Gagrule.net

Gagrule.net News, Views, Interviews worldwide

Armenia: Adopt-a-Village: Strengthening Vayots Dzor Villages

By

by Len Wicks,

Could Armenia be lost one day? Many worry that the nation is vulnerable, especially with weak rural economies that rely on subsistence farming and any resultant village depopulation.

Three years ago the Adopt-a-Village (AAV) initiative first launched. AAV aims to reconnect the Armenian diaspora with the homeland, so that every Armenian village has a mentor to advise them (http://originsdiscovery.com/Adopt-a-Village.html).

Demonstrating the growth of the programme, 32 micro-projects in 14 different sites across Vayots Dzor Province are about to be implemented during 5 – 7 April 2018. The micro-projects are in five different areas: agriculture, education, high-quality handicraft, tourism and utilities.

AAV isn’t about big money projects, but micro-projects, some not involving cash. Corruption is minimised through a direct relationship between the diaspora and villages. Projects are decided by the Armenian diaspora in consultation with villages. However, while the diaspora normally coordinate, both Armenians and ‘Friends of Armenia’ are encouraged to participate. More than half the funds for the 2018 projects came from non-Armenians!

Some of the key projects in 2018 include:

  • a high quality handicraft industry based in Chiva, thanks to Singaporean Samuel Seow;
  • a research tour by a senior Chinese travel agent’s association representative, to consider the potential of Chinese tourists and business people visiting Armenia, and even direct flights between China and Armenia – this is funded by the Thailand-based author of the novel Origins: Discovery (http://originsdiscovery.com/);
  • renovation of the library in Khachik school supported by New Zealander Ara Kassabian; and
  • tourist road signs to encourage tourists to explore the Silk Road Wine Trail, which was established in 2016.

In Australia, AAV is kindly endorsed by His Grace Bishop Haigazoun Najarian and the Premier of New South Wales, Gladys Berejiklian. These visionary leaders know that simple frameworks like AAV can transform the entire nation with support from diaspora around the world, and allow Armenia to reach its ultimate potential – the ‘Switzerland of the Caucasus’.

For more information on AAV, please go to: http://originsdiscovery.com/Adopt-a-Village.html
(all expressions of support from the diaspora and Friends of Armenia are very welcome).

Len Wicks

March 2018

Transforming Armenian Villages “Adopt A Village Project” – connecting Diaspora “Video”

By

adopt-a-vilage-740By Wally Sarkeesian
Transforming Armenia
On 29 September 2016 something magical happened in Vayots Dzor Province, Armenia. It wasn’t just the sound of Armenian music or the dancing of young villagers. It was a day when the Armenian diaspora were able to connect directly with their fellow Armenians in a unique way.
The Adopt-a-Village Project (AAV) is an idea by Australia/New Zealand genocide activist Len Wicks, who is author of Origins: Discovery, a novel that features Armenia. Len married Armine Hakobyan in 2011 and since then has been on a quest for positive change in the Fatherland.
Everyone present – diaspora, tourists, dignitaries and ordinary villagers – were captivated by the simple concept of each village in Armenia having a mentor who organized direct assistance from the diaspora and friends of Armenia living in the diaspora nation. AAV uses direct, transparent micro-projects to avoid corruption. The scheme has the potential to systematically transform the nation, by strengthening the economic independence of the most vulnerable Armenians in rural villages. It’s surprising that this hasn’t been done before.

We witnessed a gathering of people from around the world at the unveiling of the Karas Monument – designed by Len as a tourist icon to symbolize the start of the Silk Road Wine Trail that he’s promoting for tourism. Excited young villagers unfurled a 125 metre Armenian flag from the monument, singing Mer Hayrenik.
They were happy to know that others cared for them and the future was brighter.
It was noted that villagers have to play their part too. They have to clean up their village, learn languages and welcome guests, especially the supporting diaspora.
On Facebook
Special AAV projects were celebrated in three different villages: Rind (supported by the diaspora in Thailand), Areni (New Zealand) and Shatin (Australia). It’s an innovation intended to prepare villages for tourism and encourage the young to stay. Should we wait until the villages depopulate and die, vulnerable to those who desire our homeland?
If you would like to learn more about the Armenian Church-endorsed AAV Project, please check out the information at http://originsdiscovery.com/Adopt-a-Village.html, and contact Len through his website contacts. On the news page you can see the interviews about AAV on Armenian TV.

Exploring Armenia’s potential, Episode 1 Inaugurating Adopt A Village Project

By

karas-740By Wally Sarkeesian

Len Wicks, an initiator of the ‘Adopt a Village’ program, is Armine Hakobyan’s husband. They’ve been implementing the program, linking the Armenian communities with the Diaspora communities abroad, for 1 year already.

Len Wicks, a resident of Australia and New Zealand, married an Armenian woman, Armine Hakobyan, five years ago. It was then that he discovered the Armenian highland and grew fond of the villages scattered around it, as well as the people living there, the nature and the historical monuments of this country.

“This nation has great potential. I think, Armenia can become one of the world’s tourist centers. As far as I could see, Armenians are very industrious people. I believe, the local youth have great future, but that requires certain changes. This could be achieved through cooperation with the Armenian Diaspora. The latter possesses great potential to ensure Armenia’s development,” says Len Wicks.

“This program involves micro-projects, carried out thank to the Armenian communities of Thailand, New Zealand and Australia. So, we are thus trying to contribute to the development of Armenian villages. Having married Armine, I took a treasure from Armenia, and now I realize that it’s my turn to do something for this wonderful country,” he explains.

The ‘Adopt a Village’ program has been carried out in Vayots Dzor province, South Armenia, involving Areni, Rind and Shatin villages.

Armenia Adopt-a-Village project kicks off in Areni, Vayots Dzor province

By

middle_1450078082_6868769-300x223The first Adopt-a-Village trial commencement took place at Areni, Vayots Dzor province of Armenia by the New Zealand Diaspora on December 11.

Adopt-a-Village concept was initiated by the author of ”Origins: Discovery” novel Len Wicks.

Traveling across Armenian marzes and seeing the desolate state of the villages, he initiated the project which ties Armenian villages and their neighborhood to certain country where an Armenian communities are represented.

The project directly links the sides without any mediatory and is controlled by the Diaspora. It is about micro-projects in the main, many not involving cash, and a direct relationship between the Diaspora and villages.

Adopt-a-Village is aimed at beautifying and cleaning Armenian villages not only for the villagers but also potential tourists.

Currently, the author of the concept Len Wicks works on a film-trilogy based on the novel which will be a unique commercial for Armenia featuring Armenia’s beauty, culture and history as well as the Armenian Genocide issues on a big screen.

Source: hayernaysor.am