QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER
Spring 2017, Issue 27
Syunik Development NGO Partners with AUA
for Regional Education Opportunities
Syunik-Development NGO and the Extension
Programme of the American University of
Armenia signed a memorandum of cooperation
that entered into effect on February 11, 2017.
The aim of the memorandum was to organize a
certificate programme in Tourism and Hospitality
Management for the community of Yeghegnadzor
in the Vayots Dzor Region for the stimulation and
promotion of young professionals growth, career
experiences, and development skills oriented within
business environment. The Tourism and Hospitality
Community Center Teacher Arman Ayvazyan
Receives Top Architecture Prize
In May, 2017, the Architect Aram Khachatryan
Award Ceremony was held at the National University
of Architecture and Construction through at joint
organizational effort of both the Architect Aram
Khachatryan Foundation as well as the Student Council
of the University of Architecture and Construction.
Syunik-Development NGO is proud to announce that
the Yeghegnadzor Community Center Young Architect
Club teacher Arman Ayvazyan was a successful
candidate of the competition. Arman Ayvazyan holds
the position of Master of the Faculty of Architecture
in the University of Architecture and Construction.
The two-stage competition was attended by graduate
Management Programme includes five modules:
Sustainable Tourism, Principles of Event Management,
Destination and Resort Marketing, Introduction to
Hotel Revenue Management/Overview of Guidelines
and Procedures, and B&B to Restaurant to Hotel
Management. The cooperation is carried out within the
frame of Syunik NGOs Social Development Program
with a focus on vocational training components and is
supported financially by the German NGO Brt fr die
Welt (Protestant Development Service) for the 2015-
2018 time periods.
students of the Faculty of Architecture with the first
stage having five final participants of which three
were nominated to a final round of competition. The
Foundation chose a winner by taking into account
his or her progress in the field, quality of character,
and the number of architectural projects he or she
has been developing. Following a series of interviews
and evaluating tests, the Master of the Faculty of
Architecture, Arman Ayvazyan, was announce as the
winner, receiving a monetary award worth one million
drams. Syunik-Development NGO congratulates
Arman Ayvazyan and wishes him all the best for
successful achievements with his professional work.
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 Horticulture Training Opportunity Keeps Local
Farmers in the Know
From April 2017, Syunik-Development NGO organized
a vocational training entitled Horticulture as a Source
of Sustainable Income for Farmers across the Vayots
Dzor Region. The vocational training was launched
within the frame of BfdW Social Development Program
and HEKS Horticultural Development Project. The main
topics of the training included how to run intensive
nursery farms, the establishment and cultivation
of high-tech gardens (including the processes of
fertilization, treatment, weed control, mechanical
work, fighting against pests, and harvesting), the
establishment and maintenance of refrigeration
Preserve our National Heritage Exhibition Shows
off Traditional Art in the
Yeghegnadzor Community Center
Batik, a long and old method of creating colored
designs on textiles by dying them, is resurging in
fashion in Armenia today.
Its ornamental designs are
made with a special dye-
resistant technology that is
well known throughout the
world. As part of its Social
Development Department,
in 2015 Syunik NGO
initiated a Batik Club in its
Yeghegnadzor Community
Center that has made great
use of this traditional method in the printing of national
and historical Armenian designs on various accessories
such as scarves and bags. On April 5th 2017, the NGO
facilities, post harvesting techniques, and finally how
to run a fruit orchard as a business through appropriate
market research, crop marketing, and business plan
development. The overarching goal of the training was
to provide participants with the latest technologies on
the cultivation of fruit orchards as well as to develop
their entrepreneurial skills. Four participants from
the training were provided with apple seedlings from
Syunik NGOs intensive nursery to plant in their own
farms. Follow-up trainings and monitoring visits will be
organized for the farmers in order to help them continue
to run their own farms efficiently and productively.
organized an exhibition entitled, Preserve our National
Heritage in the Yeghegnadzor Community Center to
show off the impressed
and skilled work of the
Batik Club with exhibition
participates receiving
certificates for their artistic
efforts. Among the guests
presented at the exhibition
was the deputy governor
of the Vayots Dzor region,
Mels Harutyunyan, who
expressed in his speech the
importance of programs like the Batik Club that help
promote a love and interest of the Armenian youth in
art well also stimulating their career orientation.
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 Knowledge Growth through Syunik-Development
NGOs Beekeeping Project
farmers were selected based on developed criteria to
be supported within the framework of the project. This
past April 21st, the project beneficiaries each received
two bee colonies and in June they were also presented
with an additional third. One of the main benefits of
the project is its dual focus on both theoretical and
practical training: Monthly trainings and practical
seminars are part of the project to ensure that
beneficiaries can successfully apply the information
they receive. For example, one training held on April
Syunik-Development NGO is currently implementing 21st, entitled, Means and Timing for Breeding. The
a beekeeping project in the Vayots Dzor Region of knowledge and experiences they gained from the
Armenia. Funded by the Atken Armenian Foundation, trainings helps them to enlarge their business. In the
a registered Canadian Charity, the project aims words of one participating beekeeper, The project is a
to contribute to the reduction of poverty in local very good opportunity for us to develop our beekeeping
communities and promote the development of knowledge and potential make it into a small business
agricultural capacity through collaboration between in our communities. It also provides a platform for
rural communities in Vayots Dzor. Eight beneficiary where we can exchange ideas and gain new skills.
Training Course on Leadership and Facilitation
Prepares Future Youth Leaders
On May 8th-15th, a training course on leadership and counselors, included utilizing effective communication
facilitation was held in Borjomi, Georgia. Twenty-eight skills, creating successful group dynamics, facilitating
young people from Armenia, Georgia, and Abkhazia, as a group work or activity process, managing technical
well as ethnic minorities living in Georgia, participated details of a diverse group (dealing with challenging
in the training after having previously been selected participants), organizing interactive games, and
as leaders to work in the Youth for Peace in the South preparing cultural events to provide camp participants
Caucasus Summer Camps held in both Armenia and engaging and informative evening activities. Through
Georgia. This year the first shift of the camp will be this training, the youth leaders are now prepared with
organized in Armenia from July 15th to 25th while the the knowledge and skills they need to become leaders
second shift will take place in Georgia from August 3rd in promoting and peaceful and instructive atmosphere
to 13th. The topics of the training, meant to prepare in the camps.
the youth for their upcoming leadership role as camp

