Organized by “PH International” Armenian office, “Probation Support Program in Armenia” launching conference was held at the “Armenia Marriott” hotel, Yerevan, on May 15, 2018. It hosted representatives of a number of state agencies, US Embassy to Yerevan and social organizations involved in the activities in the sphere, including Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Armenia, Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs of RA, RA State Probation Service, “Center for Legal Education and Restorative Programs (CLERP)” State Non-Profit Organization, Civil Society Institute (CSI) and other participants of the event.
On November 16, 2017, the Access students in Nor Hachn, Armenia hosted a group of international and local guests: Mr. John Silver, the Regional English Language Officer from Kiev, Mr. Anthony Tranchina, a State Department Representative from Washington, D.C., Ms. Hasmik Mikayelyan of the US Embassy in Yerevan, and Ms. Mariam Martirosyan, Armenia Country Director of Project Harmony International.
On November 11, 2017 they were visited by Arpine Porsughyan, an M&E Officer for the United Nations World Food Program in Yerevan. Arpine (a former FLEX student and a former Muskie Fellow) is a former Acting Training Director for Peace Corps in Armenia and has also conducted what are called Project Design and Management (PDM) sessions for Peace Corps. She led a miniature PDM exercise with the kids to get them focused on a potential community improvement project that could perhaps be implemented some day in Nor Hachn. It was a very interesting session for the kids and got them thinking about making their community a better place.
Capacity building of the newly established Probation State Service (PSS) in Armenia envisaged within the AM CALLS Community Grants component is in the process.
Between 22-24, 2016 a training session on “Sustainable Parents’ Clubs” was organized for 15 parents from the parents’ clubs established by the 5 grantee organizations, 5 regional representatives and 5 grantee organization representatives: a total of 25 participants.
On November 26, 2016 in Yeghvard and then on November 30 Armavir, Anna Avagyan, a lecturer of Spanish at Slavonic University in Armenia, a graduate of "English for International Visitors" program and also a former PHI staff who implemented a number of youth programs within PHI's "Armenia School Connectivity Program" conducted for Armenian Access Students a presentation on "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens" based on Sean Covey's bestselling book.
During the Q&A session of this exciting enhancement activity Anna encouraged the students to not only strive for effectiveness but also uncover in themselves their sleeping talents and fully realize their potential. She shared with the students her life story and told them how she got involved with yoga to turn into a yoga master today, how she initiated her exhibitions of collages made of watch details in Yerevan and then in Sydney, how she wrote and recorded her first songs. The students were fascinated with her example and shared with her their own dreams confirming that the presentation on the habits of effective teens will be of genuine help to them in their future endeavors.
On November 28, 2016 John Beauparlant, a former U.S. Peace Corps volunteer serving in Armenia and currently living in Nor Hachn, Armenia, a long-time supporter of PHI's Access Program visited Armavir Access group to hold an enhancement lesson on differences and similarities of Armenian and American Cultures.
During a very interactive lesson followed by heated discussions he covered many aspects of culture including religion, language, gender relationships, family structures, etc. The students actively participated, shared their ideas on each theme proposed by the speaker and expressed a need for further meetings in cross-cultural issues.
On November 11, 2016 a group of 36 Armenian students enrolled in the English Access Microscholarship Program (2015-16) from towns of Armavir and Yeghvard visited Dilijan-based United World College.
During their Winter 2016 Access Camp as a guest speaker both groups hosted Narek Galstyan, a graduate of the UWC Adriatic, who exposed them to the diverse educational and professional development opportunities within the of UWC movement and encouraged them to utilize these opportunities.
In Dilijan college two Armenian students met the Access group and offered them a tour of the college, presenting them information about the campus life, about the differences of IB education contrasted with that of the Armenian High School, talked about their interactions with the students from 46 other countries studying in the college.
The students visited the library, the Arts Area, the sports hall, the laboratories, also asked many questions and received a lot of information related to the student recruitment process, the complete and partial scholarships.
This was a very informative as well as a fun day for the Access students many of whom decided to respond to the currently open UWC call for applications.
PHI Armenia office launched the next cycle (Oct. 2016- Sept. 2018) of the English Access Microscholarship Program funded by the U.S. State Department, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Exchange Programs. Through a 3-stage rigorous recruitment process a group of 54 13-15 year old Armenian students from the towns of Goris, Chambarak and Nor Hachn were selected to be enrolled in the program.
The English Access Microscholarship Program (Access) provides a foundation of English language skills to talented 13-20 year-olds from economically disadvantaged sectors through after-school classes and intensive sessions. Access gives participants English skills that may lead to better jobs and educational prospects. Participants also gain the ability to compete for and participate in future exchanges and study in the United States.
On May 13, 2016 representatives from Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) visited “Family and Community” NGO in Metsamor to observe the community initiatives within the INL funded AM CALLS project
