Church partnership
Funding: World Vision US,
WV Regional Office
Throughout the centuries Armenia withstood the hardships caused by constant wars but could maintain Christian identity, and preserve its truly Christian traditions and culture. However, the gap appeared during the Soviet period when several generations of Armenians grew up with a significant lack of their spiritual education. As a result, there are limited number of skilled teachers and parents who are able to nurture children’s spiritual growth.
World Vision pursues the mission of restitution and growth of spiritual values of Armenians through supporting Armenian Church to promote Christian education.
Within WV’s Youth Bible Curriculum project (YBC) Christian educational textbooks for children of different age groups and teacher manuals were developed, printed and distributed in close partnership with Armenian Apostolic Church.
In 2011 together with Armenian Apostolic Church WV provided trainings to 150 teachers of Sunday and regular schools 10 clergies from different regions of Armenia on YBC methodology with an aim to educate children about Christian faith and traditions. About 10,000 copies of Christian textbooks for children and about 1000 manuals for teachers were distributed in Armenia’s communities. Moreover, about 2400 Christian educational booklets and books, including Bibles, were allocated to communities through cooperation with Armenian Church.
Church partnership works mainly through 12 Area Development Programs (ADPs) in different regions (marzes) of Armenia. In 2011 it continued to carry out social Diakonia projects together with community churches, such as establishment of sport classes in Ijevan, Berd and Alaverdi art clubs in Gyumri, Alaverdi, Sisian, Gavar and puppet theaters in Gavar and Vardenis, Ijevan and Vanadzor, small honey productions in Kapan, Sisian , Alaverdyand various youth and adult Christian education clubs close to Armenian churches.
Local priests from ADP communities continued providing family counseling and trainings on drug prevention using "Entering Deadlock" movie, prepared by Shokagat TV Studio,HIV and AIDS prevention and fighting against stigma and discrimination, based on the knowledge received through WV’s Channels of Hope (COH) methodology training. In 2012 new series of " May Way to Church " movies started with "Shogakat " studio aiming to share the real stories of people , who find the way to church and hope after years of changeling life and personal struggles.
Every summer World Vision provides vulnerable children with an opportunity to enjoy a friendly and joyful environment within Christian summer camps, where besides nutritious meals, recreational activities and fun time children participate in Bible studies, learn the history of Armenian Church and recognize Christian values. During summer 2012 nearly 2800 children from different regions and Yerevan including children with special needs had a chance to spend their holidays in World Vision summer camps.
