Yerevan, Armenia – On November 20, Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) Country Director Arpi Vartanian traveled to Yeghegnadzor to meet with 12 NGO representatives participating in the NGO Coalition Building project. The participants, representing six NGOs from the Vayots Dzor and Syunik regions have been studying advocacy, leadership and coalition-building skills.
As part of their training exercises and to better help the participants understand how to form, maintain, and work within coalitions, the NGOs, representing diverse sectors, were required to unite around one issue and form a coalition, as they developed their skills. Motivated by rampant pollution in their communities, negative environmental impact, low levels of both ecological awareness and social partnerships in the Syunik and Vayots Dzor regions, these NGOs formed the Clean Community Coalition.
In the morning, Vartanian joined the NGO representatives as they met with newly reelected Mayor Sirekan Babayan and Deputy Mayor Vartkess Haroutiunian to discuss the coalition. Vartanian spoke of the work of the Assembly in general, and in particular, outlined the idea behind the NGO Coalition Building project. Varditer Khachatrian, from Fund Against Violation of Law, Yeghegnadzor Branch, presented the Coalition, and its vision, mission, goals, and concerns. Other Coalition members also joined the conversation. Mayor Babayan, completely aware of the problem, and receptive to the Coalition's ideas, extended his support. During the very warm and open meeting, the Mayor noted that he believed education, to change society's attitude toward littering, was one important area on which to focus, especially working with children and their parents. The Mayor appointed Deputy Mayor Haroutiunian as the primary point of contact for the Coalition, as it carried out its work in Yeghegnadzor.
In the afternoon, Vartanian spoke with the NGOs about advocacy and working with the media. To further illustrate her points, she shared real-life experiences, “do’s and don’ts,” suggestions and specific examples and documents to help the Coalition members as they planned their strategies. A lively discussion followed. Vartanian was impressed with the research and work the participants had done to date, including outlining on maps the status of garbage and pollution in their communities. Ranging from clean “green zones” to the most polluted “red zones,” the maps the NGOs prepared showed the problems their communities face. Sharing the photographs they had taken, the problems faced were even more clearly illustrated. Vartanian urged them to use these maps and pictures during their press conference and other meetings. After all, as she told them, “one picture is worth a thousand words.”
One NGO representative told Vartanian, “Your presentation has motivated me. The practical knowledge and experiences you shared have given me more confidence, especially in anticipation of our upcoming press conference.”
Vartanian's visit was timely as it came just one week before the Coalition's first press conference held on November 26, in Yerevan. For some of the participants, it would be the first time they would be participating in a press conference.
This program is made possible through the collective efforts of the League of Women Voters (LWV), the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) and the NGO Center Civil Society Development NGO (NGOC). Funding for this project has been provided in the form of a grant to the League of Women Voters by private donors and Assembly Trustees Charles Talanian and Peter Vosbikian.
Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.
###
