Description
The Armenia Tree Project and Paros Foundation are joining forces to dramatically improve conditions at the school in the village of Rind. Currently, more than 1,800 people live in Rind and almost 300 children attend the village school. The children do not receive a hot meal because the kitchen and cafeteria are operated from a small space located via a separate entrance behind the school. This situation makes it impossible to cook hot meals for the children. It is often cold and too difficult for the children to access this space in the rainy and snowy months.
Additionally, the school has a large yard that is barren. With the addition of irrigation, the school could accommodate 500+ fruit and shade trees. This would be a tremendous benefit economically for the village, for the environment and for the children’s nutrition.
This project would also introduce environmental education into the school’s curriculum. Age-appropriate methods will be used to teach children of the importance of caring for the environment and its benefits for society. This curriculum would be especially timely given the large and dangerous wildfire that destroyed hectares of old growth forest in the summer of 2017 in the Vayots Dzor region.
The implementation of this project will take three months and include the relocation of the kitchen and cafeteria to an available space in the main school building. New water and sewer lines will be run to the new kitchen. At the same time, water will be provided for irrigation in the schoolyard. The kitchen space will be renovated and joined to the cafeteria. New flooring and wall tiles will be installed, along with new paint and lighting. New kitchen furniture and needed appliances will be purchased and installed. New tables and chairs for the dining room will complete the renovation. Following the renovation work, 550 new fruit and shade trees will be planted at the school via a team of both students, volunteers and paid staff. The expert staff of the Armenia Tree Project will introduce environmental education curriculum to the students.
Gallery Images
The Need
The kitchen and cafeteria at the school in the village of Rind are in terrible condition. Children are not able to benefit from a daily hot lunch because of the lack of facilities and unsanitary conditions. In addition, the schoolyard is large and spacious, but does not have many fruit trees or shady areas.
Short Term Impact
The short-term impact of implementing this project will be the immediate reconstruction of the kitchen and cafeteria, planting of trees and launch of the environmental education curriculum. Local labor, trees and materials will be utilized and purchased benefitting the local economy.
Long Term Impact
The long-term impact of this project will include the increased health and welfare of the village children as they benefit from hot meals, fresh fruit and improved environmental conditions at the school. The new environmental education classes will help future generations better manage their resources.
Sponsors Benefits
Sponsorship of this project at the Rind Village School will be recognized on a plaque at the School, on The Paros Foundation website, and in all appropriate press related to this project. The Paros Foundation will happily arrange a visit to the Rind Village School for sponsors of this project.
Our Donors (17)
- Mr. Douglas Graham & Mrs. Alexis Alexanian $200 Nov 13, 2017
- Harry & Thomas Bonomo $1,000 Nov 7, 2017
- Mr. Richard Alonso & Mrs. Lori Keurian Alonso $450 Oct 27, 2017
- Mr. Aram Parnagian $250 Oct 27, 2017
- Mr. & Mrs. Vicken & Rosette Arslanian $200 Oct 25, 2017
Updates: Images & Information
Paros Foundation & Armenia Tree Project staff came together today for a ribbon-cutting celebration in the village of Rind. Today marks the opening of the newly renovated kitchen and cafeteria as well as the “Plant an Idea, Plant a Tree” environmental education curriculum by the Armenia Tree Project (ATP) at the school. ATP also planted more than 550 trees and shrubs around the school.
Renovation work at the Rind Village School is progressing nicely. New doors and windows have been installed, the tile work is almost completed and minor work remains.
Work at the Rind Village School began today!
A fundraiser was held in New York at the Almayass NYC restaurant to celebrate the partnership between Paros Foundation and the Armenia Tree Project and to raise funds for this project.