Grant List of 2008 Year

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-10-30

Program:

Public Health

Grant Number:

16085

Organization:

Armenian Red Cross Society

Grant Amount:

$4,720.00

Purpose:

For the following purposes: to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS epidemic in Armenia by promoting harm reduction approach among the most vulnerable group of injection drug users through providing them with information on safe behavior and means of prevention (disposable syringes, alcohol pads & condoms) as well as conducting advocacy campaign. The number of clients to be covered within this project is 65 IDUs from Lori Marz

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-08-21

Program:

Women

Grant Number:

15974

Organization:

Women Resource Center, NGO

Grant Amount:

15500 USD

Purpose:

For raising awareness of RA youth in the sphere of women's rights, rights of ethnic and sexual minorities. The objectives are to provide knowledge to regional youth on the concept of human rights and discrimination; on principles of democratic society and human rights-principles of tolerant and antidiscriminatory behaviour; on European values; to provide knowledge to the training participants on the basic principles of gender equality and gender-sensitivity; to train participants on skills of gender analysis in socio-economic and political processes; to build participants' tolerance towards sexual minorities, their rights and freedom of choice; to build participants' tolerance towards ethnic minorities; to create a network among training participants

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-12-12

Program:

Women

Grant Number:

16098

Organization:

Trust, Social Work and Sociological Research Center

Grant Amount:

29850 USD

Purpose:

For the following purposes: to raise social awareness on gender issues and gender sensitivity, through gender studies, gender education, publications and women’s leadership development. The objectives of the project are: a) conducting research on the Gender Tolerance in the Armenian society; developing and republishing the educators' manual "Gender Issues, Problems and Solutions", promoting gender education for students, teachers and kindergarten educators using the data from gender study; providing telephone counseling for people in crisis; promoting women’s leadership development. Trust will continue to analyze materials collected from the Women’s Oral Histories research and prepare the second book for publication. (Additional funds will be raised for publication.) Also, discussions of the findings from researches for a larger audience will be organized in consultation with Partnership for Open Society. Human Rights should constitute an important part of the research, carried out by Trust (e.g. Gender-based violence should be part of the Research on Gender Tolerance), and the Human Rights approach should be taken when carrying out a research

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-12-24

Program:

Women

Grant Number:

16077

Organization:

Women's Rights Center, NGO

Grant Amount:

7000 USD

Purpose:

For completing the preparation of the draft law on Domestic Violence, and the supporting package (including, but not limited to law justification document). The organization should present and discuss the DV law with the civil society (including, but not limited to women's organizations, children's organizations, HR activists, and relevant international organizations, such as UNICEF). Based on this discussion, the organization should obtain the assessment of the draft law from the civil society organizations, prior to the Parliamentary Hearing. The organization should come up with a detailed plan of advocacy and lobbying (including awareness raising campaigns, training programs for professionals) by the end of the grant period

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-09-29

Program:

Public Health

Grant Number:

16056

Organization:

Helsinki Citizens' Assembly Vanadzor Office

Grant Amount:

15290 USD

Purpose:

For the following purposes: to increase the effectiveness of protection of drug users’ rights in urban places of Lori region by involving Lori region advocates in the protection of drug users’ rights; providing five drug users of three towns of Lori region with free of charge legal consultation; establishing the institute of monitoring and contribution in Vanadzor, Stepanavan and Alaverdi towns of Lori region with the aim of ensuring the right of drug users to fair trial; increasing the availability of the service in the narcological dispensary for drug users; raising public awareness in Vanadzor, Alaverdi, Stepanavan towns of Lori region on the problems of drug users

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-09-30

Program:

Public Health

Grant Number:

16058

Organization:

Antidrugs Civil Union, NGO

Grant Amount:

85978 USD

Purpose:

For the following purposes: to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS epidemic in Armenia by promoting harm reduction approach among the most vulnerable group of injection drug users through providing them with information on safe behavior and means of prevention (disposable syringes, alcohol pads & condoms) as well as conducting advocacy campaign. The number of clients to be covered within this project is 65 IDUs from Lori Marz

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-12-27

Program:

Public Health

Grant Number:

16177

Organization:

FAR Fellowship Alumni's Association

Grant Amount:

5800 USD

Purpose:

For the following purposes: to administrate Salzburg International Medical Seminars program in Armenia and ensure open and transparent competition by announcing a program, providing consultations to applicants, organizing English language tests according to developed by AAF criteria; to enhance a network between the faculty members of the medical schools of Armenia, especially Yerevan State Medical University and overseas and the former fellows of Salzburg Medical Seminars, as well as between the former fellows directly; to organize follow-up professional activities of the selected fellows after their return from the seminars, involving them in the organization of the local seminars for colleagues and CME project; to cooperate with the Yerevan State Medical University postgraduate study department by organizing special seminars for residents

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-12-24

Program:

Public Health

Grant Number:

16110

Organization:

VISTAA Expert Center, NGO

Grant Amount:

10000 USD

Purpose:

For the following purposes: to evaluate civil society participation in Armenia’s Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) for the Global Fund at the country level as an advocate for greater impact and improvement of Global Fund programming, by conducting desk research, i.e., review of all relevant documentation, related to CCM and civil society participation; development of semi-structured questionnaires; data collection (interviews, observations, focus groups, deep interviews); data analysis, finalization of the report and development of a recommendation package to be sent to all stakeholders

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-04-29

Program:

Public Health

Grant Number:

15881

Organization:

Khnamk, NGO

Grant Amount:

19500 USD

Purpose:

For the following purposes: to provide rehabilitation and integration services to people with mental health problems that live in the care center; to implement advocacy activities to reach governmental support; to promote institutionalization of the community-based services in the country, using the experience of the created center models

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-04-30

Program:

Public Health

Grant Number:

15815

Organization:

Mental Health Foundation

Grant Amount:

19200 USD

Purpose:

For the following purposes: to provide rehabilitation and integration services to people with mental health problems who visit the day-care center; to implement advocacy activities to get support from the government; to promote de-institutionalization of the community-based services in the country, using the experience of the already established day care center model

