Emergency Fund
The Emergency Fund (EF) was created in 2009 by George Soros as an extra-budgetary fund to tackle some of the most pressing social and economic issues arising from the financial crisis now affecting the countries where OSI has been traditionally active. The Fund aims to ensure that previous advances towards Open Society goals are not undone by the social and economic tension created by the crisis. To this end, the Fund makes available up to $100 million for projects in 20 countries until the end of 2011.
These countries are: Albania, Armenia, Bosnia Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Tajikistan, and the Ukraine.
To mitigate the plight of affected people, OSIAF-Armenia has funded projects from the Emergency Fund with a goal to help people hardest hit by the crisis through humanitarian projects and targeting innovative interventions aimed at maintaining support for open society values, the short description of which can be found below:
June 2009 – August 2011
Grant amount total given under the EF- $ 1,434,592
Co-funding total – $ 1,247,755
In-kind total - $ 253,584
Number of projects - 43
2009
1. Project: Summer Camp for Children with Special Educational Needs
Organization: Yerevan Special Educational Complex for Children with Hearing Impairments (boarding school)
Grant Amount: $24,445
In-Kind Contribution: $4,375
Grant period: July 23, 2009 – August 31, 2009
Purpose: To organize 15 days summer camp activities for 120 children with special educational needs aged 7-13 from four schools (special schools #,2, 8, 17, and Educational Complex for Children with Hearing Disorders. The project envisages facilitating the integration of children into the society via organized summer rest in “Lusabats” camp in Hankavan with their peers from regular schools.
2. Project: Transportation for children with SEN
Organization: 1) Special School # 8 for Children with Speech Problems, 2)Yerevan Special Educational Complex for Children with Hearing Impairment, 3) Medical Psychological Pedagogical Assessment Center of Yerevan
Grant Amount: $12,870
In-Kind Contribution: $2,766
Grant Period: 9 months; September, 2009 – May, 2010
Purpose: To cover transportation costs of three boarding schools for 90 schoolchildren with special educational needs
3. Project: Supporting an “Orran” Center in Vanadzor
Organization: “Orran” Benevolent NGO
Grant Amount: $74,000
Co-funding: $26,060
Grant Period: one year; September 1, 2009 – August 31, 2010
Purpose: To set up a Child Center in the city of Vanadzor to care for 50 neediest children and prevent the ongoing drop out of children from schools due to financial difficulties. The Center will care for 50 children for one year providing basic educational and medical assistance to children who have to seek temporary jobs to help families, daily meals and skills development through numerous trainings
4. Project: Ororots”: Support to Needy Families with Newborns
Organization: “Association of Women with University Education” NGO
Grant Amount: $25,000
Co-funding: $7,500
Grant Period: ten months; October 15, 2009 – July 14, 2010
Purpose: To assist 120 newborn babiesin borderline areas of Tavush region by providing them with items of first necessity till the age of one year. The packages basically include a set of clothes, talcum powder, shoes for children above 4 months, soaps for children, feeding bottles, cotton-tipped sticks for cleaning ears, body oil, a blanket and a bag.
5. Project:Winter Heating for Elderly
Organization:Armenian Caritas, Benevolent NGO
Grant Amount: $25,000
Co-funding: $57,000
GrantPeriod: five months; December 1, 2009 – April 30, 2010
Purpose: To improve the warmth conditions of 560 lonely and disabled elderly from Gyumri, Vanadzor, Gavar and Tashir during winter months’ period by providing source for heating their houses, decreasing the risk of different diseases caused by cold and the mortality rate among the elderly in winter months.
6. Project : “Zangakatun” project
Organization:Tufenkian Charitable Foundation
Grant Amount: $90,478
Co-funding: $98,650
Grant Period: One year; December 15, 2009 – December 14, 2010
Purpose: To expand Zangakatun’s comprehensive social services for 150 families that are impoverished, marginalized, or otherwise vulnerable in two of its three centers located in Vanadzor and Yerevan cities where the number of families needing assistance is high.
2010
7. Project:Provision of nourishment and basic medication to Socially Vulnerable Villagers in the Armavir marz in Armenia
Organization:The Children of Armenia Fund (COAF)
Grant Amount: $24,500
Co-funding: $12,022
Grant Period: four months: January 15, 2010 – April 14, 2010
Purpose: To help 635 villagers from 6 villages of Armavir and Aragatsotn marzes (Argina, Karakert, Shenik, Dalarik, Miasnikyan, Lernagog, Hushakert, Arteni) survive the winter, through provision of basic nutrition to these villagers, vitamins for the most vulnerable individuals within the group, and basic medication to treat a host of medical problems that arise from the physical conditions in which they live, and their quality of life.
