Children of Armenia Fund

Children of Armenia Fund (COAF)
Charity
Founded 2000
Headquarters New York, New York, United States
Key people
 Garo H. Armen (founder)
Website Children of Armenia Fund

Children of Armenia Fund (COAF) The Children of Armenia Fund (COAF) is a non-profit organization that uses community-led approaches to reducing rural poverty, with a particular focus on children. The organization was founded by Dr. Garo H. Armen in 2000.[1] COAF funds and implements education, health, social, economic and infrastructure programs in rural Armenia. COAF provides access to clean water, electricity, gas, and roadways, as well as other essential resources including schools, health clinics and community centers. The organization directly funds, implements and oversees its programs with a support staff on the ground in Armenia. To date, COAF has raised $17 million and currently operates in 22 rural villages with no political affiliation. System of a Down, a metal band native to Armenia, has contributed to COAF through the selling of T-shirts (giving all proceeds to the worthy cause.[2]

History

From 2000 – 2004, the organization provided funding for philanthropic activities in Armenia, including a partnership with the U.S. State Department to fund the deployment of bomb-sniffing dogs to the site of the former Nagorno-Karabagh Conflict. COAF raised $100,000 for the effort.[3]

In 2004, COAF launched ground operations in Armenia. The organization currently employs a staff of about 20, with a headquarters in New York City and field offices in Armenia. While COAF now works to both fund and implement projects, the organization originally provided funding for philanthropic programs benefitting Armenia.[4]

COAF's mission is to “secure a future for children in Armenia’s impoverished rural villages through improved education, health care, community life and economic conditions.” To achieve this, COAF directly funds and implements programs that address the areas essential to healthy childhood development and the long-term eradication of poverty in rural Armenia.

Model Village Project

COAF first introduced the Model Village Project, a form of integrated rural development in 2004 in the village of Karakert, located in Armenia’s Armavir province. The program launched with financial backing from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) district of Armenia.[5] It focuses on addressing issues affecting everyday life in rural Armenia, seeking to provide long term, sustainable solutions to those problems.

With the main focus of COAF's efforts has been on education, the programs have expanded in recent years to bring intellectual, creative, social and civic enrichment opportunities to rural communities.[6]

The US Agency for International Development and the World Bank have pointed to the Model Village Project as a stellar example of sustainable development throughout the world, noting specifically the unique approach to development through a novel model of partnership between public and private sectors.

The Model Village Project has now been expanded to include the following villages: Argina, Shenik, Dalarik, Lernagog, Myasnikyan, Arteni, Yervandashat, Hushakert and Baghramian.[7]

Villages and Programs

COAF serves (in various capacities and intensity) 28,000 people in these 22 villages: Karakert, Lernagog, Dalarik, Myasnikyan, Shenik, Argina, Arteni, Aragatsavan (including Tlik Getap), Hatsik, Sardarapat, Yervandashat, Bagaran, Vanand, Hushakert, Baghramyan, Artamet, Talvorik, Arevadashat, Getashen and Koghbavan.

Aragatsavan

Argina

Arteni

Baghramyan

Bagaran

Dalarik

Hushakert

Karakert

Lernagog

Myasnikyan

Sardarapat

Shenik

Vanand

Yervandashat

The remaining communities that are included in the above list of 22 beneficiaries received only health screenings.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.coafkids.org/about-us/
  2. ↑ http://coafkids.org/about-us/our-history/
  3. ↑ Elise Labott (18 June 2003). "State Dept. lauds new partnerships to combat land mines". CNN. Retrieved 2011-11-22.
  4. ↑ Asbarez Staff (30 December 2010). "Children of Armenia Fund Gala Raises $1.5 Million for Children in Rural Armenia". Asbarez. Retrieved 2011-11-29.
  5. ↑ http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNADF432.pdf
  6. ↑ "COAF sponsors arts & crafts fair, teachers’ training in Armavir province". Armenian Reporter. 19 October 2011. Retrieved 2011-11-29.
  7. ↑ http://coafkids.org/the-villages/
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