ART Annual Partnership Meeting

The Armenia Round Table convened its regular annual partnership meeting (summarizing activities of 2007 and 2008 and shaping plans for 2009) with the involvement of 50 representatives of the Armenian Apostolic, Catholic and Evangelical Churches, local implementing partner NGOs, ecumenical partners and other stakeholders through September 18-19 at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
The meeting started on 18 September with a welcome address by His Eminence Archbishop Pargev Martirossyan, Primate of Artsakh Diocese and Chairman of the ART Board of Trustees. Presentations with a general overview of ART work and situation in Armenia, ART Integrated Community Development, Capacity Building, Peace Building and Reconciliation Programmes were made by ART executive director and programme officers. ART staff reflected on activities and results of projects carried out throughout 2007 and 2008. ART chief accountant reported on ART financial results according to incomes and expenditures for ART administration and programmes for 2007.
Social diakonia, social services in Armenia and Germany were introduced on September 19. The Primate of Shirak Diocese, His Grace Bishop Mickael Ajapahyan presented the social service implemented by Shirak Diocese through the Social Center operating under the auspices of the Diocese. His Eminence emphasized that the Church along with carrying out her primary mission should be engaged in provision of social services to vulnerable population. “The Church diaconal service should be eternal until the Christ Advent” – said the Bishop in conclusion of his presentation.
Ms. Anna Voskanyan, lecturer of Sociological Department of Yerevan State University presented Church social service and social work, similarities and differences as well as prospects of cooperation through the analysis of micro and macro objectives of the concepts for social work and Church social services, fundamental and traditional social work, etc. According to Ms. Voskanyan, a social worker should have a world-view on social work, enough capacity for identifying issues, bringing them up and finding solution.
The work of Bread for the World and social diakonia in Germany was presented by Ms. Uta Kokhler-Babanin, Programme Officer of Diakonisches Werk. The presentation reflected on history and background of Bread for the World, origin, general principals of social work in Germany, independent charitable associations and the structure of diaconal service of Evangelical Churches in Germany.
On both days the presentations followed by lively discussions and answer-question sessions. Participants were asked to break into groups and discussions were evolved around future steps of ART work, sustainability of activities, partners’ expectations, etc. Group presentations made, suggestions and conclusions recorded by ART. Minutes of the meeting will be prepared and followed up by staff in Programme work.