8. Project:Support to Farmers’ Families through Provision of Small Grants to Selected Farmers
Organization: Jinishian Memorial Foundation
Grant Amount: $25,000
Co-funding: $25,000
Grant Period: 8 months; March 15, 2010 – November 14, 2010
Purpose: To improve the overall economic situation of farmers by supporting activities of agricultural cooperatives in Armavir, Ararat, Aragatsotn, Vayots Dzor, and Lori marzes to alleviate negative consequences of financial crisis. Overall 10 Farmers' Cooperatives are supported by the Project.
9. Project:Local Heating System installation
Organization:The Armenian Sisters of the Immaculate Conception Our Lady of Armenia Convent
Grant Amount: $66,824
Co-funding: $66,824
Garnt Period: three months; March 25, 2010 – June 30, 3010
Purpose: To improve the space and water heating systems of the summer camp, located in Tsaghkadzor, thus providing 850 disadvantaged children with better opportunities for rest during the summer camp season and allowing the Armenian Sisters to utilize the camp facilities all year round.
10. Project:Global Crisis: Corporate Social Responsibility to Support to High-Risk Groups in Armenia
Organization: Mission Armenia NGO
Grant Amount: $199,000
Co-funding: $432,960
Grant Period: one year; April 1, 2010 – March 31, 2011
Purpose: To provide hot meal to 3,000 beneficiaries (5 days per week) through the 25 Mission Armenia service provision infrastructures in 20 cities/towns in 8 provinces as well as provide social and healthcare services to the 6,000 targeted beneficiaries. The grant will help to maintain operation of 21 soup kitchens that are at risk of shutting down and prevent further suspension of hot meal provision, social and health services to thousands of beneficiaries.
11. Project: Fellowships for VET Disadvantaged Students to be extended in Tavoush bordering marz
Organization: UNDP Vocational Education and Training System (VET) project
Grant Amount: $13,108
Co-funding: $7,705
Grant Period: 20 months; April 1, 2010 – December 31, 2011
Purpose: To create equal opportunities for the needy youth to access vocational education and acquire middle level professional education. The project objective is granting fellowships to the most vulnerable 50 VET students in Tavush Marz with high academic achievement.
12. Project:Evidence-Based Obstetrical Kits for Rural Women
Organization: IntraHealth International, Inc
Grant Amount: $14,400
Co-funding: $45,000
Grant Period: 7 months; May 1, 2010 – December 31, 2010
Purpose: To improve maternal and child health in rural and far-to-reach areas of Armenia through purchase and distribution of 4,000 Evidence-based Obstetrical kits to rural women at project-supported secondary and tertiary level health care facilities. The 4,000 ob kits will support 4,000 births over a period of six months through selected 11 health care facilities.
13. Project:Summer Camp
Organization: Yerevan Medical Pedagogical Assessment Center
Grant Amount: $21,470
In-Kind: $11,299
Grant Period: 5 months; May 1, 2010 – September 30, 2010
Purpose: To organize summer rest activities in Stepanavan for 120 children affected with autism and mental problems aged 6-13 years. The children of four special schools will be recruited.
14. Project: Making Education Accessible to All
Organization: Armavir Special School #1
Grant Amount: $20,000
In-Kind: $2,850
Grant Period: 5 months; June 1, 2010 – October 31, 2010
Purpose: To purchase a minibus that will serve the needs of over 100 schoolchildren with special educational needs of the 29 communities of the marz. It will also help integrate additional 30-40 schoolchildren who currently are deprived of the right to education. With the grant a pottery workshop will be established for the children.
15. Project: Support for increasing the competitive ability of rural youth and strengthening of the community organizations of Amasya region.
Organization: «Huysi Kamar» NGO
Grant Amount: $24,670
In-Kind: $8,760
Grant Period: 12 months; June 1, 2010 – May 31, 2011
Purpose: To equip 100 young boys and girls aged 12-18 from socially vulnerable families with vocational skills in three different vocational fields - sewing, cooking and bookbinding; to establish collaboration between the community organizations, the Resource Center and local businesses to identify needs of job market and prepare specialists accordingly.
16. Project: Project:Summer Camp
Organization:The Armenian Sisters of the Immaculate Conception Our Lady of Armenia Convent
Grant Amount: $10,000
Co-funding: $110,281
Implementation Period: 3 months; June 30, 2010 – September 30, 2010
Purpose: To organize summer rest for 850 disadvantaged children from all the regions of Armenia in Tsaghkadzor.