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-05-30

Program:

National Education

Grant Number:

15953

Organization:

Education without Borders, NGO

Grant Amount:

44200 USD

Purpose:

For the following purposes: to develop subject standards for Civics and Human Rights for High School; to conduct a two-day training for subject teachers in Tsaghkadzor with supervision of two International experts; to pilot standards in 30 pilot high schools. OSCE office in Armenia will contribute 19,200 USD (12,000 Euro)

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-05-14

Program:

National Education

Grant Number:

15905

Organization:

Republican Children Library after Khnko Aper

Grant Amount:

15000 USD

Purpose:

For the following purposes: to develop two on-line courses entitled "Educational Standards" (standards on Civics and Human Rights will be piloted in 15 secondary schools) and "Active Citizenship Today" (OSIAF-Armenia 8 Schools implementing "Europe at School" project will be beneficiaries of this course)

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-02-21

Program:

National Education

Grant Number:

15805

Organization:

Special School # 9 for Children with Hearing Problems

Grant Amount:

18805 USD

Purpose:

For the following purposes: to further develop community school model for serving local community and local students as well as organize teaching courses, particularly, outreach trainings for teachers, parents and students through cooperation with regional schools in Gyumri and Vanadzor (trainings will be organized for children with special education needs); to organize excursions for trainees from the regions to arts institutions in Yerevan; to establish game library at school

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-02-21

Program:

National Education

Grant Number:

15809

Organization:

Special School # 8 for Children with Speech Problems

Grant Amount:

18405 USD

Purpose:

For the following purposes: to further develop community school model for serving local community and local students as well as organize teaching courses, particularly, outreach trainings for teachers, parents and students through cooperation with regional schools in Vanadzor and Nor Hajn (trainings will be organized for children with special education needs); to organize excursions for trainees from the regions to arts institutions in Yerevan; to establish game library at school

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-02-22

Program:

National Education

Grant Number:

15783

Organization:

Medical Psychological Pedagogical Assessment Center of Yerevan

Grant Amount:

19991 USD

Purpose:

For the following purposes: to further develop community school model for serving local community and local students as well as organize teaching courses, particularly, outreach trainings for teachers, parents and students through cooperation with regional schools in Gyumri, Armavir, Abovyan, and Hrazdan (trainings will be organized for children with special education needs); to organize excursions for trainees from the regions to arts institutions in Yerevan; to establish game library, and to conduct a series of round table discussions on special education and assessment center

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-12-23

Program:

National Education

Grant Number:

16122

Organization:

National Center of Educational Technologies

Grant Amount:

14030 USD

Purpose:

For the following purposes: to provide electronic subject manuals created by the Department of Algorithmic Languages, YSU with support of OSIAF-Armenia to all schools of Armenia which didn’t receive them by mid of 2009 and create electronic libraries in all of the schools; to organize presentations and trainings with help of teachers who already successfully use the manuals, to provide OSIAF-Armenia with the data on actual use of the manuals in schools

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-10-28

Program:

Media

Grant Number:

16019

Organization:

Meltex, Ltd.

Grant Amount:

15000 USD

Purpose:

For redesigning the website www.a1plus.am in an attempt to reach maximum interactivity. The project will enable the organization to do the following: a) to create a new website (reprogramming the old one) and solve many technical problems that the site faces today; b) to equip the site with new computers and editing equipment; c) to equip journalists with mobile photo-video cameras (since the company cannot afford having many cameramen, this will enable reporters secure footage for their own stories); d) to purchase a new independent virtual web server, since the hosting servers cannot cope with a bit number of visitors and large databases; e) to connect all computers to internet, which will enable all journalists to contribute to and place materials on the blogs. The project will be subject to evaluation after six months of implementation. The evaluators will look at the implementation of the activities envisaged by the project within the first six months and will also pay attention to the non-partisan nature and the quality of work, pertaining to language as well as accuracy of reporting

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-10-28

Program:

Media

Grant Number:

16032

Organization:

Internews

Grant Amount:

42155 USD

Purpose:

For the following purposes: to support the echannel.am as an unbiased source of news and analysis, and make it even more interactive by introducing more audio and visual materials. The funding will be provided in two installments. The second installment will be given upon a positive evaluation of the first phase of the project, and upon having a feasible fundraising plan. The implementing organization is responsible for securing the sustainability of the project after the OSIAFA funding is over. Therefore, the organization is to have a fundraising plan to provide the sustainability of the website, which will be implemented in parallel to project implementation. The site will have the following categories: news, analytical part, special project, on-line surveys, about us, archive, which will include all previous categories and will serve as a resource for researchers, journalists, etc., and links to useful sites. The site will continue serving as a source of balanced presentation of news and analysis, and will have not only news, but also analytical pieces, interviews with relevant civil society activities and political leaders on the actual topics of the day (with audio versions), weekly discussions in the format of radio programs, which will be placed on Echannel. Echannel will also continue its weekly monitoring of the blog space, and publishing analytical materials based on it and broadcasting the result of the monitoring in the weekly Blogosphere program on Radio Hai. Echannel materials will also be placed on www.media.am, linking these two projects and completing the www.media.am site’s transformation into a media-analytical resource

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-08-15

Program:

Media

Grant Number:

15993

Organization:

CHAP, Ltd., GALA TV Company

Grant Amount:

36550 USD

Purpose:

For the following purpose: to support civic participation through raising awareness of population on urgent issues. The news part will receive information from Yerevan and other cities of Armenia twice a week. The information-analytical news program “About Important” and the program “One day of Archive” will be prepared and broadcasted weekly. The news programs will have additional part which will live broadcasted 4 times a day. Within the project GALA TV will create its own web resource and will provide regularly updated news information in on-line regime in two languages: Armenian and English

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-11-29

Program:

Media

Grant Number:

16036

Organization:

ATHK Hamakarg, LLC

Grant Amount:

