ACT Armenia Forum Annual Meeting

The first extended ACT Armenia Forum annual meeting took place in the newly renovated Catholicos Gevorg VI Chorekchyan Inter-Church Centre on May 15 and 16, 2014.

Day 1 of the meeting started with Lord’s Prayer and blessing by Bishop Markos Hovhannisyan, ART President of the Board of Trustees. 
After short introduction of participants “Basics of ACT Alliance” was presented kindly shared by the ACT Alliance Secretariat.  

Alla Sarkissova, ART Emergency Preparedness Officer presented projects of 2013 in response to emergencies, such as assistance to Syrian Refugees in Armenia and “Supporting Syrian Armenians” documentary describing these activities.
 Karine Bagdasaryan, PO, ART, Convener of ACT Armenia Forum, started her report with ACT Armenia Forum formation in 2011 with the joint efforts of ART, UMCOR Armenia Mission and ECLOF Foundation in Armenia.  Then continued to 2013 activities, stating than plans for 2013 have been fulfilled with joint efforts of Forum members.  Participation in trainings, including related to emergencies, joint project on renovation of drinking water pipeline was implemented inTsapatagh,  Gegharkunik province, continued support  to Syrian refugees, participation in ACT Alliance Advisory Groups (Climate Change Advocacy and Capacity Building) and Community of Practice (Psycho-Social Support).
Important were Armenia Forum participation in discussions of ACT Alliance strategic documents, such as  “Changing development paradigm”,  ACT Alliance 2015-2018 strategies, ACT Alliance Climate Change Advocacy future strategies, etc.
Plans for ACT Armenian Forum for 2014 were presented, including support to Syrian refugees both in Armenia and in Syria with housing and job creation as priorities, trainings and joint projects.
Norwegian Church Aid’s Emergency work was presented by Arne Dale, NCA.
At the end of the Day 1 Dr. Nazaryan, ART Executive Director, thanked everyone for presentations and participation, and especially participants from Aleppo NGO who gave a “flavor to the meeting”. 
Bishop Markos appreciated the meeting and its format that gives a place for analysis, promoting collaboration among ACT Armenia Forum members.
  Day 2 was devoted to project site visits.  Armenia Forum Meeting participants met Syrian refugees  in Araratian Pontifical Diocese and attended an emergency preparedness show in Metsamor.