17. Project: Summer Camp
Organization: Prelacy of Diocese of Armavir, Armenian Apostolic Holy Church
Grant Amount: $25,000
In-Kind: $8,550
Grant Period: June 15, 2010 – August 31, 2010
Purpose: To organize the summer rest of 130 disadvantaged children from needy families from Armavir marz, support their families by lightening the every day care of the children, and sustain and develop the mental, spiritual, and physical capacities of the children via special educational trainings to be conducted in the camp.
18. Project: Summer Camp for Children with Special Educational Needs
Grant Amount: $ 25,000
In-Kind Contribution: $ 10,716
Grant Period: 5 months; May, 2010 – September, 2010
Organization: Yerevan Special Educational Complex for Children with Hearing Impairments (boarding school)
Purpose: To organize the summer rest for 120 children with special educational needs.These children are from special school #2 with mental disabilities, #8 for children severe speech disorders, #17 for children with motor coordination disorders, and Educational Complex for Children with Hearing Disorders. The project envisages facilitating the integration of children into the society via organized summer rest in “Lusabats” camp in Hankavan with their peers from regular schools.
19. Project: Support to Ashtarak Farmers' Group
Organization: «Mansour» NGO
Grant Amount: $ 5,000
In-Kind: $ 2,100
Grant Period: 6 months; July 1 – December 31, 2010
Purpose: To save the unique and innovative agricultural production of valuable sorts of vegetables, that have been developed and involved many regions of the country during recent years, and help the six cooperating farmers to save the crop and have an opportunity for further development.
20. Project: Gavar Special School N1
Organization: Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR)
Grant Amount: $ 25,000
Co-funding $ 45,000
Grant Period: 12 months; July 15, 2010 – July 15, 2011
Purpose: To support physical rehabilitation and vocational training for 90 physically and mentally disable children from Gegharkunik marz. The project will be implemented on the basis of Gavar Special School N1. In particular, it is planned to renovate the sewing/knitting/embroidery, shoe making and wood carving workshops, and provide necessary supplies to ensure uninterrupted vocational training. The project also envisions establishment of a rehabilitation center (renovation, equipment, and training of therapists) to make the physical rehabilitation training accessible to the children.
21. Project: Community-Based Supported Accommodation for Adults with Mental Disabilities
Organization: «Khnamk» NGO
Grant Amount: $ 25,000
In-Kind: $ 6,000
Grant Period: 12 months; July 15, 2010 – July 15, 2011
Purpose: To help the NGO continue providing services to 60 people with mental disability during crisis times and get an opportunity to receive the state order for further functioning that was previously rejected on account of the financial crisis.
22. Project: Support to kindergarten in Dovegh village
Organization: Voske Tsghi NGO
Grant Amount: $ 2,040
In-Kind: $700
Grant Period: 5 months; August 15, 2010 – January 15, 2011
Purpose: To provide food for 30 children aged 2-6 from needy families attending the kindergarten in Dovegh community in Tavush during five moths.
23. Project: Transportation for children with SEN
Organization: 1) Medical psychological pedagogical Assessment Center of Yerevan; 2) Special School #8 for Children with Speech Problems; 3) Yerevan Special Educational Complex for Children with Hearing Impairment.
Grant Amount: $27,800
In-Kind Contribution: $6,950
Grant Period: 10 months; August 2010 – June 2011
Purpose: To cover transportation costs of three boarding schools for 280 schoolchildren with special educational needs
24. Project: Prevention of Child Poverty in Kotayk province
Organization: Children’s Support Center Foundation (CSCF)
Grant Amount: $38,700
In-Kind Contribution: $37,440
Grant Period: 18 months; November 15, 2010 – May 14, 2012
Purpose: To identify and support 50 children from socially vulnerable families in Kotayk marz. The project addressing the problem of child poverty envisions targeted and professional assistance to children in difficulties and at risk as well as their families. In collaboration with the local government and child protection network it particularly envisages to provide an outreach child protection approach (helping children in families).
25. Project: Organization of Day Care for Disabled Children
Organization: «Astghatsolq» NGO
Grant Amount: $13,166
In-kind contribution: $4,956
Grant Period: 12 months; January 1, 2011 – December 31, 2011.
Purpose: To recommence provision of comprehensive social services that were halted due to the financial crisis to 30 disabled children in Chambarak Day Care Center for disabled children. The project envisages activities in three directions; 1) provision of social and psychological assistance to the children and their families (counseling, feeding, and transportation to/from the Center), 2) tutoring and vocational trainings, and 3) foster care service and trainings for the parents of disabled children attending the Center.
