NEWS

CYSCA Archives for 2003

TEN PUBLIC HEALTH MDS FROM SHIRAK PROVINCE VISIT WITH COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS PROGRAM

From November 16 - December 10, 2003, CYSCA hosted ten public health specialists and medical professionals representing private and public sectors of Armenia's public health system. Their professional fields included dermatology, infectious diseases, family medicine, mother and child health care, care for children with special needs and medical rehabilitation.

The main goal of the program was to acquaint them with the current US public health system, medical insurance system, infrastructure of local hospitals and medical institutions, innovations in medical technology, medical facility management and methods of medical treatment, patient advocacy system, preventive medicine and legal basis for the current public health system.

The intense three-week training program included visits to local public health offices, private medical practices, community events as well as meetings with local advocacy groups and non-governmental organizations working in the field of public health. A warm welcome reception was organized at the Armenian Cultural Foundation, attended by CYSCA Board members, host organizations, community volunteers and host families. During their first week in the US, the group participants had orientation meetings and an introductory seminar with presentations by specialists from the Mass. Department of Public Health featuring an overview of the US public health system. The seminar provided very useful information on complexities, advantages and shortcomings of the medical system in the US. One of the highlights of the program were several meetings with members of the State House Health Committee which chaired by state Rep. Peter Koutoujian. Topics of discussions included important issues such as the process of introducing bills to the legislature in general, healthcare-related bills and the role of the Department of Public Health in the overall health care system in the state. The group was also invited to observe one of the hearings of the Healthcare Committee of the House of Representatives where the visitors were warmly greeted by the members of the Committee and the audience.

Other important events and training sessions organized for the group included visits and tours at the Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard School of Public Health, the Federation for Children with Special Needs, Harvard Vanguard Associates, Boston University Medical Center (where Dr. Aram Chobanian, the recently appointed President of Boston University met with the group), the Armenian Rehabilitation Center and Nursing Home, Children's Hospital, Mt. Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, the Windsor Street Clinic, Cambridge Hospital, SHARED Inc., Perkins School for the Blind, Boston Public Health Commission and Massachusetts Department of Social Services.

During the program a special event was organized by CYSCA on December 2, to introduce the visiting public health specialists in an informal setting to their US counterparts, local healthcare professionals, to provide a forum for a discussion of professional issues and an open exchange of information and expertise on public health issues. The discussion and a frank exchange of information led to many new professional contacts with a goal of professional cooperation and possible exchanges in the future.

In addition a public forum and reception was organized on December 4 to provide the wider audience and the community activists with an opportunity to meet the visiting group and hear about the current health care situation in Armenia, as well as common issues: differences in health care in the US and Armenia, professional challenges for doctors in both countries, health care reform, training of medical professionals and medical insurance problems. The forum was very well attended by many CYSCA members, local community members, CYSCA volunteers involved in the program, host families and professionals representing host organizations.

Cultural and sightseeing activities which CYSCA organized for the guests included visits on weekends to the Museum of Fine Arts, the NE Aquarium, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, the Museum of Science as well as trips to the historic town of Salem and to Plimoth Plantation.

The final event and a good-bye party was held by CYSCA on December 5 at St. Stephen"s Armenian church in Watertown. It was a lovely event with a lot of music, singing and dancing, farewell remarks and thank you speeches. It was attended by host families, many CYSCA members and volunteers and representatives of host organizations. The visitors expressed their gratitude to the organizers and their appreciation for an interesting and successful program. Due to a major snowstorm, the group got a bonus four more days in Boston!

CYSCA AWARDED US STATE DEPT GRANT TO HOST PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND ENTREPRENEURS FROM ARMENIA

The Cambridge-Yerevan Sister City Association (CYSCA) announces receipt of a Community Connections grant from the U.S. State Department Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs for the continuation of a professional development and training program for specialists from Armenia during 2003-2004. Under the grant CYSCA is responsible for organizing and hosting a program for selected professionals in various fields involving training and internship projects, academic workshops and cultural activities. The grant is a continuation of the Community Connections program begun with the U. S. State Department in 1997 under which CYSCA has trained specialists from Armenia in various fields of interest including entrepreneurship, educational, environmental, tourism, cultural/historic specialists and employment specialists all made possible by funding support from the State Department.

The current grant involves a training program for ten public health professionals from the Shirak province of Armenia, who are scheduled to arrive in the Greater Boston area mid November 2003 for a three-week program being developed by CYSCA. Next Spring, CYSCA will host a group of ten entrepreneurs from Yerevan.

Program Director Jack Medzorian commented, We are privileged to have this opportunity to introduce the professionals from Armenia to our USA public health counterparts and engage them in a dialogue on current public health issues in Armenia and the USA. We are confident that the participants from Armenia will return with ideas and concepts that will help them with their challenging task of improving the health of the citizens of their young, developing nation.