17810 USD

Purpose:

For the following purposes: to make the website www.lragir.am more user-friendly and interactive. This includes reconstruction of the website, creating multimedia options by introducing audio-visual materials, as well as relocating the website on a reliable server to increase its safety from hacker activities. All of this will also lead to improving access and update modes. The organization will also include experts on human rights and democratic issues to diversify the content of the website and include more analytical material vs. news only

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-12-14

Program:

Law

Grant Number:

16104

Organization:

Modus Vivendi, NGO

Grant Amount:

29000 USD

Purpose:

For monitoring of the National Assembly 2008 fall session and 2009 spring session and assessment of the legislative activity of political party factions vs. their electoral platforms. The monitoring will focus but will not be limited to draft laws in the following fields: human rights, media, rule of law and judiciary, economy, local self-government, education, environment, social sphere. For: preparation and publication of interim and final monitoring reports; awareness raising on the monitoring results both in Yerevan and regions (in collaboration with "Asparez" Journalists' Club); awareness raising on the monitoring results through print media and online resources (Partnership website, Human Rights Portal and E-Channel)

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-03-28

Program:

Law

Grant Number:

15766

Organization:

Helsinki Citizens' Assembly Vanadzor Office

Grant Amount:

31973 USD

Purpose:

For establishment of civil control over armed forces through monitoring of human rights violations in Lori region during 2008 recruitment (spring and fall); for development and publication of information leaflets for recruits and their families, establishment of a database on legislative and legal documents regulating recruitment process, organization of TV programs in the towns of Alaverdi, Stepanavan, Spitak, Tashir and Vanadzor (2 TV programs per each town), training of 25 interviewers, development of questionnaires for recruits and their families; for holding interviews with recruits and their relatives through questionnaires, provision of legal consultation to recruits and their legal representatives, preparation of 2 intermediate and one final report on violation of recruits' rights , organization of 3 public discussions on monitoring of recruitment process in Vanadzor

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-09-23

Program:

Law

Grant Number:

16030

Organization:

Karakhanyan and Partners Law Office, LLC

Grant Amount:

1850 USD

Purpose:

For the following purposes: to support labor rights protection and to advocate on issues existing in labor market in Armenia through legal representation of group of teachers from music school after Sayat-Nova. These activities will include representation in the all instances of courts in local and international level, organizing and participation in discussions and press-conferences within this project. The payments will be done in accordance to the services provided for each instance of the court

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-12-24

Program:

Law

Grant Number:

16035

Organization:

Law and Legal Protection, NGO

Grant Amount:

5000 USD

Purpose:

For the following purposes: to support the Police Monitoring Group to sustain its activities, carry out regular and ad-hoc visits. The work of the Group will be divided into the following steps: visits to detention centers, preparation of the report, review of the report by a group of human rights experts, presentation of the report to large public. Within the project the Group should collaborate with the Public Monitoring Group over Penitentiary in order to create a strong mechanism for human rights protection both in penitentiary and detention centers. The Group should prepare its 2008 report by mid-January and present it for review of a group of human rights experts and have the final report prepared by the end of March, 2009. The report should include sections on situation description and recommendations for improvement and present it to the Head of RA Police. The report should also be presented to the large public. Within the project’s timeframe the Group will hold pres conferences on issues of violations

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-12-28

Program:

Law

Grant Number:

16063

Organization:

Civil Society Institute

Grant Amount:

33164 USD

Purpose:

For the following purposes: to support the Public monitoring Group, which will regularly monitor the situation in penitentiary institutions of Armenia related to human rights protection and presents the situation to the large public. During the project implementation the planned visits will be conducted twice a year to each institution. The Board will have special focus on health issues in prisons. The training will be conducted related how to monitor health issues in prisons with participation of expert from European organization. The monitoring report will be published in Armenian and English and will be distributed through all interested governmental, non-governmental and international organizations. The large discussion on report will be organized in the framework of the project through round table and TV programs

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-12-25

Program:

Information

Grant Number:

16131

Organization:

Center for Information Law and Policy, NGO

Grant Amount:

35930 USD

Purpose:

For development of at least two analytical materials on universal service policy and concept paper of telecommunication development in Armenia, as well as best practices in area of telecom regulation, recommendations on open source policy. The analytical materials should provide examples of policy application: the areas and solutions. The recommendations will also include description of policy documents (type, structure and content) that national and local administration authorities could adopt as a part of their information strategies. The analysis and relevant recommendations must be published and presented to Information Technologies Development Supporting Council (ITDSC). Initiation of public debates on key issues of information legislation aimed at adoption of the revision of information legislation in areas including, but not limited to strengthening the protection of personal data, improvement of legislation on freedom of information and public information, development of recommendations and monitoring implementation of European Neighborhood Policy (ENP) program in the field of Information Society and Media will be developed as well. Organization of at least 2 round tables on TV and 2 workshop seminars devoted to open source popularization in Armenia, development of recommendations and incorporation of digital television policy principles based on the international best practices into policy documents to be developed by government during the period of 2009 – 2010 should be made. The evaluation of the grant will be conducted after six months, based on which the decision on the continuation of the grant will be made

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-12-22

Program:

Information

Grant Number:

16031

Organization:

Media Diversity Institute

Grant Amount:

14620 USD

Purpose:

For the following purposes: to organize first Armenian BarCamp in Yerevan and invite more than 300 participants, including IT specialists, Internet media activists, IT and Media companies. The BarCamp has aims sharing experience and establishing working relationship and introducing the international experience between participants from different countries; facilitating discussion about modern trends, principles and criteria of communication and technologies in Internet, new Media and IT. The possibilities of promotion open source, volunteer driven IT and new Media projects will be discussed during the BarCamp. The event will take place in April, 2009 in Yerevan, Armenia. The initiative group has been formed composed of Internews-Armenia and Media Diversity Institute staff, bloggers, programmers, IT experts and will discuss all key organizational aspects of the upcoming event

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-11-28

Program:

Information

Grant Number:

