Armenia receives $2.9 million grant to support teachers in providing psycho-social support to displaced children from … Public Radio of Armenia
Day: December 8, 2023
The World Bank announced today that Armenia has been selected to receive a new grant from the State and Peacebuilding Umbrella Trust Fund to support the mental health and wellbeing of displaced children and adolescents from Nagorno-Karabakh region in over 200 schools across the country. The grant will finance an upcoming project to be implemented jointly by the World Bank and the Teach for Armenia Foundation, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport, the Republican Pedagogical-Psychological Center, and the Armenian State Pedagogical University.
The $2.9 million grant will support the social integration of displaced children and adolescents into Armenian schools, and capacity building and mentoring of school staff to deliver tailored mental health and psychosocial support to displaced children and adolescents, their families, and students from the hosting communities.
It will provide technical assistance to design a comprehensive approach for the integration of displaced children and adolescents into the education system along with a specialized mental health and psychosocial support program through a combination of change-based learning, engagement with local communities, and robust monitoring and evaluation systems in schools. The grant will also support integrating the provision of mental health and psychosocial support into the new curriculum.
The State and Peacebuilding Umbrella Trust Fund (SPF) is a global multi-donor fund administered by the World Bank that works with partners to address the drivers and impacts of fragility, conflict, and violence and strengthen the resilience of countries and affected populations, communities, and institutions. SPF is supported by Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland.
The World Bank is currently financing 10 projects in Armenia totaling $500 million. Since its inception in Armenia in 1992, the World Bank has provided around $2.7 billion from International Development Association (IDA) to which Armenia became a donor in 2023, from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), and from trust funds. The World Bank is committed to continuing its support to Armenia in its development path for ending extreme poverty and boosting shared prosperity on a livable planet.
In a move that has sent shockwaves across Egypt and the international community, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has announced plans to extend his rule, potentially solidifying his authoritarian grip on the nation for an extended period beyond one decade.
President al-Sisi, who has been in power for a decade, declared his intention to seek amendments to the constitution that would allow him to run for additional terms. The announcement has sparked widespread concerns about the erosion of democratic principles and the consolidation of power within the hands of a single leader.
Critics argue that al-Sisi’s presidency has been characterized by a heavy-handed approach, suppressing dissent, restricting freedom of the press, and cracking down on political opposition. Human rights organizations have consistently raised alarms over alleged human rights abuses, including mass arrests, torture, and extrajudicial killings.
The Egyptian government, however, defends the proposed constitutional changes as necessary for stability and security in the region. Spokespersons for the administration claim that extending al-Sisi’s presidency will ensure continuity and allow for the completion of ongoing development projects, asserting that the president’s leadership is crucial in the face of regional challenges and security threats.
The international community has responded with a mixture of concern and condemnation. Several Western nations and human rights organizations have voiced worry about the implications of further consolidating power in the hands of President al-Sisi.
Political analysts speculate that President al-Sisi’s decision may lead to increased internal unrest, as opposition groups and activists mobilize against what they perceive as an extension of authoritarian rule. Protests have already begun in some parts of the country, with demonstrators demanding a return to democratic governance and an end to the concentration of power in the hands of the presidency.
As Egypt stands at a crossroads, the outcome of this political maneuvering could have far-reaching implications not only for Egypt but also for the broader landscape of the Middle East.
Zurabishvili joins march for Europe
On December 9, Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili will participate in the “Your Voice for Europe” march, organized by non-governmental organizations, during a crucial period when Georgia anticipates a decision on its candidate status for EU accession, expected on December 14-15.
“We need to proclaim loudly the European future of Georgia so that it becomes the shared voice of the entire country. I’m aware of various initiatives happening in many places these days. Collectively, we send a unified message to Europe. Long live our European future!” stated Salome Zurabishvili.
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March Your Voice to Europe and “the biggest EU flag in the world”
On December 9 at 14:00, a coalition of NGOs will lead a march called “Your Voice to Europe” from Republic Square to Europe Square in Tbilisi.
Giorgi Mshvenieradze, director of the Guardians of Democracy organization, mentioned that they will unveil “the biggest EU flag in the world” on Europe Square. Each star on this flag is embroidered in different regions of Georgia symbolizing unity in the nation’s pursuit of integration with the European Union.
Mshvenieradze emphasizes the importance of conveying Georgia’s strong voice to the leaders of all 27 EU member states, especially with the positive recommendation from the European Commission for Georgia to attain EU candidate status.
It is worth noting that the ruling Georgian Dream party disapproves of President Zurabishvili’s intention to participate in this march, aligning with their dissatisfaction with her recent activities.