The CYSCA Community Connections program is run by a team headed by Program Director Jack Medzorian, Dr. Ara Ghazarians, Program Manager, Taya Battelle, Program Administrator, supported by volunteers Varujan Masrof, Jirair Babikyan, Sarkis Gennetian, Vartkes Karaian and George Changelian. The committee is soliciting help from the community for volunteer host families, public health individuals and/or institutions, translators, drivers, and other duties to support this program. Those interested in participating in this program should contact Taya Battelle at 617-277-9548 or Ara Ghazarians at 781-646-3090.

CC ALUMNI LAUNCH EXPORT CATALOG

Three alumni from the March 2002 Community Connections (CC) entrepreneur group teamed to develop a catalog of exports from Armenia, which they called Armenia Export Catalog. This is the latest resource for U.S. companies on trade and investment with Armenia, containing profiles of Armenian companies open to export and import opportunities with the United States. These profiles are concentrated largely in the food, manufacturing, and services sectors. In addition to company profiles, this catalog details information on Armenia's market reforms, banking system, investment incentives, corporate development, trade regulations, and customs and tariff guidelines. The project, funded by the US Department of State Cultural and Educational Affairs Bureau, was a follow-on to the 2002 Community Connections Program.

The team consists of: Aram Navasardyan, head of the Marketing Department of Sed Marsed Consulting company; Noune Margaryan, Marketing Manager of MSHAK, Inc.; and Davit Nersisyan, Art Director. On November 29, 2002 they presented a CD version of the catalog at a business conference which they organized in Yerevan, also a Community Connections follow-on project. Ninety people attended, including representatives from the US and Russian Embassies, IREX, the Eurasia Foundation, the USAID SME National Development Center, and various businesses. Catering was provided by Marat Oganezov, another alumnus of the March 2002 group.

Director Jack Medzorian congratulated the team, saying, Bravo for a job well done! Your creativity, perseverance and hard work made this project possible. We look forward to valuable business contacts for the participating companies resulting from the AEC as well as opportunities for importers of Armenian made products and services.

A limited number of CD's are available for distribution to import/trading companies. To obtain a CD (limited to one per request), please send letter on official firm letterhead, including a $10 check made out to "CYSCA" for shipping and handling to:

Art Queenan
Cambridge Yerevan Sister Cities Association
141 Boylston Street
Watertown, MA 02472
Tel: 617-924-0320
Email: ArthurQueenan@yahoo.com

In an effort to give our programming more flexibility and diversity, CYSCA is earmarking up to $5,000 of its general funds out of which small grants can be given to an individual, individuals or organizations in the CYSCA community for academic work or community projects.

Preference will be given to projects that will benefit the sister-city relationship, either in deepening and strengthening existing efforts, or creating outreach. Preference will also be given to people who have already participated in CYSCA programs such as Community Connections, youth exchanges and others. Grants will based both on the merit of the proposal and the financial need of the individual(s) or organization. Suggested size of request is up to $1,000 or $2,000 maximum.

Proposals should be submitted to the CYSCA Executive Committee, which is setting up guidelines, and which will make recommendations for CYSCA Board approval. The YCSCA group will be urged to collaborate in the process.

Evaluation: Funded projects will be monitored and evaluated to determine the effectiveness of the program. For more information, contact Suzanne Pearce, 617 354-7648.

CYSCA TEAMS UP WITH PEACE CORPS IN MARTUNI

We set up ground rules for our club discussions. We required anonymity-- nothing we discussed in our club space could leave the club space. We expected the students to respect each other¥s opinions. Kids were expected to listen to each other and keep an open mind about different points of view.

One of the most interesting discussions we had was about true love. Some kids insisted that people have only one true love. A person may fall intensely in love once, never to recapture it. Other kids believed that a person could fall in love several times. What was interesting about the discussion was it seemed that the girls who argued strenuously for one true love had lived in Martuni all of their lives, while the girls who believed otherwise had gone to school in Yerevan. This is a good example of the changing values of this cohort group in Armenia, i.e. the traditional values of a small town differ from the ones of the capital city.

Among other things we worked on were Life Skills. These included decision-making, goal setting, and communication. We drew many of our lesson plans from manuals on youth development provided by Peace Corps.

The moral support provided by CYSCA members was invaluable to us. It was not just the funding that was important. It was that people back home were interested in and excited about a grass roots development project in Armenia such as this. Several times, Tsoveek and I toasted CYSCA members over a glass of cognac. I hope that everyone knows that their membership, energy, and support are all important and needed. It really made a difference in the lives of some young Armenians in Martuni.