15994

Organization:

Yerevan Computer Research and Development Institute

Grant Amount:

16970 USD

Purpose:

For integration of blind people into the information society via deploying the AREV System in Telecommunication centers; organization of 7 centers (2 in Gyumri, Akhuryan, Artik, Amasia and Maralik) for AREV System training in Shirak region; installation of the AREV System for blind people in 10 centers; training of 2 tutors in each Telecommunication center to operate the System. In total, 10 tutors will be trained for 40 hours each. The total number of the beneficiaries to be trained during the implementation of the project will be seventy

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-05-14

Program:

HESP

Grant Number:

15912

Organization:

International Center for Journalists

Grant Amount:

29985 USD

Purpose:

For the following purposes: to organize a two-week summer school entitled "Training Journalism for the New Media Environment” in June-July 2008 (invited lecturers are from Eastern Europe; competition to participate in summer school is open for NIS, Eastern European and Central Asia countries, and from the regions of Armenia); to raise professional skills on new media and methods of application of the new media in the process of teaching journalism of 21 participants (the participants are junior faculty members)

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-04-13

Program:

HESP

Grant Number:

15908

Organization:

Scientific and Educational Centre for National Development, NGO

Grant Amount:

29623 USD

Purpose:

For the following purposes: to organize a two-week summer school "Three-Tire Education within the Framework of Bologna Process in June-July, 2008 (invited lecturers are from Hungary, Lithuania and Armenia; competition to participate in summer school is open for NIS and Eastern European countries, and from the regions of Armenia). A round table discussion on Higher Education reforms will be conducted after the Summer School with participation of invited lecturers and rectors of Armenian universities

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-05-29

Program:

HESP

Grant Number:

15885

Organization:

State Engineering University of Armenia

Grant Amount:

45520 USD

Purpose:

For the following purposes: to develop framework model of internal quality assurance system to be piloted and introduced into educational practice by both a newly created Consortium of four universities (Yerevan State University, State Engineering University, Yerevan State Medical University and Vanadzor State Pedagogical University) and other higher education institutions in Armenia. International experts will be invited to work with the Consortium. In the course of implementation the group will thoroughly analyze international experience in the policy and procedures for quality assurance and develop a list of criteria and standards for quality assurance for higher educational institutions in Armenia in accordance with ENQA standards, as well as provide procedure of internal quality assessment and assurance of higher educational institutions as a part of standards

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-10-04

Program:

HESP

Grant Number:

16043

Organization:

Yerevan State Linguistic University after V. Brusov

Grant Amount:

4000 USD

Purpose:

For the following purposes: to support organization of 2-day international conference, Oct 8-9, 2008 on "Higher Linguistic Education within the Process of Reforms". The purpose of the conference is to summarise the experience of implementation of second and third degree education system and to develop common structural and academic approaches to higher professional education in the field of Linguistics and Intercultural Communications. The conference will be focused on Multi- degree Linguistic Education within the framework of Bologna Process. Leading experts of Council of Europe, European Union, Commonwealth of Independent States, representatives of European Linguistic Council, rectors, vice-rectors of Linguistic Universities will participate in this Conference

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-01-31

Program:

East East

Grant Number:

15683

Organization:

Fundamental Scientific Library of the NASA

Grant Amount:

21308 USD

Purpose:

For organization of a visit to Lithuania for a group of librarians and experts for experience sharing on use of open source and open access journals, for subsequent training of colleagues from libraries of major universities

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-06-14

Program:

East East

Grant Number:

15880

Organization:

Youth for Peace and Development, NGO

Grant Amount:

21387 USD

Purpose:

For organization of a study visit to Poland for representatives of Armenian NGOs for experience sharing on promotion of volunteerism within their organizations, for organization of a conference in Gyumri and debate with Polish experts on the present reality and perspectives for volunteer work in Armenia, for carrying out an advocacy component on the Draft Law on Volunteerism, for organization of a number of volunteer actions in the regions of Armenia

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-05-21

Program:

East East

Grant Number:

15907

Organization:

Women's Rights Center, NGO

Grant Amount:

18751 USD

Purpose:

For a study visit of armenian group of experts to Prague for experience sharing on preparation and lobbying for a standalone law on domestic violence; a subsequent visit will be organized for the Czech experts to visit Armenia

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-11-28

Program:

Civil Society

Grant Number:

16076

Organization:

Helsinki Citizens' Assembly Vanadzor Office

Grant Amount:

53700 USD

Purpose:

For formation of mechanisms of rapid response to HR violations in the Lori region of Armenia through strengthening of the potential and increasing effectiveness of Helsinki Citizen’s Assembly Vanadzor office activities that will be achieved through the following objectives: 1) increasing the effectiveness of mechanisms for free legal aid; 2) setting up mechanisms of civic control over the activities of Local Self-Governing Bodies; 3) increasing the level of public awareness on mechanisms that help solve problems of community significance. As part of the second component of this project, HCAV will also be developing the potential of HR monitoring in psychiatric dispensaries of Armenia

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-11-29

Program:

Civil Society

Grant Number:

16066

Organization:

Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression, NGO

Grant Amount:

35345 USD

Purpose:

For the following puroses: 1) activation of democratic reforms in Armenia and participation of mass media and NGOs as very important institutions of civil society; 2) improving the potential of journalists’ unions in Yerevan as well as in regions of the country and increasing their role in protection of public interests and advocacy; 3) cooperation toward development of freedom of speech, access to information from the society, improved professionalism and responsibility of mass media in front of its audience; 4) protection of journalists’ and mass media rights in the capital as well as in the regions of the country. Objectives of the grant: a) monitoring (qualitative analysis) of regional mass media and preparation of recommendations, related to development of pluralism in mass media and improved professionalism and responsibility toward audience, b) to conduct an expert poll (through in-depth interviews) among mass media leaders, representatives of political parties, including their regional branches, as well as leaders of outstanding NGOs, regarding the appearance of actual problems in media, c) to conduct Roundtable discussions in the regions of the country with participation of representatives of local media and journalists’ unions to discuss issues, related to access to information, combating censorship, protection of journalists’ rights and media, development of cooperation between capital-based and regional journalists’ organizations and mass media, d) preparation of analytical reports, based on the conducted research, as well as of Annual Report on the situation of freedom of speech and monitoring of journalists’ rights and mass media in Armenia and publication of those documents as a separate brochure in three languages