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 Atken Armenian Foundation Supports
Horticulture Development Project
In spring, 2017, together with the support of the generous Mr. Robert Worcester.
Canadian Atken Armenian Foundation, Syunik- The newly established orchards will serve as centers
Development NGO has launched a Horticulture for skill and competency development for local fruit
Development Project in the Vayots Dzor region of growers where Syunik-Development NGO specialists
Armenia. The projects aim is to develop the capacity will teach orchard cultivation, treatment, pruning, and
of local fruit growers within the scope of modern management by environmentally friendly methods.
orchard management. Through this initiative, Syunik- Local fruit growers will also have access to acquire
Development NGO has established three fruit orchards the best quality intensive saplings for their orchards
with over 2,000 saplings of apple, apricot, and plum via the Horticulture Development Project. Syunik-
in memory of both Mrs. Suzanne Altounian and Development NGO extends gratitude to the Atken
Mrs. Hugette Paquin, as well as in recognition of the Armenian Foundation for its continuous support.
Agricultural Training in Armavir Connects Local Farmers
From March 23-24, 2017, Shen NGO, a pioneer for farmer thanked the two NGOs by saying, This kind of
socio-economic development within rural Armenian seminar and workshop are very helpful and productive
communities, together with Syunik-Development NGO for us as they create a platform where we share our
organized a practical workshop for eighteen farmer experiences as well as learn from each other.
participants of Syuniks Horticultural Development
Project, financed by HEKS-EPER. The farmers came
from both the Vayots Dzor and Gegharkunik regions
even as the training itself was organized in the Armavir
region. Participants became better acquainted with
the pecularities of organic farming in the organic
gardens of Shenik Village in Armavir and also had the
opportunity to participate in the practical work of
spring pruning and cultivation of grapes. They also
visited the Aygevan Agricultural Service Center and
the newly opened Artagro Agricultural Shop. One

