Zartonok-89 NGO

Our achievements’ in Martuni and Vanadzor Communities:

                              Vigen conducts training
Long-term goal of the project ICT as a Tool for Young Voices: To promote involvement of
youth in the process of strengthening democratic institutions in Armenia. In the frame of the Project we organized "the Power of democracy" training course in the two Armenian Communities; the general and specific aim of the Project is:
1. To promote involvement of the Youth in the process of strengthening democratic institutions in Armenia, also to teach and disseminate democratic values among the Youth,
2. to improve skills among the Youth in the following spheres: Freedom of speech, tolerance and diversity. 40 participants were engaged in the training course from two Armenian communities, who were interested in the strengthening and development process of the Democratic Institutions in Armenia. 
Vigen, one of the activists of the Organization, who was one of the trainers of the Project, will share his thoughts about the Training.

Hello, I am Vigen. Within "ICT as a Tool for Young Voices" program, I implemented "Power of democracy" seminar course. 16-20 years old intellectual, motivated and purposeful 40 young people from 2 communities of Armenia were selected as the target group. The selection of this group was measured; they demonstrated a great interest towards the establishment of democratic intuitions in Armenia, and surely had their significant role in the establishment process. Being a trainer, I hold the course with the help of non-formal education methodology - through interactive games.
The course started with acquaintance game, during which the participants were showing the symbol typical of them. The course lasted 3 days. Diversity, free speech, and tolerance were the primary and key themes. At the time of the course, the participant young people were assigned to depict images of "democracy in their eyes" and, recognizing the shield as a sampler, they depicted symbols typical to democracy.  Actually, they were given the opportunity to express their ideas and perceives on democratic values. In addition to theoretical material, the course was full of the situation, role games, which contributed strengthening the noble ideas of free speech, diversity, tolerance. The course was regularly accompanied by discussions and debated, during which the young people were trying to freely express their opinions and positions and collectively search for ways contributing the increase of awareness level and democratic values in Armenia. As a result, a social platform of "Democratic young people" was formed, and our regional representatives have the full opportunity to share their ideas, concerns, and problems to try to search collectively for ways to establish of democratic institution in Armenia. At the end of the course, I valued the opinions, visions, offers and observations of the participants, who filled appropriate evaluation forms, which subsequently will promote the increase of effectiveness of this program in other regions of Armenia.

In Results:

The level of the knowledge towards democratic values, particularly free speech, free choice, tolerance and plurality of ideas, was increased by 40 young people in 2 communities of 2 regions of Armenia.
Our beneficiaries acquired abilities with the help of which they could use their knowledge in practice.
The comprehension and the role of democratic values was increased amongst the population of 2 communities.

Democratic institutions developed and spread all over the country, people changed their attitude towards the democracy bringing the democratic values into life.

Our achievement in Vayots - Dzor region:

Gayane during the lesson
“Zartonk89” NGO is continuing the program “Providing Education for 150 children in Armenia” in different regions of Armenia, where this important and targeted plan has not been done yet. We are representing our success in Vayk, which is situated in Vayots -Dzor region. 22 teenagers have taken part in this project, of which 15 girls and 7 boys, who were left out from the opportunity to receive basic education because of difficult social problems and lack some knowledge for their peers. The program “Providing Education for 150 children in Armenia” is for those, who are considered risky group, that is some of them did not attend schools as they had to do hard work because of poor social conditions and they did not have enough basic education. Those problems affected the stereotypes of the following children of risky group, their psychology was changed and they became more self-contained, underestimated their personal skills and became disappointed. Those things psychologically affect our beneficiaries, who become isolated from both their environment and peers. That is why along with basic education the children are supplied with psychological services that help them to be integrated into the learning process making children more motivated and versed.
Volunteers of "Zartonk-89” have left for program implementation place, Vayots- Dzor region, met with training participants and recommended to write a story about the training. Here is Gayane's story.
Hello, I am Gayane. I am 14, from Vayk community of Vayots- Dzor region.
I was selected to participate in “Providing Education for 150 children in Armenia” program. I had attended the High School of Vayk, but then I could not continue my education, receive the needful basic education necessary to a person for interaction in the environment, have indispensable knowledge because of my social conditions. I am very happy that I was given the opportunity to participate “Providing Education for 150 children in Armenia” program in Vayk.
At the program available trainings were organized through games. The material was provided easily. That's the reason that program participants took participation in the training with great interest, without being absent from classes, highlighting the role of basic education in their lives. The training gave me new knowledge, I became more spirited and sociable, acquired new friends. The learning process was goodly organized through games, which made the learning process more interesting. First of all, I met many good and kind people. Everything was very interesting, especially the organization of the training games and classes in the nature.

The used learning methods were very interesting, especially the fact that we also were participating in the training presenting additional information. I would like that such training programs be more, those would include new beneficiaries, and new teenagers would take advantage of educational programs. First of all, I want to thank the program supporters, Global Giving team, and the organizers for implementing such an interesting and training program.