Recently, the results of grant competition provided by RA Presidential Administration were summarized and the winning organizations became known. We tried to search the Internet to know what activities were conducted by these NGOs in the sector to be awarded with a grant by the Office of the President. In the nomination of “Armenian soldier’s character in the education of the younger generation”, 3 organizations were announced as winners: “Volunteer Corps” youth organization, “Geghareg” Educational and Cultural NGO and “Expert” Military Research Center. There is only two information about the “Volunteer Corps” youth organization NGO. One that it has received the grant from the Office of the President, and two that only a few days ago, on March 24, the youth were invited to the course of “Combat Trainings Class” program. In fact, the class was opened by the Youth Foundation of Armenia along with the Ministry of Defense and the School for Young Leaders.
It is noteworthy that the Presidential Administration’s grant competition was organized by the Youth Foundation of Armenia (YFA), hence, it was impossible to find anything about the activities of “Volunteer Corps” NGO, except for its connection with YFA. We could not also find anything about the “Expert” Military Research Center NGO in the Google. There was also no information about this organization in the Spyur.am, too. In the nomination of “Implementation of events aimed at solving priority problems of rural communities in bordering regions”, 4 organizations were announced as winners, one of which is “Friendship” Educational and Cultural NGO, about which there is no information in the Internet regarding its activities or existence in general. In the nomination of “Enhancement of public awareness about the benefits of tobacco-free lifestyle”, 6 organizations were announces as winners. There is also no information in the Internet about the “Mehrabyan” Scientific-Educational Center” NGO, instead, there is information about various Mehrabyan activities and friendship. There is no information about “Kotayk Regional Development Center”. The information about “Culture and Society” NGO was also not found on the Internet. In this regard, Aravot.am was interested to know from the Youth Foundation of Armenia whether these organizations actually exist, whether they had done anything, or they are just formal NGOs. Otherwise, how it is explained that there is no information about these NGOs. In response to our question, Anna Galstyan, Project Coordinator of “Grant Competition being carried out by YFA partner organization chosen by the President of Armenia”, assured that all grant awarded NGOs do exist and are registered in the State Registry. “First of all, let’s present what criteria were used for choosing the NGOs. According to the Regulation, it is clearly stated what documents should be submitted by the NGOs. They are: a certificate of registration, Charter, a document from tax authorities and so on. Naturally, while submitting the program package of the NGO, the presence of all these documents is checked. All required documents for their participation in the competition are in our hands. With regard to the question that there is no information about some NGOs on the internet, we are ready to provide the contacts of these NGOs to personally contact with them and check the details about the project carried out by them. If in the result of a search on the Internet pertaining to the activities of an NGO, a limited information is found, then in this case a question should be asked to what extent the mass media’s attention is focused on NGO activities. On the other hand, the programs carried out by NGOs are not necessarily implied to coverage.” Thirty-four NGOs were declared winners in the grant competition carried out by the RA Presidential Administration. Anna Galstyan explained that the Competition Commission chooses an NGO by its specific presented program. And there’s no restriction on whether the NGO is newly opened, or has many years of experience. The YFA urges the journalists to cooperate and follow the programs implemented by the NGOs.
Hripsime JEBEJYAN