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-11-29

Program:

Civil Society

Grant Number:

16070

Organization:

Fund Against Violation of Law

Grant Amount:

39000 USD

Purpose:

For the following purposes: through capacity building of the organization and efforts of civil society, improve protection of economic rights, paying special attention to the vulnerable layers of the population, with special emphasis on marzes. The following activities will be implemented in the third year: 1) Legal consultations in 1-3 cities/communities where Civil Centers do not exist; 2) Roundtable discussion with participation of three parties, including representatives from the Government; 3) Seminars for beneficiaries; 4) Conference on protection of economic rights; 5) Trainings for staff of the six Civil Centers; 6) Assessment of fulfillment of international obligations: analysis of country reports, presented to ECOSOS; 7) Comparative Analysis of relevant court decisions, with conclusions and decisions made by ECHR, 8) Presentation of recommendations for improvement of legislation and 9) Creation of Self-Help groups. It isexpected that the level of protectedness of economic rights of vulnerable layers of the population will be raised and public control over the public authorities in fulfillment of their constitutional and international obligations and responsibilities in the field of Human Rights will be formulated. In the third project year, all six Civil Centers will be further strengthened, and particular attention will be paid to the newly founded Center in the bordering town of Berd

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-11-29

Program:

Civil Society

Grant Number:

16074

Organization:

Collaboration for Democracy Center, NGO

Grant Amount:

39010 USD

Purpose:

For the following purposes: promotion of religious tolerance in Armenia through creating conditions that provide space for respect towards freedom of religion and for proper implementation of respective parts of the Constitution and agreements ratified by Armenia. Objectives for the three year project: a) define and gather a group of professionals interested in the work within the mentioned area, b) find out and involve interested individuals both affiliated with religion and having no affiliation, governmental and non-governmental organizations, institutions, communities that may be interested in professional sources of the data about sociology and politics of religion; c) publicize and inform the society about events taking place within the field of religion; d) organize researches concerning respect to the requirements of the constitution on the subject of freedom of conscience and create an open database available to everyone; e) conduct monitoring of about 8 printing news outlets of Armenia on the subject of tolerance and analyze and publicize results of monitoring

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-04-18

Program:

Civil Society

Grant Number:

15868

Organization:

Skarp Health Center, NGO

Grant Amount:

9746 USD

Purpose:

For the following purposes: to promote the social inclusion and integration of the mobility disabled youth by carrying out educational training and a workshop for beneficiaries with participation of public and private sector, to establish a voluntarily based working group, to establish a network of disabled youth, to carry out separate meetings and interviews with key actors, to publish 500 information brochure about the project and its outcomes, to organize 2 round tables, to develop a strategic paper for disability employment and disseminate it among state authorities and other interested parties, to create a database of unemployed disabled people to serve a resource for future projects

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-04-18

Program:

Civil Society

Grant Number:

15840

Organization:

Sustainable Water Environment, Ecological, Scientific NGO

Grant Amount:

9361 USD

Purpose:

For the following purposes: to promote civil involvement of young generation in environmental protection problems solution by supporting higher education institutions’ (HEI) students of Vanadzor and Dilijan towns to obtain knowledge and skills in the sphere of environmental protection, civil defense and ecological education, to shape nature protecting view together with intensifying their participation in environmental problems solutions by involving 60 students from Lori and Tavush marzes' HEIs, to support the involvement of young generation from the mentioned marzes, to solve the environmental problems by: organizing 2 trainings for students of HEI of Vanadzor and Dilijan towns, to hold 4 experimental trainings and practical lessons with 25 students, to organize special two-days seminars and eco tours, to publish 150 handbooks presenting the environmental problems in the marz, to organize joint activities for the students and regional NGOs, mass media and local self-government bodies (LSGB)

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-04-18

Program:

Civil Society

Grant Number:

15847

Organization:

French-Armenian Development Foundation

Grant Amount:

9820 USD

Purpose:

For the following purposes: to contribute to the social integration of the graduates of Yerevan Special School N 9 and N 15 with hearing disorder by organizing short term professional trainings for 40 graduates, to provide them with assistance to get employed in 10 months, to implement needs study of the related employment issues among 150 graduates of Yerevan Special School N 9 and N 15, to carry out counseling regarding the issues of professional orientation, to establish business relation with possible employers and to gather information on available vacancies they have, to establish business relations with the most popular on the labor market organizations and to provide short term (up to 3 months) vocational trainings, to monitor the relations between hired participants of the vocational trainings and their employers, to organize a 20 minute-long TV program to present the success stories o the project and to raise awareness on the capacity and problems of the people with hearing disorders, to distribute the project materials and the report through web-site of the numerous partner organizations and Armenia Information Analytical Agency

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-04-28

Program:

Civil Society

Grant Number:

15869

Organization:

Lawyers for Human Rights, NGO

Grant Amount:

10000 USD

Purpose:

For the following purposes: to increase the awareness of the villagers in Armavir marz about the work of Local Self-Governing Bodies (LSGB) by informing the village community about the law and other supplemental laws governing LSGB activities, to discuss with them the relation between community-citizen-community, during the discussion to highlight the possible ways for community development, to create a hot line for legal consultations, to form an alternative City Council with youth and to organize a discussion on LSGB works

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-01-23

Program:

Civil Society

Grant Number:

15732

Organization:

Center of Bird Lovers, NGO

Grant Amount:

19726 USD

Purpose:

