How much time do you spend playing with your kids each day? For many parents around the world, spending daily time with their kids isn’t automatic. In Armenia, see how we’re training parents to be more engaged in their children’s lives … and how the children are responding.
Why World Vision is in Armenia
Armenian citizens struggle with healthcare, education, and child protection challenges. Last year we developed five video lessons and resources to teach pregnant women about healthy pregnancy and newborn care. Through these lessons, pregnant women received information on pregnancy stages, nutrition, breastfeeding, newborn care, and pregnant women’s rights. Preschools continue to be rare in rural Armenia, where high poverty rates persist and education for all lags. Through a partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, we trained 1,124 young mothers and caregivers on early child stimulation skills. We taught parents how to support their children’s development and prepare homemade toys from available materials. To address child protection issues we applied our Citizens’ Voice and Action approach. This model organizes focus group discussions with participation by local adults, youth, and children and government officials in order to empower community members to raise issues and find solutions.
We never give up on people
World Vision child sponsorship looks at all the things that prevent children from surviving and thriving in their community, and then works with that community to bring all the pieces of the puzzle together to build a better life for all children. For sponsors, it’s a personal way to show God’s love to a child in need in a life-changing way.
Sponsor a child in Armenia ❯
Progress in Armenia
Thanks to the generous support of donors, we’re making great progress toward the well-being of children and their families.
Child Protection and Care
Boys and girls are safe and valued, well cared for by their families, and participating in their communities as agents of transformation.
- We established Skills and Knowledge for Youth Economic Empowerment (SKYE) clubs to help vulnerable youth develop employment skills so they could support themselves and their families. We developed SKYE so youth could obtain sustainable livelihoods and participate constructively in their communities.
- Local farmers attended trainings where they learned about creating agricultural cooperatives to purchase supplies at cheaper prices and market their goods together to get the best return. They also received technical training in their area of expertise, as well as the opportunity to network with others.
- We empowered teachers to educate parents and other teachers about positive discipline methods for supporting children's growth. They focused on child psychology and the consequences of punishment, while equipping parents and teachers with new skills to effectively discipline children.
- To improve child protection at the community level, local leaders took part in a series of our trainings that equipped them to handle cases of child abuse and child rights violations.
- We established Peace Roads clubs in local communities to teach children conflict resolution, relationship-building, and social responsibility through games, discussions, and other activities.
Healthy Children and Families
Children and families are well nourished, protected from infection and disease, and have access to essential health services.
- To promote early child development, we trained parents and caregivers on our Go Baby Go model, which focuses on child stimulation, early learning support, and the importance of toys. Go Baby Go is our program funded by the Gates Foundation that educates families on childhood health, nutrition, and development so that their kids can get a strong start in life.
- In order to reduce malnutrition among children aged 0-5, we trained mothers on exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and preparing nutritious meals for toddlers using local ingredients.
Education for Better Lives
Children have opportunities to learn and to develop their talents, young people are equipped for the future, and families and communities support children's education.
- We collaborated with social workers and local businesses to provide vulnerable youth with vocational education in hairdressing, catering, welding, and cooking so they could provide much-needed income for their families.
Love of God and Neighbors
Children and families are growing spiritually, local churches are strengthened to demonstrate Christ's love in practical ways, and people are living at peace with their neighbors.
- Our local staff served children and families as a demonstration of God's unconditional love, seeking always to be faithful ambassadors of Jesus.
Prayer Requests from Armenia
World Vision's staff in Armenia are asking us to join them in prayer for the following:
Increased school enrollment in this nation ranked 59th in the world for primary school attendance.
Parents to read and play with their young children to support their development.
News from Armenia
Supporting breastfeeding mothers when disaster strikes
Breastfeeding can be difficult even under the best circumstances. That’s why World Vision makes a special effort to support moms during emergencies.
From the Field
Life frames: Our favorite photos of 2015
World Vision’s photographers captured thousands of moments in 2015. Here are their favorite photos — and the stories behind them.
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