The final presentation of the Dilijan City Park project for renovation and development was held. The meeting took place in the format of an open discussion with residents and guests of the city of different professions and age groups. The opinions and ideas of the participants received during the presentation will be taken into account while finalizing the final concept.

Dilijan City Park is the main city’s green public space. At the moment, the park does not meet modern standards of improvement. In 2022, within the Dilijan Comprehensive Development Program Impulse Management Company and Project Group 8 architects team initiated a park renovation project.

This is the first project in Armenia using the participatory design method, where, in addition to architects, sociologists, anthropologists, dendrologists, water engineers and other specialists, local residents are involved in the development of the project.

During the preparation for the project, the team of architects, in partnership with the Socies sociological center and urban media Urbanista.am, conducted 32 express interviews with park visitors, 29 personal and group interviews with citizens, 12 focus groups, and 3 city-wide discussions. 267 questionnaires from citizens were collected regarding their opinions and requests. In total, more than 600 people took part in the work on the park development concept.

The study of park users and their needs in the framework of the scoping study identified five main requests from the residents of Dilijan, which were reflected in the project:

1. The park should work in any weather (sheds from the rain, comfortable paths, and infrastructure for winter recreation are needed).
2. The park needs areas for creativity and study.
3. The park lacks conditions for interaction with water (piers and boats, an open embankment, and regulated fishing).
4. The park should create points of contact between the city and the forest (outputs to hiking trails, connection with Dilijan National Park).
5. The park is a visiting card and image of Dilijan (a reflection of the culture, history, identity of the city).

The park improvement project will be launched in stages and will consist of:

– development of an artificial lake zone, where it is planned to create public spaces and infrastructure for the use of water resources;

– the area near the old hotel, which is designed to become the main event platform for mass cultural events;

– improvement of the embankment and the central avenue;

– creating an event field with areas for outdoor work, picnics, and chamber events;

– expansion and renovation of the existing playground;

– improving the existing sports infrastructure and launching new facilities for outdoor and indoor sports.

The full program for the renovation and development of Dilijan city park, sociological research, the results of city discussions, as well as a feedback form for ideas and suggestions are available on the official website of the project.

The project initiators are Impulse management company and Dilijan city park team, the project developer is Project Group 8 team, the media partner is Urbanista.am.

The Ministry of ESCS of the RA announces a tender for the allocation of grants for the “Creation of Youth Centers.”

Within the framework of the contest, grants will be provided to the winners to create youth centers (or youth environments) in the regions of the Republic of Armenia.

The participants can take part in the competition in the order of joint activity (consortium). The total grant fund is 52 million 644 thousand (fifty-two million six hundred and forty-four thousand, including VAT) AMD. More than one participant can win.

The participant (organization) must meet the following minimum qualification criteria to participate in the competition:

• at least 3 years of youth center management experience (experience in organizing youth work with a social entrepreneurial model will be considered an advantage),
• experience of project staff (project staff must have 3 years of youth work experience),
• existence of a social entrepreneurship model,
• space necessary for the operation of the center.

The number of beneficiaries should be at least 200 young people for each year in the programs to be implemented during the following five years submitted by the grant applications of the participants recognized as winners.

Applications must be submitted through the electronic armeps (www.armeps.am) system by February 20, 2023, 11:00 a.m.

Applications that propose to create a youth center in Ijevan and Meghri communities will not be considered within the framework of the competition.

The family of Arkady Melikbekyan, who died in the 44-day war, invites you on February 10 at 14:30 to Azatamut Culture House, where the presentation of the book “Arko, the Hero of Hadrut” dedicated to the memory of Arkady Melikbekyan, will take place.

On February 19, the day of donating a book, an event dedicated to the works of Albert Papyan is initiated at the community culture house of Berd.

Those who wish can join by contacting the Berd House of Culture in advance.

“Agate” Center for the Protection of Rights of Women with Disabilities NGO invites media representatives and bloggers from Shirak, Lori and Tavush Regions to participate in the two-day training organized within the framework of the “I can break stereotypes in my community” program.

The course will take place on February 25-26, in Tsaghkadzor.

The deadline for the applications is February 10.

You can fill out the online application by following the link.
https://forms.gle/Hfq4wF64fZgko4mu9
The details:  https://bit.ly/40axyyA

As part of the “Workforce Development in Armenia” program, the Fund for Armenian Relief announces a free “Confectionery” course, which will be implemented in cooperation with Dilijan State College.

Who can participate:

Young people aged 15-29 from Dilijan and neighboring settlements who are engaged in confectionery or intend to work in that field.

• The start on February 15, 2023
• Duration: one month
• Participation is free
• Location: Dilijan, Dilijan State College
• Format: Classroom

You can apply for the program with the following link http://bitly.ws/zxEc

Lavrenti Mirzoyan, the president of “Tavush” patriotic union, talks about his work and “book” rich biography, always inseparable from Tavush, about valuing and preserving our heritage, as well as about facing new opportunities and ideas.

During the past four months, the Civil Youth Center has carried out an evaluation of the quality of services provided by intra-community transportation, a study of public opinion on the quality of services, a public discussion was also held with the participation of community authorities, NGOs, educational institutions, and young people to present the recorded results and to find map solutions.

Today CYC met with the Mayor of ijevan, Arthur Chagharyan, and the head of the Transportation Department of the Municipality Egar Ghazaryan and presented the whole package of recommendations aimed at improving intra-community transportation.

Within the framework of EU Local Empowerment of Actors for Development in Lori and Tavush Regions program, “The Aghstev Valley” LAG (local active group) invites to submit an application for a grant competition for implementation of local development initiatives in Azatamut, Aygehovit, Kayan, Vazashen, Ditavan, Khashtarak, Lusahovit, Lusadzor, Aknaghbyur, Achajur, Sarigyugh, Sevqar, Acharkut, Tsaghkavan, Kirants, Berkaber settlements of Ijevan community in Tavush Region.

The deadline for the applications is February 12, 2023, at 18:00 (Yerevan time). For more details click on the link below:
https://drive.google.com/…/1KvCRuB573pzUxXyM4verd390zPd…

For questions you can contact aghstevi.hovit.lag@gmail.com  or +37441311319 (Karine Saribekyan).

Online meetings will be organized on February 3rd and 9th from 11:00 to 12:00 to clarify the issues related to filling out the application for the expression of interest of the grant program. The link is below:

https://undp.zoom.us/j/82486593516…

“Bridge of Hope” NGO, within the framework of the “Support today for tomorrow’s independent life” program implemented in Tavush Region, RA, through the organization’s “Child Development and Social Inclusion” centers located in Dilijan, Ijevan, Berd and Noyemberyan cities of Tavush Region, RA, announces “All of us different, all of us equal” drawing competition.

Students 1-12th grades of public schools of Tavush Region can participate in the competition.

The deadline is February 25, 2023.

If you have any questions, you can write to their Facebook page.