Innovative practices in Bulgaria
Sharing innovations for improving local self-government
Improving the School Environment
Armenian School Association "S. Havagimian"
Background
Armenian School Association Stepannos Hovagimyan Sofia is a non governmental organization acting as educational and humanitarian centre. It was created in April 1996 and designed to support Armenian language learning. There was a strong need for creating an Armenian Saturday school and offering training from which people have been deprived before. The most obvious problems however were the miserable and uncomfortable rooms available at the Armenian people s house.
Armenian School Association Stepannos Hovagimyan Sofia is a non governmental organization acting as educational and humanitarian centre. It was created in April 1996 and designed to support Armenian language learning. There was a strong need for creating an Armenian Saturday school and offering training from which people have been deprived before. The most obvious problems however were the miserable and uncomfortable rooms available at the Armenian people s house.
Practice
The association is enthusiastic and vigorous in organizing the curricula in the Saturday school, regardless of the decreasing numbers of those willing to study. The reason for this trend was found to be only one the need of changing the schooling environment. A project was developed in response to this problem, which was supported by the Cooperating Netherlands Foundations with 11 900 USD for renewing the premises used for training and social facilities, aimed at protecting and keeping the Armenian identity.
Many building companies competed in winning the reconstruction of the site; the Association selected the most suitable and attractive offer. Reconstruction work started in April 1999 and finalised in all due deadlines and quality in spite of some difficulties during the repair process: construction works in the neighbourhood blocked the entrance of the house and this resulted in manual hard work; constant water-supply cut offs also made it hard to process. The excellent funding procedures of the Cooperating Netherlands Foundations Program and the impeccable work of the program coordinator added to the successful end of reconstruction works.
We should not speak about the problems, we can only feel relaxed and happy about the special care and support on behalf of the Cooperating Netherlands Foundations for our Association and the Armenian community in Bulgaria. We felt the encouragement of some Armenian organizations which were fully supportive in this endeavour for renewing the image of our house , shared with us the project manager and chairman of the Armenian School Society engineer Onik Pilibosyan.
The renewed premises were officially opened by Father Kusan Hadavyan on October 8th 1999 and all who showed friendly support and hard work for the successful initiative. The Armenian house displays a modest plaque reminding every visitor about the hard work accomplished.
The association is enthusiastic and vigorous in organizing the curricula in the Saturday school, regardless of the decreasing numbers of those willing to study. The reason for this trend was found to be only one the need of changing the schooling environment. A project was developed in response to this problem, which was supported by the Cooperating Netherlands Foundations with 11 900 USD for renewing the premises used for training and social facilities, aimed at protecting and keeping the Armenian identity.
Many building companies competed in winning the reconstruction of the site; the Association selected the most suitable and attractive offer. Reconstruction work started in April 1999 and finalised in all due deadlines and quality in spite of some difficulties during the repair process: construction works in the neighbourhood blocked the entrance of the house and this resulted in manual hard work; constant water-supply cut offs also made it hard to process. The excellent funding procedures of the Cooperating Netherlands Foundations Program and the impeccable work of the program coordinator added to the successful end of reconstruction works.
We should not speak about the problems, we can only feel relaxed and happy about the special care and support on behalf of the Cooperating Netherlands Foundations for our Association and the Armenian community in Bulgaria. We felt the encouragement of some Armenian organizations which were fully supportive in this endeavour for renewing the image of our house , shared with us the project manager and chairman of the Armenian School Society engineer Onik Pilibosyan.
The renewed premises were officially opened by Father Kusan Hadavyan on October 8th 1999 and all who showed friendly support and hard work for the successful initiative. The Armenian house displays a modest plaque reminding every visitor about the hard work accomplished.
Results
Four rooms, two lobbies and many others parts of the building were renewed. The premises now are extremely useful and efficient for the training and social activities carried out there for the Armenian groups in Bulgaria. But the ambitions do not stop here. All volunteer Armenian organizations keep on doing public work together aiming at integrating in the Bulgarian society without losing their own image and identity. The Armenian school has widened its activities in creating two groups for primary school instruction.
Four rooms, two lobbies and many others parts of the building were renewed. The premises now are extremely useful and efficient for the training and social activities carried out there for the Armenian groups in Bulgaria. But the ambitions do not stop here. All volunteer Armenian organizations keep on doing public work together aiming at integrating in the Bulgarian society without losing their own image and identity. The Armenian school has widened its activities in creating two groups for primary school instruction.
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