Project: Armenia
- “Barev!”
- “Hello!”
Country Overview
Armenia’s rich history begins around 800 B.C as part of the Kingdom of Urartu or Van. In 301 AD, Armenia became the first nation to adopt Christianity with the religion playing a major role in its people’s national identity ever since. Serving as a bridge between Europe and Asia both culturally and geographically, Armenia has a diverse cultural heritage as it has been conquered by many nations, including the Persians, Byzantines, Arabs, Mongols and Ottoman Turks.
Armenia became an independent nation in 1991 when in declared its sovereignty from the Soviet Union.
The global economic and financial crisis hit the Armenian economy very hard. In 2009, the proportion of Armenians living below the poverty line increased from 27.6 percent to 34.1 percent (around 1.1 million people). In the same period, around 245,000 became very poor: raising the number of the very poor to more than 650,000. In 2010 the poverty rate increased even further, reaching 35.8 percent. These figures point towards the remaining high need in Armenia regarding development assistance and simultaneously highlights the importance of Heifer’s work in Armenia.
Heifer's Work in Armenia
Heifer Armenia gave hope and inspiration to its people when it was established in 1999. Since 1999, Heifer Armenia has implemented 58 projects assisting more than 8,000 rural families to improve their livelihoods. Currently our projects cover more than 50 communities in Armenia.
Heifer Armenia works towards improving the socio-economic situation of vulnerable groups (men, women, boys and girls) by developing rural communities, finding solutions to economic and ecological problems, spiritual revival and strengthening the prospects of peace in the region.
Heifer Armenia focuses on projects that include economic development components. The value chain development methodology adopted by Heifer Armenia is aimed at establishing economically viable, efficient and sustainable linkages between different value chain (e.g. dairy) sectors, creating lasting income generating opportunities for its target project participants and contributing to sustainable community development.
Key Services Heifer Provides:
Sustainable agricultural production: Training and knowledge dissemination on agricultural issues; Promote agroecological farming practices
Post-harvest management and processing: Forming partnerships between farmers and processing companies
Market development: Value chain development; Farmer organization and cooperative development; micro-credit and loans
Technology: Dairy producing and milk cooling technologies
Nutrition: Advocating for and promoting food security
A Cow Brings Hope into Life of Fear
Armenia
Life in Chinar is very dangerous. Every day my wife takes our two kids to the kindergarten with a feeling of fear in her heart. The other day the nurse in the kindergarten told my wife that every time when the shootings start she turns on the music very loudly so that the children don’t hear the shootings. Thanks to Heifer we now have a cow and a calf.
Young Armenian Girl Achieves Egg-cellence
Armenia
I love my business. It's not an easy deal; it requires care, attention and a high sense of responsibility.
Rabbits Bring Profits to Armenian Teen
Armenia
With the money I was granted by Heifer, I bought four she-rabbits and one male rabbit. I also bought feed for them.
Heifer CARMAC Equipment Placement Round 2
Armenia
The Heifer Armenia team was extremely pleased to witness the arrival of the second rounds of agricultural equipment to be placed in farmer cooperatives in the framework of the Community Agricultural Resource Management and Competitiveness (CARMAC) project
Tractors in Armenia
Armenia
The excitement on January 20 in Vanadzor, Armenia, was overwhelming as three new tractors were officially handed over to cooperatives of small farm owners in three rural communities.
Armenian Chinari Cattle Breeding Project
Armenia
Chinari is considered to be a very early human settlement, but the village is only officially registered to be 113 years old. The 12th century Khoranashat Monastery lies in the upper outskirts of the village, the most sniper-prone zone in the area.