The World Bank (WB) Social Protection Sector Manager in Europe and Central Asia, Andrew Mason, who is in Armenia on a current visit, together with the WB representative, Task Team Leader of “Strengthening the Livelihoods and Voice of the Poor and Vulnerable Persons in Armenia” grant project Marina Petrovic visited Lori region on the 3rd of November.

They were accompanied by World Bank representative Satik Nairyan, who is in charge of “Strengthening the Livelihoods and Voice of the Poor and Vulnerable Persons in Armenia” project, as well as “Mission Armenia” representative, project coordinator Sophie Nersisyan.

The first stop was made in Vanadzor Multifunctional Center of “Mission Armenia” NGO, where poor and disabled people who participated in on-the-job trainings on “Armenian Software_Accounting MIS”, as well as “Cooking”, “Confectionary” and “Table design” vocational training at educational center within the framework of “Strengthening the Livelihoods and Voice of the Poor and Vulnerable Persons in Armenia” project were awarded with certificates on the trainings' successful completion, as well as where signing of grant agreements for establishing start-up businesses took place.

46 beneficiaries were awarded with certificates on successful completion of “Cooking”, “Confectionary” and “Table design” Vocational  training courses delivered in the framework of the 1st Component, 12 beneficiaries were awarded with certificates on successful completion of “Armenian Software – Accounting MIS” on-the-job training. 4 beneficiaries received grants for establishing a start-up business: two from Vanadzor, two from Alaverdi cities.

Archbishop Sepouh Chuljian, the Primate of the Diocese of Gougark in Armenia was present at the event, together with “Mission Armenia” NGO beneficiaries, representatives of local authorities, local NGOs and mass media. The event commenced with the blessing of Archbishop Sepouh Chuljian. Welcoming speeches and congratulations were expressed by Sophie Nersisyan and Andrew Mason.

“Basically the World Bank has two main goals: try to eliminate extreme poverty and promote overall access to welfare. As a result we provide loans to various countries for the implementation of development projects. The experts of the WB Yerevan office, which are not only local but also international, aim to help the communities so that they can implement community development projects, as well as to support the RA Government in undertaking social development programmes”, - noted the WB Social Protection Sector Manager in Europe and Central Asia,Andrew Mason.

He also shared his impressions, expressing his satisfaction with the results of the work carried out in the framework of the Project.

“In addition to loans that we have, we often succeed to attract grants, which we provide to NGOs implementing various social development projects. In case of Armenia our success was quite noticeable, as we managed to attract grant and provide it to “Mission Armenia” NGO for the implementation of “Strengthening the Livelihoods and Voice of the Poor and Vulnerable Persons in Armenia” project”, - added Andrew Mason.

He mentioned that the real impact of the “Mission Armenia” project on the most vulnerable segments is obvious.

“One more significant factor is that “Mission Armenia” works with an important social group which is disabled people, and today we can see what a tremendous job was done both in terms of vocational and other trainings, and in terms of other activities undertaken by the Project. On behalf of myself and my colleagues present here, I would like to note that we are happy to be here and are always ready to support. Upon my return to Washington I will definitely share my impressions about the successful work conducted here with my colleagues”, - noted Andrew Mason.

After the event the WB and “Mission Armenia” representatives accompanied by Nerses Karapetyan, the consultant of on-the-job trainings of the 1st Component, visited a silversmith workshop of SP Rouzanna Danielyan operating In Vanadzor, as well as Ofma LLC greenhouse in Spitak.

7 beneficiaries participating in silversmith on-the-job training presented their works to the guests, shared the knowledge gained during the training. In Ofma LLC greenhouse the WB and “Mission Armenia” representatives got to know the greenhouse crops growing process, constructing and managing a greenhouse, learnt during the “ Greenhouse keeping” on the job training , as well as the visitors had chance to talk to the training participants and conductors.

At the end of the visit the WB representative, the Task Team Leader of “Strengthening the Livelihoods and Voice of the Poor and Vulnerable Persons in Armenia” grant project Marina Petrovic summarised the Project results.

“During previous visits to Armenia we’ve been in resource centres for disabled people, however we still couldn’t evaluate the carried out work and estimate the results, as either the project was just launched and we needed to organise events, or they were still in process. Today for the first time we came to understand which are the main outputs of the undertaken activities”, - said Petrovic.

According to Marina Petrovic the fact that as a result of the Project not only trainings are delivered successfully and participants are certified, but also the fact that most of them are already employed is just great.

“From the WB point of view we can state that this is a successful project, also in terms of support the Lori region”, - mentioned Marina Petrovic.

The project is implemented by “Mission Armenia” NGO with the support of the World Bank and the Government of Armenia and is financed by Japan Social Development Fund (JSDF).