Armenian Church And Social Work, Volunteerism And European Voluntary Service Meeting-Discussion With ART Partners

A meeting of ART local partners and high rank clergy of the Armenian Church was invited by ART to discuss social work by the Church in Armenia, volunteerism and European Voluntary Service programme on August 16, 2011 in the meeting hall of Gevorgyan Theological Seminary in Etchmiadzin. The meeting was attended by about 45 people representing Church related social service centers, NGOs and youth unions.
A key note speaker to the meeting was His Grace Bishop Arshak Khachatryan, Chancellor of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, a welcome and complementary speech made by His Grace Bishop Hovakim Manoukayn, the meeting co-chaired by His Grace Bishop Markos Hovhannisyan, Chairman of ART Board of Trustees and Dr Karen Nazaryan, Executive Director of ART.
His Grace Bishop Arshak introduced a wide range of Church activities and vision for social work, and attached importance to information sharing and awareness raising undertakings by ART and its partners. A session with questions-answers and clarifications followed.
Volunteerism and its values, benefits and challenges of volunteering were discussed, distinctions given to voluntary, charity and social work, acts of giving and doing for free will.
The European Voluntary Service (EVS) programme was introduced in a power point presentation. ART informed on its EVS accreditation as of a sending organization issued by SALTO Eastern Europe and Caucasus Resource Centre in April 2011. ART partners were invited to recommend candidates for participation in EVS and define areas of interest and needs so that to improve capacities of youth volunteering and working in ART partner organizations.
ART annual meeting was discussed, suggestions for project presentations by partners welcomed, it was agreed that ART annual meeting date and project reporting format will be coordinated with partners in advance.
The event as opined by partners was practical in terms of obtaining first hand information and functional for immediate exchange and sharing.