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Stepanavan Area Development Programme

Area Development Programs (ADPs) are multi-sectoral programs that focus on well-being of children, and entail 15 years’ commitment to communities. ADPs are predominantly funded through child sponsorship. ADPs are focused on encouraging community participation and ownership in addressing the needs of the most marginalized and vulnerable groups. The projects implemented with the active involvement of communities aim to improve the level of food security and nutrition, ensure access to education and healthcare for children, promote their spiritual development, rehabilitation of living conditions and infrastructure in communities, and income generation.

Stepanavan ADP, Lori region, was established in 2004, one of the poorest regions in Armenia bordering with Georgia. The area was severely affected by the earthquake in 1988, and is characterized by a high rate of unemployment, poor social services, deteriorated roads and water supply systems.

World Vision’s work in Stepanavan began in response to the area’s food shortages, lack of adequate drinking water systems and poor social services. The ADP is now in its fifth year and seeing excellent progress. World Vision has been working with communities and local government to improve food security and access to clean water, education and healthcare.

The ultimate goal of the ADP is the transformational development of communities that will bring to the well-being of children.

Education

  • 320 pedagogues from all 20 schools and 7 kindergartens in ADP communities have been involved in wide range of capacity building activities and events with special emphasis on child centred teaching, interactive and new methods of learning, and most importantly teaching of children with special needs.
  • Establishment of 3 new kindergartens was supported; 11 kindergartens provided with facilities, equipment and development materials; 2 kindergartens supported with heating; 5 kindergartens provided with playgrounds; all of the 20 school were supported with furniture, different IT and other equipment, computer classrooms, enrichment of libraries, establishment of different sports, arts and leisure and development clubs; minor and major renovation works have been completed in all 20 community schools.
  • Child rights, child violence, child abuse and other child advocacy related training have been facilitated in all 20 ADP communities’ population.
  • A number of activities on Christian education and knowledge increase were organised in all ADP communities. Christian values are presented through variety of events (Christmas, Easter), organization of faith leaders meetings with community population and dissemination of literature.
  • 500 children participated in different camps organised by the ADP and the partners.
  • To increase child well being in the society and especially the most vulnerable the ADP has established and passed on to Local Government a Child Inclusive Centre, which aims at integration of special need children into society. Over 50 children and their family members have attended the Centre and received specialist consultations.  

Health Care

  • For over 40 PHC personnel trainings were organised on the topics of HIV/AIDS, Save Sexual Behaviour, Osteoporosis, etc. and provided with books and other materials to reinforce the gained knowledge.  
  • 29, 167  people, of which 10.267 children, were provided with medical services and consultations by Mobile Outreach Teams (MOT) and district doctors.
  • Community health funds were established in 10 communities to improve access to pharmaceuticals and in88-patient treatment. 10 beneficiaries received partial financial support for in-patient care.
  • Primary health check-up of 1, 000 children was conducted, of which 20 children were taken to the district hospital for further examination, and two of them were treated.
  • Dental check up and awareness rising campaign for some 600 children from 20 ADP communities was organised. 
  • 13 health posts were renovated. One health post was provided with gasification, one with water supply; the Stepanavan Health Care Centre with heating; 4 community health posts were provided with necessary furniture; 10 with medical equipment and all 20 communities were supported with medical supplies for first aid and treatment
  • Training sessions for health care providers on “Integrated Management of Child Illnesses”, “Breastfeeding”, “Well child care”, “Rational drug use”, “Electrocardiogram reading”, “Eye care”, “Otoscopy”, “Spirometry” and “Communications with the patients”, “Basic nursing procedures”, “First aid to the child” for 1000 participants were conducted.  
  • About 80 community peer educators were trained on STI topics to share the knowledge among community members.
  • Anti-tobacco campaign through 6 theatre performances for 800 school children was conducted.
  • Some 250 migrants and their family members have been trained though Channels of Hope methodology to be protected from HIV/AIDS and to protect their family
  • 17 peer educators aged 14-17 trained on HIV prevention and safe sexual behavior promotion.
  • 14 school teachers trained on 24 hour “HIV prevention and safe sexual behavior promotion” curricula.
  • The local priest sensitized by “Channels of Hope” methodology implements mini project on HIV prevention. 

Economic Development

  • 3 communities with the total population of 7000 people were provided with wheat, clover, sun flower and corn seeds, one community was supported with acquisition of a tractor,
  • 3 farmers’ associations have been supported with provision of total of 120 cows and 60 sheep, as well as necessary means for artificial insemination, and other equipment and tools for effective practicing of introduced contemporary methods of animal breeding.
  • “Effective gardening project” was implemented for 41 beneficiary families from 4 communities by providing them with quality seeds, fertilizer tools and most importantly knowledge about the cultivation, harvesting and also nutritious value of the products.
  • Through a number of trainings on agricultural issues for over 100 farmers the ADP aimed at enhancing technical capacity of local farmers and farmers’ associations. With the co-funding or full funding of the farmers’ associations 3 community development projects have been implemented in ADP communities. Two large farmers’ associations have been supporting the school and kindergarten with constant provision of food and other necessary supplies.

Civil Society 

  • One community based organization was established, the active involvement of the CBO in ADP communities has been supported through activation and mobilization of community active groups in 20 communities of the ADP.
  • With the Citizen Voice and Action tool 34 focus group discussions have been held around the sectors of Education and Healthcare with participation of service providers and service users (600 community members from 20 communities).
  • The capacity of local government representative improved through organised trainings on legislation, community engagement and other topics for 20 community mayors and 20 LG accountants.
  • Disaster preparedness survey conducted in 20 communities of the ADP and Disaster Preparedness Plans elaborated per community.
  • Over 3000 children participated in disaster preparedness, impact mitigation and first aid trainings in all 2 communities.

Stepanavan ADP office
Milioni 2/2, Stepanavan, Lori marz
Tel. (0256) 2 51 27

In spotlight

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Support Office:World Vision UK
Sponsored Children:2,500
Beneficiaries:21,000
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ATTACHED PROJECTS

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