REPATRIATE-SETTLED DARBNIK VILLAGE GETS U.S. HELP FOR SCHOOL INFRASTRUCTURE
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Monday May 17, 2010
Darbnik village.
Yerevan – On May 14, U.S. Charge d’Affairs Joseph Pennington, State
Department Director of Humanitarian Programs Jerry Oberndorfer, U.S.
Embassy and GOA representatives, and many other guests participated in
the opening ceremony held by International Relief and Development (IRD)
for the newly established heating and sanitary systems in the school
of village Darbnik, Ararat marz, U.S. Embassy in Armenia reported.
Being built in 1966, the school had neither piping water supply,
nor a heating system, nor sanitary facilities. The funding of $19,000
worth for the project was provided by the U.S. Department of State in
the framework of humanitarian assistance program and the project was
administered by IRD Armenia. Co-funding to the project was provided by
LDS [Church of the Latter Day Saints or the Mormon Church] Charities
in the amount of $4,000 and Carolann and George Najarian family –
$4000. The village contributed 1 million AMD (worth about $2500).
Now 154 students of 1-11 classes and 27 members of the staff are
endowed with improved heating and hygiene conditions. Studying in the
school has become hygienically safe and comfortable thus contributing
to the students’ health, attendance and attainments.
May 14 became a significant day for both the school and entire
village. A large spectrum of U.S DOS-funded humanitarian assistance
activities were presented at the SRP opening event with all the DOS
grantees assisting this project: Hellenicare, CHAP/Counterpart Int.,
VRF and UMCOR.
In particular, Hellenicare Mobile Medical Team arrived from Alaverdi
fully equipped and ready to provide day-long health checks and
medical exams.
In addition, CHAP/Counterpart International provided furniture,
while VRF and UMCOR supplied them with school and hygiene kits,
books and school bags. IRD provided clothing.
Just eight kilometers from Yerevan, Darbnik was previously known
as Malye Demurchi and was an Azerbaijani-populated village until
November 1988.
Darbnik has a population of more than 1,100 most of them Armenians
who fled Azerbaijan in 1988-90 and more recently also by two dozen
Armenian families displaced from Iraq.