Career Awareness Campaign for schoolchildren in selected marzes of Armenia and Impact Assessment of the School Food and Nutrition Program linked to the Agricultural Sector Pilot

Period of Performance: 27.05.2019 – 31.12.2019
Funding Organization:  Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO)

The main goal of the project is to raise knowledge and career orientation perspectives among schoolchildren about modern agriculture and agri-entrepreneurship opportunities. For this purpose, agricultural modules on Horticulture and Innovative Agriculture topics were prepared and presented in 7 schools of 4 marzes in the Republic of Armenia. In the scope of the project, two groups of schoolchildren from Ararat marz visited local greenhouses to get hands-on experience. Overall, 50 students in each school took part in this module.

As a part of career orientation effort, agriculture as a modern and profit-making industry was promoted through www.dasaran.am online platform that connects all schools in Armenia.

Also, for ensuring that this initiative is viable throughout the time study materials were prepared and Trainings of Trainers (ToT) were organized for trainers from all marzes of the Republic of Armenia.

 In the scope of this project, socio-economic analysis was conducted for three greenhouses built in three schools by FAO in Ararat region. Key informant interviews and focus group discussions were conducted to understand how the establishment and operation of the greenhouses impacted food security and the professional capacity building of the selected schools. Financial feasibility, including cost –benefit analysis was conducted for three schools to measure the economic impact of the pilot on the three schools.