26. Project: Child’s Center in Vanadzor
Organization: Orran NGO
Grant Amount: $67,647
In-Kind Contribution: $20,194
Grant period: January 1, 2011 – December 31, 2011
Purpose: To continue serve at least 55 vagrant and needy school-aged children after school by providing them a daily hot meal, tutorial assistance with homework, medical, dental, psychological services and extracurricular activities which will include a rich cultural program as well as vocational training.
27. Project:Providing opportunity to children in Artamet community to attend kindergarten and receive pre-school education.
Organization: Women’s Union after St. Sandukht
Grant Amount: $10,922
Co-funding: $5,000
Grant period: February 1, 2011– March 31, 2011
Purpose: To provide opportunity to at least 30 kids from Artamet village to attend a kindergarten in neighboring Mrgashen village. For this purpose a minibus will be purchased in order to organize regular transportation of the children to the kindergarten in Mrgashen and back to their places.
2011
28. Project: “Ororots” (Cradle) Support to Needy Families with Newborns
Organization: Armenian Association of Women with University Education.
Grant Amount: $ 25,000
Co-funding $ 22,200
Grant Period: 12 months; January 1, 2011 – December 31, 2011
Purpose: To support socially vulnerable families with newborns (0-12 months) via distribution of support packages for newborns in remote and borderline regions of Armenia. The support package includes the first necessary emergency kits (6-month supplies of basic nutrition and goods, including soap, reusable diapers, blanket, etc).
29. Project: Fast Impact Grant to Farmer’s Cooperatives
Organization: Jinishian Memorial Foundation
Grant Amount: $ 25,000
Co-funding $ 27,000
Grant Period: Two months; March 1, 2011 – April 30, 2011
Purpose: To mitigate negative consequences of financial crisis and year 2010 unfavorable agricultural season on farmers by delivering first aid agricultural inputs to 8 agricultural cooperatives with 335 members in Armavir, Aragatsotn and Vayots Dzor provinces to start agricultural activities from early spring of 2011. For this purpose fast impact grants will be awarded to 8 Cooperatives in terms of the most urgent agricultural inputs (fertilizers, cellophane and seeds)enabling them to start agricultural season from early spring.
30. Project:Reopening the Public Soup Kitchen in Chambarak town
Organization: Prim NGO
Grant Amount: $8,000
Co-funding: $5,300
Grant Period: Six months; April 1, 2011 – October 31, 2011.
Purpose: To reopen and organize the work of the public soup kitchen in Chambarak through provision of one-time daily hot meal and multifaceted social assistance for 60 socially disadvantaged beneficiaries during six months period.
31. Project: Financial support to blind professional musicians
Organization: Musical Collectives of Blind Association of Armenia
Grant Amount: $ 13,520
In-kind $ 8,000
Grant Period: Nine months; April 1, 2011 – January 31, 2012
Purpose: To provide financial support for functioning of the Musical Collectives of Blind Association of Armenia; the only professional collective of blinds in Armenia. The grant will be used for: assistance to 45 musicians and choir singers; concert halls renting for organizing concerts, as well as organization of the collective’s 35-th anniversary concert.
32. Project: Summer Camp for 120 Children with special educational needs
Organization: Yerevan Special Educational Complex for Children with Hearing Impairments
Grant Amount: $ 25,000
In-kind: $ 10,716
Grant Period: Three months: June 1, 2011 – August 31, 2011
Purpose: To organize 15-day summer holidays for 120 children, aged 7-13, with special educational needs, from four Yerevan special schools in inclusive environment of “Lusabats” summer rest house in Hankavan resort; to organize children’s leisure time through games and competitions and other activities; to provide professional support to promote social integration of the children with peers from regular schools.
33. Project: SupportingDisabled Students
Organization: Modern Humanitarian Academy (MHA)
Grant Amount: $ 6 804
Co-funding: $ 5 816
Grant Period: June 1, 2011 – May 31, 2014
Purpose: To pay the tuition fee for two disabled students in Chambarak and Tashir for studding at MHA via on-line remote educational systems using personal computers enabling them to receive higher education without leaving their homes. The requested amount will be used for paying the tuition fee for two students during 3 years until the graduation.
34. Project: Summer Camp for Disadvantaged Children from Armavir Province
Organization: Armavir Diocese of Armenian Apostolic Holy Church
Grant Amount: $25,000
In-kind: $17,050
Grant Period: June 1, 2011 – August 31, 2011
Purpose: To organize a summer camp including educational, cultural, sport, and other activities for 113 children aged 9-13 in two relays (15 days each) in “Lusabats” camp of Hankavan during the hottest period of summer which is especially unbearable in Armavir (July-August).
