serob webinar serobfinal
TRANSCRIPT
SEROB KHACHATRYAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CHILDREN OF ARMENIA FUND
Schools as Agents of Social Change
WHO WE ARE
• Children of Armenia Fund was founded in Armenia in 2003 by Dr. Garo Armen, a Diasporan Armenian from the US.
• COAF operates in 11 neighboring villages located in Armenia.
COAF funds are raised through:• Annual fundraising gala events in the US and Armenia • Grants from international organizations • Support from corporations and businesses.
OUR VISION AND BELIEF
• COAF’s vision is to create an exemplary holistic model for rural development, which can be replicated in other regions and communities of Armenia
• COAF believes in holistic development rather than fragmented development
• COAF considers human/social development as the key for making a difference in rural communities
OUR PROGRAMS
• Infrastructure renovation• Health • Education• Child and Family Services• Economic Development
WHY HEALTH AND EDUCATION ARE IMPORTANT FOR COAF
In retrospect, the 20th century will be remembered as an era when the global community dared to see the well being of the human race as an achievable goal, rather than one marked by its political conflicts or technological inventions.
Arnold Toynbee, British Historian
OUR APPROACH
1. Schools as transmitters of innovative knowledge.2. Children as resources for change.3. Moving people. ED-MED as the most growing
industry in 21st century. ( Dan Pink, 2012).“… to move people a large distance and for the long
term, we have to create the conditions where they can move themselves.” Larry Ferlazzo, Social Studies Teacher, Sacramento, USA
CHALLENGES
• Lack of water and poor sanitary-hygienic conditions.
• Unhealthy lifestyles.• Absence of doctors at schools.• Academic focus of National school curriculum.• Lack of school-family cooperation.
OUR STEPS
•Creating healthy environment. •Local capacity building. Training of local Health educators. •Encouraging local initiatives. Small grants for implementing Health promoting projects in the schools.
OUR STEPS
• Breathing. Implementing Goldie Hawn’s “Mind Up” project.
• After school health clubs conducted by local teachers.
• Students participating in research of health issues.
OUR STEPS
• Summer schools on health promotion.
• Sport activities. After school clubs, inter- village tournaments.
• Implementing nutrition programs
OUR STEPS
• Trainings on adolescent health, nutrition, dental hygiene, etc • Peer-to-peer education.• Supporting awareness programs on health.
OUR STEPS
• Implementing social-emotional learning programs.
• Children’s annual check-up’s
• Joining the European Network of Health Promoting Schools in 2012, adopting whole-school approach.
