COAF Retrains the Next Generation of School Psychologists in Armenia

Group focuses on Child and Family Support Services in Armavir District

Published: Thursday January 21, 2010

What follows is a press released from the Children of Armenia Foundation dated January 20, 2010

The Children of Armenia Fund (COAF) announced today the completion of the most recent addition to its program in Child and Family Support Services-a pilot project designed to train future school psychologists in the villages constituting COAF's Model Cluster.

The eight participants from the village communities of Baghramian, Dalarik, Karakert, Lernagog and Miasnikian received six months of intensive training at COAF's Child and Family Support Center in the village community of Dalarik. Beyond the introductory lectures on the principles and ethical foundations of school psychology, classes were primarily conducted through interactive methods of learning and case studies.

As Mr. Koryun Makaryan, Lernagog School Principal observed, "I attach great importance to psychological services and look forward to the trained psychologist's work in our school, and to the early detection and prevention of problems."

A major component of the training program centered on the theories and research conducted in the area of Developmental Psychology. Various approaches and the unique aspects of the psychologist's work in primary, middle and high schools were introduced, accompanied by educational videos and documentaries.

Working with various community groups-teachers, parents, community youth and volunteers-in education, health care and Child and Family Support Services has always been a priority for COAF. Accordingly, the final part of the course highlighted the importance of communication in the teacher-student relationship and related issues: stress management in children, foundations of good parenting and family counseling.

Susanna Asatryan, a trainee representing the village community of Lernagog, was excited about being trained by one of the most skillful experts in psychology in the country: "We knew so little when we came here, but it's different now. Thanks to COAF, we feel confident and strong. A new world has opened up for us. We now have many opportunities to be useful to our schoolchildren and our village population.

Certificates of course completion were awarded by Dr. Naira Gharakhanyan, COAF Health and Social Programs Manager and Ms. Tamara Harutyunyan, Expert Psychologist and COAF Trainer. When addressing the trainees, Dr. Gharakhanyan noted that "COAF is always ready to initiate and support any innovative idea that may be useful in rural communities. We are just at the beginning of a new direction and this is a good start." Ms. Harutyunyan, in turn, thanked the trainees for participating in the course and for showing such interest and commitment for the project.

On receiving her certificate, Hripsime Karapetyan, a local psychologist from the village community of Karakert who has been operating in the villages since 2007, added: "Certificates are important. But after all, they're just pieces of paper. The knowledge I acquired here is the most precious thing I will take with me, and it will be with me forever. I would like to use this opportunity to express my deep gratitude to COAF for playing a significant role in shaping my personality, both as an individual and as a professional who plans to work with children."

The Children of Armenia Fund (COAF) is a non-profit organization, founded in 2003, that aims to reduce poverty through the revitalization of rural Armenia and the realization of projects that are instrumental for the development of rural children and youth. With the introduction of its novel approach to clustering in February 2006, COAF is currently implementing the "Model Cluster" Comprehensive Rural Development Program working in six villages in Baghramian Region of Armavir District. The key components of COAF's Model Cluster comprise community development including Health, Social and Education Programs, as well as Infrastructure Rehabilitation and Economic Development. ‘

For the past six years, about 22,000 rural residents and over 4,600 children from Argina, Dalarik, Lernagog, Karakert, Miasnikian and Shenik have benefited from COAF's continuous development efforts and improved schools, kindergartens, health clinics, sport complexes, community and psycho-social centers, capacity building trainings and workshops and multi-faceted business development opportunities.

For information contact Inessa Grigoryan at igrigoryan@coafkids.org