35. Project: Rehabilitation Camp for children with special educational needs
Organization: Yerevan Medical Psychological Pedagogical Assessment Center
Grant Amount: $24 843
In-kind: $10 616
Garnt Period: June 1, 2011 – August 31, 2011
Purpose: To organize a summer camp for children with special educational needs from special schools of Armenia in Stepanavan. Within the framework of the project it is planned to involve 120 children with special educational needs (autistic, mentally retarded and with development problems) in a summer camp activities and assist them in integration process by organizing the rehabilitation camp .
36. Project: “Expansion of the “Zangakatun” Program in Armenia”
Organization: Tufenkian Foundation
Grant Amount: $145,803
Co-funding: $145,803
Grant period: June 1, 2011 – May 31, 2012
Purpose: To expand the services provided to socially vulnerable and marginalized families by Zangakatun Program of Tufenkian Foundation in three centers of the Program - in Yeravan, Vanadzor and Metsamor. The services include comprehensive social assistance both to children and families via personal rehabilitation and prevention programs, psychological and legal counseling, support for beneficiaries’ rights, support for children’s education and behavior through educational and tutoring services and daily hot meal for children.
37. Project: “Pilot Local Purchases for WFP’s «Development of Sustainable School Feeding»”
Organization: World Food Program
Grant Amount: $100,000
Co-funding: $ 87,422
Grant Period: June 1, 2011 – May 31, 2012
Purpose: To introduce a Home-Grown School Feeding (HGSF) project within the frames of a nation-wide School Feeding Program to use school feeding as a platform to stimulate local agricultural production and development by linking the project demand with local food production. HGSF will then evolve as part of the transition to government ownership. The grant will be used to pilot local purchases – namely production of 125 tones of biscuit bars with fruit filling to be distributed to about 6500 pupils.
38. Project: Inclusive Outdoor Summer Camp
Organization: Full Life NGO
Grant Amount: $5,000
In-kind: $2,270
Grant period: August 1, 2011 – August 31, 2011
Purpose: To organize an inclusive summer camp for children with disabilities and children from socially underprivileged families, residing in Stepanavan, Spitak and surrounding communities. With the current assets of the NGO, matched to the grant, it will be possible to accommodate 42 children and teenagers (27 with, 15 without disabilities). The camp lasts 7 days, in August.
39. Project: Preservation and Development of Community Rehabilitation Centers in Armenia
Organization: Armenian Center for Health and Education
Grant Amount: $20,000
Co-funding: $ 47,300
Grant period: September 1, 2011 – August 31, 2012
Purpose: To help continue provision of psychological rehabilitation services within “Juvenile Justice” initiative both to the juvenile criminals and aggrieved parties in three Centers (Yerevan, Gyumri, Alaverdi) for a year. Overall 1170 people will benefit the project.
40. Project: Restoration of Irrigation System in Gandzaqar Community )
Organization: Ijevan Communities Union
Grant Amount: $18,400
In-kind: $10,185
Grant period: August 15, 2011 – November 14, 2011
Purpose: To mitigate the farmers' problems via restoring the damaged irrigation system of Gandzqar village and provide the farmers with an opportunity to farm their household lands enabling about 650 farmer households to irrigate more than 125 hectares of land and get additional crop. There will be a possibility to restart operation of two cattle-farms with a capacity of about 200 heads.
41. Project: Food for Arteni kindergarten
Organization: Arteni Community Authorities
Grant Amount: $6,180
In-kind: $22,400
Grant period: August 1, 2011 – April 30, 2012
Purpose: To organize normal operation of the kindergarten in Arteni during six months. The grant funds will cover the part of expenses for purchase of food for 96 children attending the kindergarten during six months.
42. Project: Theatrical Performances for Disadvantaged Children
Organization: UNIMA Armenian Creative Group
Grant Amount: $25,000
In-kind: $8,600
Grant period: August 25, 2011 – December 31, 2011
Purpose: To organize mobile outdoor 34 theatrical performances in nine towns and communities as well as in special schools throughout the country mostly in districts where socially disadvantaged and vulnerable families live. The performances are addressed to children aimed at their educational and awareness rising with a specific target at civil and human rights, tolerance and freedoms as well as many other issues voiced up via the performances.
43. Project: Community-Based Supported Accommodation for Adults with Mental Disabilities
Organization: «Khnamk» NGO
Grant Amount: $ 25,000
In-Kind: $ 6,000
Grant period: September 1, 2011 – August 31, 2012
Purpose: To help the NGO continue providing services to 80 people with mental disability during crisis times and get an opportunity to receive the state order for further functioning that was previously rejected on account of the financial crisis.
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