For studying environmental violations and lobbying for change, for establishing contacts with main stakeholders, publication and dissemination of awareness raising materials, organization of discussions, public hearings, campaign actions, for providing legal advice to citizens and NGOs and initiating legal actions, including inquiries for access to information, administrative complaints, appeals to courts, for mobilization of NGOs in support of selected environmental issues and advocacy aimed at better enforcement of environmental legislation

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-04-17

Program:

Civil Society

Grant Number:

15872

Organization:

Menk Plus, NGO

Grant Amount:

10030 USD

Purpose:

For the following purposes: to ensure well informed voters participation in Local Self -Governing Bodies (LSGB) elections in Gyumri in the end of October 2008 by making accessible for the public all not confidential information of Gyumri Municipality activities, all the meeting minutes of the City Council, all the decisions of the Municipality and any other public information, to carry out a public survey about the works and activities of Municipality and the City Council, to organize 4 educational seminars for 300 people on the RA Law on LSGB and on access to information for possible candidates to the City Council, to carry out 8 public debates with an analysis of Municipality's and Council's works on frauds, violations, problems, their possible solutions and mechanism for public participation, to carry out 8 discussions on TV (50-60 minute each), to carry out 10 discussions on the Radio, to carry out a web site hosting for www.gyumrisenate.am web site, to develop and publish 1000 brochures (120-140 pages) on survey results, which will also include information about the candidates to City Council and abstract from relevant laws, to ensure that before the LSGB elections the voters know all the candidates to the Mayor's and Head of the Council's position and their previous experience in the field

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-04-21

Program:

Civil Society

Grant Number:

15873

Organization:

Arena of Education, NGO

Grant Amount:

9998 USD

Purpose:

For the following purposes: to reveal the problems in Shirak marz schools and to teach civic education and human rights by carrying out 3 (three days each) interactive human rights seminar-trainings for 24 school teachers, to organize one discussion on the problems occurring in schools, to carry out 4 monitoring in schools where there are complaints of violent treatment, to publish and disseminate 300 booklets on monitoring results and to organize 2 or 3 press conferences with teachers who will present the current situation in schools and the results of the project, to update the website www.shirakschools.am

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-11-29

Program:

Civil Society

Grant Number:

16086

Organization:

Asparez, Journalists' Club, NGO

Grant Amount:

51000 USD

Purpose:

For organization of seminars and discussions on implementation of ENP and MCA in Armenia, human rights situation, media and political freedoms and country's international commitments (PACE resolutions) in 22 regions of the country; for airing 12 TV programs on regional TVs; preparation and publication of 5 inserts for regional print media; for regular update of the website www.asparez.am

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-11-28

Program:

Civil Society

Grant Number:

16038

Organization:

Civil Society Institute

Grant Amount:

14999 USD

Purpose:

For regular update of the website with human rights articles and reports, increasing interest and engagement of the public on HR issues, for regular update and popularization of the HRA blog and conducting online interviews, for technical support to and redesign of the website to make it more interactive, for publication of investigative articles on human rights issues in the country

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-08-28

Program:

Civil Society

Grant Number:

15886

Organization:

European Integration, NGO

Grant Amount:

15965 USD

Purpose:

For organization of interactive seminars for youth in Syunik, Shirak, Gegharkunik, Vayots Dzor, Armavir, Artashat, Lori and Tavush regions

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-09-30

Program:

Civil Society

Grant Number:

16000

Organization:

"Mother and Child" Charity Fund

Grant Amount:

3300 USD

Purpose:

For collection of stories by people who managed to survive in concentration camps and orphanages during World War Two. The stories will be published and distributed through libraries, schools and NGOs. The collection will be presented to the large public

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-09-16

Program:

Civil Society

Grant Number:

15961

Organization:

Cultural Center of Koti

Grant Amount:

3000 USD

Purpose:

For the following purpose: to support Cultural Center of Koti village. Within the project the new dynamics will be purchased and installed in the Center. The digital projector will be provided by French benevolent foundation. The equipment will be used for engaging the village’s population to the cultural life through organizing cultural events and showing movies

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-11-28

Program:

Civil Society

Grant Number:

16075

Organization:

Unison, NGO

Grant Amount:

35000 USD

Purpose:

For promotion and protection of human rights of people with disabilities in Armenia through: 1) promotion of disabled people’s right to work; 2) raising awareness of disabled people and their representatives of their own rights; 3)prevention, revelation and combating cases of discrimination on the grounds of disability. Towards this end, the organization will be establishing a Job Training and Placement Center, will be providing trainings to disabled job seekers, will continue to provide legal counseling, to operate the hotline service. Unison, NGO will also be organizing TV shows and seminars and will be opening a new webpage with important info on employers, job openings and other necessary info for disabled job seekers. Unison, NGO will lobby for inclusion of the Syunik branch into the state budget

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-11-28

Program:

Civil Society

Grant Number:

16045

Organization:

The A.D.Sakharov Armenian Human Rights Protection Center

Grant Amount:

35000 USD

Purpose:

For strengthening the joint activities of the structural units of the Sakharov Center and local NGOs in the sphere of protection of fundamental human rights and freedoms in the regions of the Republic. The goal of the project is to raise the level of civil activity among the population, which in turn will guarantee protection of their own rights and freedoms through increasing the effectiveness of the activities of the Sakharov Center and local NGOs collaborating with it. Project Objectives: through trainings, seminars and joint public actions, raise the level of knowledge of Center’s co-workers, and local NGOs collaborating with the Center; provide free legal consultations and advocacy services to vulnerable groups of population and monitor the situation of HR protection and basic freedoms in the Republic to ensure protection of civil and social rights; propose recommendations to improve laws, styles and methods of work of state bodies and self-governing bodies, in connection to the fact that some procedural acts, actions of certain representatives of law enforcement and judicial bodies and structures in practice contribute to mass violations of civil and social rights of people; through mass media bring to the notice of the relevant governmental bodies and that of the wider layers of the society the state of the human rights and the reasons leading to HR violation in Armenia; Improve the level of legal awareness and knowledge of the most vulnerable groups of the population

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-12-24

Program:

