Press Announcement from JAA

PRESS RELEASE
December 22, 2004

Junior Achievement of Armenia
1102 North Brand Blvd. #61
Glendale, CA 91202
Contact: Beth Broussalian Tel/Fax: 858-792-4656
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

Ani Darakdjian Named US Director of JAA;
JAA Programs Now Reach 170,000 Youth Annually

Los Angeles, CA – The Board of Directors of Junior Achievement
of Armenia (JAA) has named Ani Darakdjian its US Director, a new
full-time post based in Los Angeles, California.

“The appointment of Ani Darakdjian as US Director marks a significant
development in the history of our organization,” commented Armine
Hovannisian, JAA’s Executive Director. “She is the perfect addition to
the JAA family and comes on board at a time when our growth presents
new and exciting challenges.”

Ms. Darakdjian’s responsibilities cover the entire spectrum of JAA’s
stateside operation, including financial management, collaborating
with JAA’s Armenia-based staff to coordinate and manage all programs
and activities, and actively pursuing new sources of funding for
the organization.

“The establishment of a US Director position is a testament to JAA’s
continued commitment to achieving excellence both in programming
and in organizational operations,” said Jack Berberian, President
of the JAA Board of Directors. “Our program in Armenia is one of
the largest Junior Achievement affiliates in the world, with awards
ranging from innovation to quality. As we reach for the next level, we
are ensuring that Armenia’s youth has every opportunity to receive the
best education possible, to enjoy engaging extracurricular activities,
and to participate in global activities through the programs of Junior
Achievement Worldwide.”

Ms. Darakdjian comes to JAA after an exhaustive nationwide search that
produced many impressive candidates. Her resume stood out among the
dozens received because of her exceptional professional and academic
accomplishments. Her career spans corporate consulting, business
development and international affairs, including experience both in
the US and Europe in economic development and international trade.
She holds an MBA in Finance and Management as well as a Master of
International Affairs, both from Columbia University.

“It’s a privilege to contribute to Armenia’s economic and political
development in this capacity,” said Ms. Darakdjian. “The work of this
organization – instilling in Armenia’s youth the values and principles
of democracy, social responsibility and ethical free enterprise –
is essential to building a strong foundation for the country’s future.”

The hiring of Ms. Darakdjian comes amidst the expansion of JAA’s
vital and much-lauded work in Armenia, which today reaches 170,000
annually through both its economics and civics courses.

In 2005, JAA will sustain and expand its economics courses (currently
in 500 high schools), launch the expansion of civics education and
instruction in Armenia’s Pedagogical Institutes, train future civics
instructors, and continue to offer quality extracurricular activities
that enhance both economics and civics education.

The future of the civics program is secure. JAA has successfully
rolled out its civics program to all of the country’s high schools.
With the conclusion of its current USAID grant in 2005, the Armenian
Ministry of Education and Science will assume the administrative and
financial responsibilities of the program in the 8th, 9th and 10th
grades. JAA will continue to play a critical role in civics education
by providing advanced teacher training, innovative extracurricular
programs, increased access to the Internet, international competitions,
and supplemental civics materials.

To support both economics and civics programs, JAA must actively seek
public and private funding to expand the program.

With JAA’s proven track record, the organization has recently been
selected to partner with the Academy for Educational Development
(AED), one of the world’s foremost organizations dedicated to improving
education, leadership capabilities and economic opportunities around
the world. The goal of this new collaboration is to develop young
leaders as catalysts for change.

Junior Achievement of Armenia was established in 1992 to assist
Armenia’s transition to democratic governance and a free-market
economy. JAA’s mission is to give today’s Armenian youth the necessary
skills and knowledge to compete and succeed in tomorrow’s world.
The mission is accomplished through economics and civics education.
Today, this award-winning program reaches more than 170,000 students in
all 1400 of Armenia’s high schools. By 2005, nearly 20% of the total
population will have taken a course taught by a JAA-trained teacher.
For additional information, please call (818) 753-4997 or visit JAA’s
website at

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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

http://www.jaarmenia.org
http://www.jaarmenia.org.