MAKUR YEREVAN (CLEAN ARMENIA)

By Art Queenan

During the spring and summer of 2002, CYSCA had the opportunity to support a grass-roots clean-up project called Makur Yerevan (Clean Yerevan) in its sister city. The clean-up efforts took place on the first Saturday of every month and the grass-roots participation grew with each clean-up. The April clean-up began with 50 people, mostly high school students, and grew to 110 by the August, 2002 clean-up.

Helping support Makur Yerevan was a natural extension of CYSCA's mission to promote social responsibility and leadership amongst the youth. Student alumni of prior CYSCA exchange programs participated in a number of the clean-ups. A CYSCA board member, Nancy Kalajian, had the chance to join one of the clean-ups while she was in Yerevan conducting a Conflict Resolution seminar. "It was fantastic," she said, "to see the energy of the groups, enjoying being part of a common cause, as they went about breaking down social stigmas and reaching beyond their circle of responsibility." Outfitted in distinctive uniforms and equipped with brooms and bags in hand, groups were organized early in the morning to span out and clean-up different areas of the city. Jason Demerjian, Director of Armenian Volunteer Corps (AVC) helped develop the Makur Yerevan concept. He said, "The objective of the project was to spur social involvement and extend the sense of ownership beyond apartment doors and into the city streets.

The project cause seems to be catching on in Armenia. An AVC volunteer, Leyla Krikor, helped organize a Makur Vanadzor (the Lori region's largest city) which drew over 50 volunteers for a clean-up last summer. In July, Makur Yerevan was adopted as a permanent project of Our City Our Home, a local civic participation project with the mission of renovating apartment entrances with the people who reside there. Our City Our Home is primarily focused on implementing sustainable development principles and health promotion within city/region management and within citizen/community behavior. After temporarily incubating under the auspices of the AVC, now Makur Yerevan has a permanent institutional home in a local organization that has embraced its mission.

ANNUAL MEETING FEATURES ARMENIA TREE PROJECT

The guest speaker was Regina Eddy who is the Executive of Special Programs for the Armenia Tree Project (ATP). Her experience, slide show and storytelling opened doors of understanding for the audience. To actually see grown trees, planted from seeds by ATP years earlier, producing fruits and providing jobs with fruit drying and "coppice" (trimming) initiatives was eye-opening. ATP has also established two state-of-the-art tree nurseries currently producing 40,000 native trees annually in Armenia. ATP has recently relocated to the ALMA building at 65 Main Street, Watertown.

The annual meeting also introduced two new CYSCA board members Laura Margosian and Randy Cabell.

INTERVIEWS WITH NEW CYSCA BOARD MEMBERS

Randy Cabell is a Harvard graduate. She served for ten years on the board of the Mass. Committee for Children and Youth, a child abuse prevention advocacy group. A veteran entrepreneur, in 1985 she founded Instant Information Inc., a company that provided high tech services for business-to-business applications, serving as its President and Chair for over a decade. She is now at home in Cambridge with her two children. Her interest in CYSCA was sparked by her son¥s visit to Armenia in 2000. She is interested in widening support for CYSCA in Cambridge and working to foster entrepreneurial programs in Armenia.

How did you come to know of CYSCA?

When he was a freshman, my son, Max, came home from CRLS one day and told me about an opportunity to go to Armenia by entering an essay contest. (He was in Tad Sudnik's science class.) He was so excited about it. He wanted to win the essay contest and make the trip to this exotic place but he was somewhat concerned because if you were selected you had to pay for your own trip. I told him to go ahead and write the essay and that if he was chosen to go, I promised him, we would find the money to send him. I was excited about it too. At that point, I wasn't sure where Armenia was on the map. It seemed to me it was somewhere near Poland. I went immediately to look it up in the Atlas. Later, I met Joanne Hartunian and was so impressed with her. She had a great commitment and idealism about what she was doing. She worked so hard and so cheerfully. We had several opportunities over the course of the trip preparation, the departure and after the return to meet with CYSCA people. I was never clear about who was who or who was on the board or what but I liked everyone I met. I'm still learning who's who and what's what. There really is an enormous amount to get up to speed on.

What were the reasons you wanted to join the CYSCA board?

It was a combination of things. Suzie was certainly an influence. As I got to know her a little better I came to understand some of what motivated her to be active in CYSCA. I wanted to help her in making a small contribution towards connection, towards world peace. I wanted to get to know the people in the CYSCA community. I wanted to learn more about this country, Armenia, that had been completely unknown to me and help it out at this critical point in its development. Personally, it was a good time for me to do this. My children are a little older now and I had been somewhat cocooned the past few years, raising them. I was ready to get out and meet some new and interesting people and do something meaningful for me, something that was completely my own.