Civil Society

Grant Number:

16120

Organization:

Association of Women with University Education

Grant Amount:

37380 USD

Purpose:

The project aims to increase women’s participation in political processes and promote gender equality. The project aims to further strengthen the organization by increasing the capacity of its regional branches, continuation of the educational component, further development of the civic activism in regions and information support to the activities of NGOs. The Leadership School will continue its activities, this time focusing on Political Knowledge and Democratic Culture; Legal Knowledge and International Legal System; Economic Knowledge and Social-Economic Rights of Women; Methods for Organization of Public-Political Activity. One-day seminars will be conducted by the Regional Centers on the main documents on women’s rights, UN conventions on Elimination of Discrimination and Violence against women. The Regional Centers will continue working with local self-government bodies on gender issues, conducting educational and awareness raising programs for the members of Avagani (Council of Elders). The NGO will continue providing branch offices with training materials. The project also envisages publication of a newsletter and creation of a website

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-12-27

Program:

Civil Society

Grant Number:

16105

Organization:

Victims of State Needs, NGO

Grant Amount:

27520 USD

Purpose:

The current project is for the continuation of the activities of the NGO. The following activities are planned: follow up on eight court cases at all local instances and ECHR if needed; conducting two seminars in Gyumri and Vanadzor on property rights; organizing of regular meetings and press conferences in cooperation with Protection of Property Rights, NGO and presenting the situation on property rights violations in Yerevan, Gyumri and Vanadzor; publication of 4-6 articles in print media; translation of the movie “Alienation”; the movie will be broadcasted through GALA TV; the movie also will be copied and distributed to NGOs, members of Parliament and international community

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-01-21

Program:

Civil Society

Grant Number:

15776

Organization:

Victims of State Needs, NGO

Grant Amount:

22650 USD

Purpose:

For the following purposes: to rise awareness among general public on the issue of alienation of property for state needs, to prepare about 10 cases for application to the courts of first instance, organization of 3 roundtable discussions and publication of 3 articles in the media, preparation and broadcast of a film on Shoghakat TV as well as presentation to wider public, monitoring of choice of construction firms and real estate evaluators

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-10-07

Program:

Arts&Culture

Grant Number:

15489

Organization:

Art-Film, Llc.

Grant Amount:

16816 USD

Purpose:

For introducing dance film as a contemporary art form to audiences in the Caucasus Region, Central Asia and the Middle East as well as to set up artistic residencies and exchanges between artists from the same region and international dance film experts. The project includes: the 2nd edition of KINO-PAR, a dance film festival at the National Gallery of Armenia in Yerevan that will include four programs of dance films from around the world and a retrospective of films by David Hinton; a 17-day Choreographing Cinema workshop in Armenia that will result in the release of three 9-minute dance films. Five artists (a choreographer, two dancers/performers, a director, and a cinematographer) from Armenia, Georgia and Turkey under guidance of three experienced dance film artists – Alla Kovgan (USA), Alissa Cardone (USA) and David Hinton (UK) will work together during this residency

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-11-11

Program:

Arts&Culture

Grant Number:

16054

Organization:

Golden Apricot, Cinema Development NGO

Grant Amount:

10325 USD

Purpose:

For the following purposes: to develop direct cooperation and close links in the field of cinema, establish and maintain a network of film makers between Armenia and Turkey, promote cultural/professional dialogue and exchange between these countries, organize joint sessions, workshops and film screenings. Particularly, it is planned to carry out: presentation of Armenian and Turkish films with cultural and traditional background about Armenia and Turkey, conduction of open discussions among the participants on topics of cinema, culture and history with the presence of representatives of NGOs, students and journalists, organization of meetings among interested parties to realize a co-production initiative between Armenian and Turkish film makers, conduction of one Master class for Armenian and Turkish work-shop participants

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-11-10

Program:

Arts&Culture

Grant Number:

16006

Organization:

City Research Center, NGO

Grant Amount:

4000 USD

Purpose:

For the purpose of developing cultural spaces and audiences in the underrepresented communities in North Armenian, West Georgia, Eastern Turkey through enhancing various interactions (cultural actor+audience; cultural actor+cultural actor; audince+audience) to organize a three-day working meeting of initiative group in Kutaisi, Georgia

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-10-30

Program:

Arts&Culture

Grant Number:

15967

Organization:

Eco-Era, NGO

Grant Amount:

18000 USD

Purpose:

For the following purposes: to raise awareness of citizens about their right to live in clean environment and about the current ecological situation in Armenia. It is planned to carry out one photo exhibition with the best 55 photos made during the site visits, two rock concerts with participation of the most famous rock bands and organize a documentary film screening on ecological issues in Armenia. The activities will be carried out in Yerevan, Vanadzor, Kapan, in Teghut and Shnogh villages

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-10-31

Program:

Arts&Culture

Grant Number:

16005

Organization:

Liza, Legal Gender Cultural Foundation

Grant Amount:

9995 USD

Purpose:

For the following purposes: to organize an International Kin Film Festival the purpose of which is to discuss problems of Women-Creativity-Gender Equality through films, problems of violence, inequality, discrimination and other problems related to women’s rights and gender issues. The Fifth KIN International Film Festival will be held in 26-30 November, 2008. There will be two prizes for the "Best Film" and "Special prize" and diplomas for the participants. During the project a round-table on "Problems of Women Film makers" will be organized. A catalogue will be published in two languages Armenian and English to provide comprehensive information about the works presented at the festival

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-07-18

Program:

Arts&Culture

Grant Number:

15779

Organization:

City Research Center, NGO

Grant Amount:

19771 USD

Purpose:

