COAF segments its activities into two components: the village programs and the SMART programs.
Village programs Village programs include COAF’s range of programs and services offered to villages and rural regions on an individual basis, relying on a community-based, holistic approach. Along with infrastructure improvements, this includes the implementation of
education,
health, child and family services, and
economic development programs to strengthen rural communities.
Education Working closely with village schools, the COAF Education program is set to focus on fostering students’ creativity,
critical thinking, talents and potential at school and beyond. The programs are implemented as after school clubs. For children in grades 3-5: •
drawing •
engineering •
judo •
basketball Civic education programs are attended by grade 6-10 students: •
debate club • “Aflatoun” social-financial education In addition, COAF’s partnership with the
U.S. embassy allows the organization to offer: • an access micro scholarship program designed to provide English classes to rural Armenian youth, so that they can practice their speaking skills and learn about the United States culture․ • online English courses for language learners in remote regions of Armenia, where resources for learning new languages are either limited or non-existent. Career development support starts with the professional orientation program for students in grades 7-12. This is accompanied by
scholarships,
mentorship and
internship, and
an employability skills training series for COAF
alumni.
Health COAF health programs are intended to enhance the quality of primary health services in villages through programs that promote the well being of the entire community. COAF’s focus is on disease prevention through the promotion of healthy behavior starting from
primary school age to early detection. For the organization, capacity building in the health department includes hands-on training for the health administration and medical staff, along with the revitalization of the health facilities. In terms of medical services, COAF implements early detection of breast, thyroid and prostate cancer through: • Clinical exams •
Ultrasound exams •
Mammography, biopsy and
hormonal tests COAF's approach to improving villagers’ dental hygiene is through prevention which includes educating children on oral hygiene, fluoridating teeth, ensuring regular tooth-brushing activities by establishing specialized stations (Brushodromes) in schools and providing 1st and 2nd-grade students with toothpaste and toothbrushes. In cooperation with the Armenian American Health Professionals Organization (AAHPO) COAF implements international missions through which they organize yearly visits to Armenia to provide medical assistance for free in the villages. COAF also closely works with doctors from
Great Britain and
Canada whose visits to Armenia include doctors’ training to provide new methods and tools to local doctors and nurses, as well as health screenings and consultations for rural inhabitants in Armenia. In cooperation with
World Food Programme, COAF has completed renovations of school cafeterias and provided healthy food to nearly 2,500 elementary school children throughout the five regions.
Child and family services COAF provides social support through
speech therapy, psychological assistance,
social work, and
child development services for kids with
learning difficulties. COAF's social work is established in COAF villages. Due to a lack of local professionals, COAF hires specialists to train and work within communities. These social workers provide individual and group support to families and children in rural communities. They also identify issues such as
bullying,
domestic violence,
interpersonal relations, and barriers for people with disabilities as they work both one-on-one and with the whole community. COAF's psychological services work with
kindergartens,
schools, families and villagers in various capacities. The organization stresses that professional education in this field is not common in rural communities, so they identify possible specialists, who trains them, and provides guidance, knowledge and professional supervision during the contract period. As a tool of community mindset change, COAF implements a new
art therapy program called
Drama Therapy, that helps kids open up and express themselves in a creative and constructive way, and includes people with disabilities. Another component of the Child and Family Services program is the creation of Child Development Centers. These renovated facilities provide a supportive environment to foster early childhood development. They feature both learning and recreational areas for children and are equipped with toys and activities that provide an outlet for self-expression.
Economic development One of COAF's declared goals is to achieve economic vitality within Armenia, demonstrating the potential for opportunity and growth within villages to adults and young people. Some areas of economic development provided by COAF include interest-free loans for local businesses, entrepreneurship training for high school students, and the installation of
irrigation water pipelines. These programs aim to provide residents with the tools needed to succeed and generate income, fostering a deeper connection between citizens and their communities.
SMART initiatives COAF SMART is a collective and individual development initiative, an innovative approach to improving the quality of life. The SMART Initiative is implemented through the COAF SMART campus, a regional hub intended to bring quality education to rural areas while at the same time serving as a tourism attraction to revitalize the economy. The first, and so far, only SMART Campus is located in the Lori region in Armenia, near the village of
Debet. It consists of the COAF SMART Center and the Concept Hotel by COAF. COAF is working on expanding the campus by constructing a Conference Center and a SMART Sports Complex, both of which are expected to drive in
MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibitions) tourism and contribute to the local economy. The SMART Campus is located on 50 acres of land and is accessible to over 250,000 people from across the region.
COAF SMART Center Opened on 27 May 2018, the SMART Center in Lori is a technologically advanced and innovative education center where kids learn languages, computer skills,
robotics,
media literacy, design, music,
agriculture, and more. Education at SMART is provided at no cost. Transportation between the villages and the SMART Center is provided by the organization. The center provides after-school classes and activities to local youth. They not only have the chance to attend their regular classes, but also are able to participate in festivals, master classes, concerts, and
guest speakers’ training. The
Lebanese-Armenian Paul Kaloustian is the architect of the COAF SMART Center. The building was designed to embrace the landscape and exist in harmony with its natural surroundings.
Concept hotel The concept hotel is a social enterprise just adjacent to the SMART Center. It contributes to the local economic growth by training locals in the field of
hospitality and tourism, creating new employment opportunities, and attracting tourists. The hotel opened its doors in 2019, and features 12 standard and premium rooms. The architectural design is inspired by a minimalistic, industrial style.
Visitor center The visitor center is a tourist information center located at the junction of the roads from
Vanadzor to
Alaverdi (M6) and
Dsegh (H22) and serves both educational and commercial purposes. It offers necessary services to tourists (ATM, payment terminal, drinks, snacks, filling stations, charging sports, etc.), while also providing information about the Lori region and in particular the SMART Center.
Conference center The conference center is another
social enterprise that the profits of which will be reinvested in the organization’s development programs. The center is designed to stimulate the flow of tourists and organizations to the
Lori region of Armenia. The goal is to become the main regional center for conferences, professional training,
summer schools and exchange programs for local and international organizations. It will feature 22 hotel rooms to host guests.
SMART Sports Complex The COAF SMART Sports Complex targets the promotion of a healthy lifestyle in the rural areas in Lori. The 34,000 sq. ft
sports facility will provide a wide range of indoor and outdoor sports opportunities for rural children, including an Olympic-size
swimming pool,
gym,
tennis court, cycling track and more. At the same time, the new addition to the SMART Campus marks COAF’s third social enterprise, meaning that it will be available for sports events, corporate retreats, training and meetings. All profits will be donated to COAF’s programs.
SMART rooms Prior to the opening of the COAF SMART Center, COAF had launched SMART rooms within the villages. These education rooms feature necessary equipment and an internet connection to provide local people with new possibilities. It helps connect
communities with each other and the world. By installing SMART rooms the organization aims to provide education in self-development, medicine, social services, computer literacy, and media literacy. These rooms are present in the Lori and
Tavush regions enable people to continue their education during the winter months when traveling in the Lori region is difficult. SMART rooms are accessible not only for rural youth but also neighboring communities.
SMART village The organization has launched a SMART village initiative, aiming at transforming Armenian villages into SMART communities. COAF has chosen Debet village in the Lori region as a pilot project, where the organization aims to implement
capacity building, economic development and infrastructure projects, including the renovation of the village school, kindergarten, and municipality building, as well as road and roof reparations, and the installment of street lighting and a high-speed internet connection. == Fundraising ==