Six non-governmental organizations from the provinces of Vayots Dzor and Syunik, participating in a series of trainings within the framework of the Coalition Building Project initiated in a joint effort by the Armenian Assembly of America (www.aaainc.org, AAA), The League of Women Voters of the United States, the Yerevan-based NGO Center Civil Society Development Organization, announced the creation of a “Clean Community Coalition”.

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At a press conference in Tesaket press club November 26th the representatives of the coalition member organizations stated their mission to promote environmental protection and encourage healthy lifestyle in their communities. In particular the participants stated of their commitment to promote programs aimed to improve garbage collection on the local level.

As Anna Hovhannisyan, program manager for the Armenian Young Women’s Association said, the organizations have already met with the local authorities in Yeghegnadzor and Vayk and have received a welcoming support from them.

The participants also underlined the major problem in communities involved (as much as others across the republic) is the lack of clear understanding of the hazards environmental problems hold for human health. They also noted a lack of cooperation on a social level and declared their commitment to assisting in environmental protection efforts by increasing awareness of the problems in their communities expressing hopes the initiative may instigate interest of other communities as well.

Armenian Assembly of America country director for Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh Arpi Vartanian said: “The Women Voters’ League, the NGO Center and the Armenian Assembly of America hope this will have a continuation. I know that this issue does not refer to Syunik and Vayots Dzor alone, but Armenia in general. I hope everybody will unite and support these NGOs.”

Following the press conference certificates on participation were handed over to all the organizations at the AAA Yerevan office.