Gavar is located in the highlands in the South of Lake Sevan, Gegharkunik Marz. During the Soviet era the region was highly industrialized and after the breakdown of the factories and industrial facilities, a great number of qualified specialists became unemployed. These people  turned all their attention and efforts to agricultural work. Thus, agriculture has become the main source of income for the majority of families.

Many people, however, lack the necessary skills to cultivate their land. A number of families in the region are cultivating their lands on a very small scale and often by hand, lacking agricultural machinery, therefore only producing goods for family consumption.  As a result , they struggle to provide their children with daily bread, suffering from hunger and cold during extremely harsh winters.

The focal problems of the rural communities also include poor community roads, sewage and drinking water systems, health and educational facilities.

The new Area Development Programme (ADP) was launched in 2006 embracing 8 rural communities in Gavar area with the funding from World Vision Taiwan. In 2009, the number of Gavar ADP communities increased up to 10.

Economic Development

• Gavar ADP has continued Cattle artificial insemination project in ADP communities, 500 cows are artificially inseminated. The project will positively reflect on the effectiveness of cattle breeding in the region through increased yield of milk and meat, hence, for increased income.
• To increase villager’s income and ensure market opportunity for milk producers, the milk collection unit was established in Lchap community for Lchap and neighbouring communities members.
• 12 cows and 2 mowing machines were provided to 14 vulnerable families. The two families that received mowing machines will have to mow a certain volume of grass of the other 12 beneficiaries for free and then receive income mowing for others.
• High quality fertilizers were provided to 10 beneficiary families who participated in training on organic farming. The aim of the project was to demonstrate main benefits of organic fertilizers: the low price and expected 30% increase in harvest.
• All of the above mentioned measures contribute to increased ability of parents to provide well for their children, hence better addressed basic needs thereof in health and nutrition, education and protection.  

Education

• A kindergarten was renovated in Tsovazard community.
• Gavar ADP has supported Gavar #1 inclusive education school to renovate the classroom for educational processes and to construct accessibility ramp for disabled schoolchildren.
• Appropriate Set sport classrooms were distributed to 4 schools in different communities for 1202 beneficiaries.
• Gavar Community Public Park has been rehabilitated. The project aimed to ensure safe place for Gavar ADP children to play. The park is expected to be cultural center as well where different events and performances will be organized by children and youth.

All the activities in the frame of Education project were aimed to ensure that children are educated for life, are cared for, protected and participating, as well as love God and their neighbours.

Church Partnership  

• The contract on "TV program shooting" with "Qyavar TV" LLC was signed to implement a project initiated by Youth union of Gegharkunik diocese of Armenian Apostolic church. The project is the continuation of the previous one aimed to shoot 16 Christian programs and broadcast them weekly by "Geghama Media Holding˝ television channel. 10 programs have been already broadcasted through local TV channel in whole Gegharkunik marz.
• ADP supported to enhance spiritual nurture of ADP children through organization of excursion-pilgrimages,5 excursions- for 310 ADP children have been organized with the support of CBO to Haghartsin, Ghoshavank, Khor – Virap, Geghard and Makaravank monasteries.
• Annual Christian Summer Camp was organized during reporting period for children from Gavar ADP communities. 99 children have participated in "Tsitsernak" Summer Camp of Holy Apostolic Church Gugarq diocese.
• Gavar ADP supported Gavar Sunday School with renovation of classrooms and establishment of two studios. Appropriate materials and furniture were provided to Sunday School for Art (Drawing) and Handicraft Studios establishment. ADP also supported the partially renovation of heating system of the school. Now Gavar ADP children have another place for their extracurricular education. Alongside with the drawing and handicraft classes, children are receiving spiritual nurture facilitated by local clergy as the school is supported by the Gegharkunik diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

Child Sponsorship 

In 2011 the number of children registered in Child Sponsorship increased up to 3260.

Sponsored: 3000

• 5 urgent surgeries have been conducted: one eye cataract surgery which kept the child from getting blind, one hernia surgery, varicocele surgery on testicles of one child and urgent surgery of adenoids and tonsillitis of 2 siblings.
• During the reporting period, ADP staff facilitated organization of fun and meaningful events for the RCs ensuring integration of sponsorship activities with other project activities.

Gavar ADP office
19 Boshnakhlyan st., Gavar, Gegharkunik marz
Tel. (0246) 2 78 83