What aspects of CYSCA are you most involved with?

I'm most involved with outreach, public relations and fundraising. I edited the Educator's Abstracts this year and have been working on the newsletter. I look forward to some outreach projects that I might be able to do later in the year. I also go to meetings of the Education Committee.

What would you like to accomplish or contribute while you're on the board?

For Armenia, I'm very interested in helping others to look at entrepreneurial development to see what might foster it, what partnerships with Cambridge businesses we might continue to create and nurture. Here, I'd like to heighten CYSCA's profile, its recognition factor. I'd like all Cantabridgians to be aware of Armenia's existence and of our relationship with it, and even to actually know where it is on the map. I'd like CYSCA to be a household name in Cambridge. I'd like to get more Cambridge people involved in all sorts of CYSCA-related activities and of course, the Youth Exchange. I'd like to increase popular understanding of CYSCA's purpose. I don't think most people really get it and that if they did, the response would be very different.

Laura Margosian is a graduate of Antioch College with a degree in Cross-Cultural Studies. Upon graduating in 1991, she went to Armenia with the University of Michigan Armenian Studies Program for eight weeks. In 1989 she participated in the Armenian Assembly Summer Intern Program where she worked at EPICA (Ecumenical Program for Central America and the Caribbean) and contributed to a secondary school social studies curriculum. Her work experience includes working in Armenian schools in the Boston area and at Project SAVE. She served as After School Program Director for K-6 grades in Cambridge and Boston. She is presently in her fifth year at Cambridge School Volunteers as Director of High School Volunteer Placements, Projects and Training, where she trains volunteers as tutors and classroom aides and coordinates group volunteer projects at Cambridge Rindge and Latin School.

How did you first come to know of CYSCA?

In 1998-1999 I read about CYSCA's High School Exchange Program in the Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School (CRLS) newspaper. Being that I am of Armenian descent and the Director of High School Volunteer Placements at CRLS, I had an immediate connection. I became involved with the exchange students' visit, participated in activities and helped establish relationships with CRLS teachers. The Armenian teachers met with the CSV staff (Cambridge School Volunteers recruits, screens, trains, places, and supports 1000 volunteers a year for Cambridge Public Schools K-12th grade.) Learning about volunteerism is an important feature of the exchange program, whose purpose is to study civil society.

What were the reasons you wanted to join the CYSCA board?

Serving on the CYSCA board is a meaningful opportunity for me to participate in Armenian projects, stay attuned to Armenian current events, gain professional experience, and continue to be involved with cross-cultural endeavors.

What aspects of CYSCA are you most involved with?

I am most involved with the Cambridge High School Exchange Committee. A group of us meet regularly to develop products and outcomes for a possible CRLS 2004 Secondary School Partnership. We are forging new relationships and strengthening old ties with CRLS and Cambridge community members.

I am excited about having established a relationship between the 2003 CYSCA Exchange Program and the Harvard Political Education Program (HPEP.) Cambridge School Volunteers works with Sarah Burg, HPEP Director, to train and match HPEP students with CRLS history, law, and social studies classes. HPEP students implement background briefings, discussions, and hands-on activities on civics, current affairs, and global issues. On January 9th the Armenian students and teachers accompanied CRLS and Boston Public high school students at a Culmination Day at Harvard. The Armenian students participated in the democratic process by role-playing a congressional committee and passed bills on Surrogate Motherhood and School Prayer. The Armenian students prepared for the four debate topics with review sessions. To view the curriculum briefings see: "www.harvardmodelcongress.org.

To further ties with the Cambridge Sister-City cross-cultural partnership I coordinated a visit to the oldest Synagogue in Cambridge, Temple Beth Shalom. On January 16th the Armenian students and teachers were guests for a Jewish agricultural holiday celebration, Tu-B-Shvat, in honor of the new year of the trees. Everyone delighted in the sampling of fresh and dried fruits, beautifully arranged by Erica Shultz, Vice President of Temple Beth Shalom. One of the Armenian teachers, Ruzanna Margaryan, shared about the similar relationship to trees in Armenian villages. To learn more about Tu-B-Shvat see: a href="www.jhom.com/calendar/shevat/index.html">www.jhom.com/calendar/shevat/index.html.

What would you like to accomplish or contribute while you're on the board?

I am enthusiastic about revitalizing CYSCA's Cambridge Rindge and Latin School exchange program. My knowledge of the inner workings of CRLS, the continuity of professional relationships I have with faculty and administrators, and my creativity will be useful resources for enhancing the CRLS exchange program. For this year's visit I facilitated a short discussion on volunteerism and toured the group through the CSV Tutoring Center. Collaborating with Cambridge School Volunteers will expand the students' understanding of volunteerism.