- and basic school services for children. Considering the State Strategy on ECD as well as school reforms with entry age down from seven to six, Save the Children is committed to creating decent preparation opportunities for pre-school age children's entering school. To that end, the Unicef-funded From Childhood to School project developed and piloted a concept of community-based pre-school classes through high levels of community involvement and mobilization of internal resources. The Early Childhood Development project funded by The Lincy foundation is an integrated project aiming at creating long-term solutions for pre-school institutions through improved building conditions and quality of education. Save the Children's Nagorno-Karabakh School Rehabilitation Project creates global improvements for over 1,000 students of School #1 in Stepanakert, which has been prioritized by the Government of NK. The project is funded by The Lincy Foundation. Plans for the Future: Save the Children has prioritized the following areas to promote child protection and development in Armenia: Early childhood development programs; Women and child health, including maternal, newborn and child health and nutrition; Adolescent reproductive and sexual health; Livelihoods readiness for youth; and A greater focus on peace education and conflict resolution. An Iraqi Armenian Refugee Finds a New Life in a New Country Anahit with her two children Arman, and Pargev. Anahit, 33, is one of thousands of Iraqi Armenian women who fled from Iraq to escape the war. "When the war began, we fell into hell," she said. "Not a single moment could I feel secure for me and my family. Deaths, crime and fraud followed us everywhere… Not being able to bear that any more, one morning we finally fled across the border in search of peace and a better life…" But new hardships were waiting for them in the Armenian village where they settled. With little income, they had to spend the last of their savings. "We could not afford buying anything other than most essential food," Anahit said. The living conditions were unsatisfactory as well. Thus, in search of success the family moved to Yerevan. In Yerevan Anahit's husband found a job, but Anahit remained jobless. "I was dreaming of a job, but definitely lacked language and other skills. But one day, oh miracle, my dream came true!" Anahit got involved in Save the Children's Acculturation through Learning program for Iraqi-Armenians. After acquiring a better knowledge of Armenian and Russian languages and getting computer skills, she took an intensive training course in child care and began working for Save the Children's child daycare center. The job has helped her acquire professional credentials and new experience, which will expand her career opportunities in the future. “Save the Children has brought about positive change in my family’s life, and in spite of all the hardships we endured, now I believe in a bright future.”  Donate now to support our work in Armenia  Last Updated June 2009