PRESS RELEASE
United Nations Development Programme / Armenia
14 Petros Adamyan St., Yerevan 0010
Contact: Mr. Hovhannes Sarajyan, Communications Associate
Tel: +37410 566 073
E-mail: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
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*UNDP in Armenia Prioritizes Development Projects in Regions*
*United Nations, Yerevan* – On 11 June Ms. Consuelo Vidal, the United
Nations Resident Coordinator / UNDP Resident Representative in Armenia
and Mr. Ralph Yirikian, the General Manager of VivaCell officially
opened the new classes of Arts and Crafts Center for the disabled at
-Pyunik- Gyumri branch. The Arts and Crafts Center is one in a series of
projects developed by the UN-initiated Global Compact that will enable
the disabled children in the northern Shirak region to develop their
skills in traditional crafts as painting, embroidery and wood carving.
-The Arts and Crafts Center is a wonderful example of corporate social
responsibility to other private sector companies in Armenia of what can
be accomplished when they pull together their efforts to support social
investment that benefits vulnerable groups of society,- said Ms.
Consuelo Vidal, head of the United Nations in Armenia. She thanked
VivaCell for their financial support to refurbish the Arts and Crafts
Center and their commitment to continue providing much needed support to
such projects in the future.
-We are extremely proud of our participation in a project that in the
long-term will empower people with special needs to act as active
members of the society,- stated Ralph Yirikian, VivaCell General Manager.
On the same day Ms. Consuelo Vidal, accompanied by the UN team members,
visited the newly renovated Gyumri State Technical and #2 Craftsmanship
Colleges. These two middle-level educational institutions are part of
the UNDP -Modernization of Vocational Education and Training System-
project network. Total amount of capital investments, provided by the
Government of Norway, made more than 260,000 USD. Gyumri State Technical
College is the only one across Armenia that offers vocational
occupations in railway transport and closely cooperates with the
-Armenian Railway-. Both colleges enjoy the support of the United
Nations Development Programme (UNDP) sharing the same heating system and
being equipped with the necessary educational, IT and laboratory
equipment, which makes possible to double the total number of UNDP
beneficiaries in Shirak region, reaching more than 600 people.
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UNDP is on ground in 166 countries, working with them on their own
solutions to global and national development challenges. UNDP in Armenia
was established in 1993 and supports the Government of Armenia to reach
Millennium Development Goals by 2015.