Pruning and Pest Control: Trainings of the

Horticultural Development Project
combating diseases and pests of fruit trees. In additionl,
they also organized training on how to prune intensive
trees for 21 farmers of Vayots Dzor region.
Both trainings were conducted by Nvard Shahmuradyan,
Simon Asatryan and Karen Gabrielyan. During the
meeting, farmers were provided with an opportunity
to become acquainted with pruning technology and
combating diseases and pests of fruit trees. At the end
of the training, all participants were provided with
samples of pesticides as well as informational brochures
on pest management and pest control without the
On May 23, 2017, Syunik-Development NGO, in use of pesticides. In the words of beneficiary farmers
cooperation with Shen NGO and under the scope of Meetings like this is very helpful and productive for
the Horticultural Development Project, organized a us. We gain knew knowledge and enhance our skills on
workshop on chemical and organic methods for the agriculture.

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 International Visitor Leadership Program:
Anna Hovhannisyan Travels for Tourism
Anna Hovhannisyan, Syunik-Development NGO development in the Vayots Dzor region (such as
Tourism Development Department Manager and the AMAP Human Development NGO), my goal
Lawyer, was honored to participate in a Multi-Regional has always been to encourage people to use the
Project sponsored by the U.S. Department of State regional touristic resources. Being overwhelmed with
from May 13 to June 3, 2017 entitled Tourism and emotions for constructing a bright Armenian future,
Economic Development. During the course of the I always stand alongside those who struggle to adopt
three week professional exchange opportunity, new techniques and innovative ideas in the field of
Anna studied successful American strategies and tourism. The IVLP gave me an opportunity to develop
policies that promote tourism locally, regionally a broader and more international perspective on the
and internationally, explored growing trends in the roles that infrastructure and economic considerations
tourism field such as adventure tourism, cultural play in creating sustainable and viable tourism.
tourism, eco-tourism, and cuisine tourism, examined As the principal developer of digital resources for
concepts of sustainable and responsible tourism, and tourism in Vayots Dzor and trainer of local tourism
analyzed the role of SMEs in the tourism industry. guides, Anna will be able to easily transfer her
Anna expressed the value of her experience by gained experiences and knowledge not only into
noting, While working closely with several non- her own work, but also into the work of those
governmental organizations in promoting tourism whose livelihoods depend so much on tourism.

Gevorg Matevosyan Makes a Mark with Social Media

Gevorg Matevosyan, Syunik-Development NGO Public
Relations Manager, also participated in a three week
professional exchange program offered by the US State
Department entitled Media Literacy: Promoting Civil
Society and Discerning Consumers of Media from May
1st to May 20th, 2017. Five participants from Norway,
Lithuania, Romania, Estonia and Armenia were
given opportunities to visit various NGOs, research
centers, libraries, public schools, and universities to
gain a better understanding of the media landscape
within both public and private sectors of the United
States. The exchange program was held across five
cities: Washington, New York, Los Angeles, St. Louis,
and Chicago. For Gevorg, the IVLP program was a
good chance for participants to enhance their skills
on social media and media in general. The IVLP
program helped me to think differently about how
to best use social media tools to integrate individuals
into their community life in order to bring about
positive changes. The program also helped us to
explore America as a country and become better
acquainted with American tradition and culture.

Syunik-Development NGOs New Webpage is Available Now

Syunik-Development NGO is happy to announce its short and long-term programs and projects. Those
recent design and publication of a new webpage who are interested in receiving more information
which provides detailed information about the history about Syuniks work, please visit www.syunikngo.am.
of Syunik-Development NGO as well as its ongoing

Office of International & Public Affairs Tel/Fax:+374(281) 20409

Syunik Development NGO Email: gevor.syunikngo@yahoo.com
Momiki St.5, 3601 Yeghegnadzor www.syunikngo.weebly.com
Vayots Dzor Province, Armenia
Syunik NGO PR Manager: Gevorg Matevosyan
Editor-in-Chief: Nara Martirosyan, Sam Houston State University