For the following purposes: to broaden the debate on human rights and the peaceful settlement of conflicts beyond the immediate intellectual circles within the South Caucasian capitals, and to introduce it to those who are excluded from discussions on socio-political issues due to information blockages and the collapse of regional infrastructure. By encouraging and activating potential organizers of the different local documentary film festivals and regional Human Rights Film Clubs the project aims at sustainable promotion of cultural and political life in the regions of the South Caucasus. The applicant will organize documentary films screening in 5 cities of Armenia; Noyemberyan, Vanadzor, Gyumri, Yerevan and Yeghegnadzor. The films will be about conflicts and human rights. During the festival, the organization will carry out forums and discussions about human rights and peaceful conflict resolution. At the end of the festival, the organizers will publish a book with illustrated documentation of the project including interviews and discussion summaries, which will offer a basis for the development of follow-up-projects in future.project including interviews and discussion summaries, which will offer a basis for the development of follow-up-projects in future

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-08-27

Program:

Arts&Culture

Grant Number:

15963

Organization:

Art-Laboratory, NGO

Grant Amount:

8300 USD

Purpose:

For the following purposes: to reveal and bring the attention of the society towards human rights violations through artistic performances, also by this to promote political art in Armenia. During the project the organization will carry out three artistic performances in the most crowded places of Yerevan - at the Northern Avenue, near Universities and other educational institutions, in front of the National Gallery, inside “Tashir” trade center, in Gyumri - in the central square and in front of the Gallery of Modern Art, also will organize 6 seminar-discussions on human rights-freedom of consciousness, right to security and liberty of a person, children’s and women’s rights protection, environmental problems, protection of the rights of marginalized layers of the society, will carry out two flash mobs on the topics freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of consciousness, will organize four meetings with “GALA” TV, with veterans and the community, with Helsinki Committee Association of Vanadzor Office, will meet with the staff of the factory and the village community to discuss environmental problems and will make a photo exposition, will organize two expositions, and at the end of the project will carry out an exhibition and will create a catalogue about the project

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-08-29

Program:

Arts&Culture

Grant Number:

15962

Organization:

Armenian State Philharmonic Orchestra

Grant Amount:

13797 USD

Purpose:

For the following purposes: to organize a human rights awareness campaign during the 2nd Yerevan International Music Festival. To achieve the goal it is planned to print and disseminate festival booklets, posters, flyers, leaflets, banners with HR Universal Declaration articles, to carry out a surveys on HR declaration with a prize to get a seasonal ticket of Armenian State Philharmonic Orchestra. Before the concert a press conference will be organized with participation of guest musicians and HR experts to discuss how art can contribute in promotion of Human Rights

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-08-21

Program:

Arts&Culture

Grant Number:

15954

Organization:

Center for International Union of Puppeteers - UNIMA Armenia

Grant Amount:

17452 USD

Purpose:

For the following purpose: to organize international festival entitled “Tale Day” in Dsegh village with participation of national as well as international puppet theaters from the period of 5-11 September, 2008. Among the international theaters the participation of renowned theaters from Spain, Russia, Germany, Lithuania, Ukraine, China, Slovenia, Italy and Georgia should be outlined. The festival is organized in Dsegh as the performances are based on fairy tales of H. Tumanyan

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-05-26

Program:

Arts&Culture

Grant Number:

15889

Organization:

Utopiana.am, NGO

Grant Amount:

5000 USD

Purpose:

For the following purposes: to organize a two-week workshop for around 40 local and international Art students and Artists, mainly to organize 3 lectures with participation of 40 students and artists from the Academy of Fine Art, the National Association of Art Critics and Dutch Art Institute in Amsterdam, to organize a workshop/field works in teams for around 40 local and international art students, to carry out a team research on global developments on visual art in Armenia, to publish a catalogue/guidebook in English on the research and project results, to organize a final public Art exhibition on the joint works/ Art productions of all 40 participants. The research of the visual Art in Armenia will be done in particular from the point of view of post-soviet communist nationalism, the abandonment of the soviet ‘economy’, the deindustrialization and economical liberalization and finally a research of the role of the empire-like Armenian Diaspora on it

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-12-17

Program:

Arts&Culture

Grant Number:

16079

Organization:

National Association of Art Critics

Grant Amount:

25000 USD

Purpose:

The project involves networking between five partner institutions, curriculum development for contemporary curatorial studies, organization of seminars and workshops and publication of critical texts. The main focuses are on developing and facilitating The World of Art curatorial program in Ljubljana, Critical Spaces’ curatorial postgraduate program at the University of Plymouth, Townhouse Gallery’s yearly curatorial educational program in Cairo, Egypt as well as one-year seminars for contemporary art curators and cultural workers in Yerevan and its pilot project – the International Summer Seminars’ Program for Art Curators. The main component for which the funding is requested, is the curatorial educational program in Yerevan, Armenia. The project, will bring together practicing curators from former Soviet Republics, Eastern European and EU countries and the Middle East in a series of lectures, seminars and practical workshops that are directed towards critical knowledge production, networking and cooperation. The program also seeks to research and develop alternative methods and models for contemporary art education in the respective contexts of partner institutions. The Summer Seminars’ Program’s alumni networking initiatives as well as annual meeting between the partner institutions will be initiated. As a result of effective networking and capacity building, it is planned to turn the annual curatorial educational program in Armenia into an accredited postgraduate university program, thus helping to reform the art educational curriculums of established academic institutions on the one hand, and preparing capable and professional art curators, critics, managers on the other hand. Particularly, during this year the organization will carry out- 4th Summer Seminar for Art Curators for two weeks, one partners networking meeting,one year seminar’s program, school of contemporary art curatorial program,publication of first volume of anthology on curatorial practice

Date of Grant Letter:

2008-12-16

Program:

Arts&Culture

Grant Number:

16100

Organization:

Center for International Union of Puppeteers - UNIMA Armenia

Grant Amount:

8950 USD

Purpose:

For the following purpose: to organize New Year movable theatre shows, which include shows with big doll masks, dancing, games, competitions, and circus shows with animal dolls in four special schools of Armenia with participation of actors from the Puppet Theatre and Theatre of Pantomime. The project participants/experts will decorate the halls of the schools for the event. The performance is called "Fairies, Santa Clause, and the Funny Buffalo". At the end of the performance 520 children will receive prizes and presents