Centre for Community Mobilization and Support

CCMS is an NGO organization in the Republic of Armenia, which was founded in 2009 by the help of various informal civic groups, representing different communities in Tumanyan, in Lori region. CCMS focuses on building cooperation for a better change in society among young people in Lori region. The organization supports young people, who are interested in the implementation of social projects (aged 16-35, with the primary focus on ages 16-25) in field of youth entrepreneurship, primary health protection, education quality improvement, none-formal education, children rights protection, intercultural dialogue. One of the main partners of CCMS is World Vision Armenia.The organization implements assessment of needs in the mentioned fields in all communities once a year. The aim of our organization is to support the participatory community development in the Republic of Armenia, in order the community members can deeply realize their sense of ownership, marginalized youth with fewer opportunities, community consolidation, find out the problems in the community, decision and solution of priorities in the potential of their community, and ensure youth consolidation and participation. Our organization promotes voluntary youth movement in our region. We are accredited as a Hosting and Sending organiztion in EVS project as well. For 3rd time we develop European Awareness Clubs with our EVS volunteers in Alaverdi within the project "Building Better Community through Giving". Centre for Community Mobilization and Support is mainly focused on issues related to civil society, advocacy in the fields of education, health and LSG, participatory governance, LSG competences development. In the past 5 years the organization has carried out projects which were dedicated to promote the formalization of community participatory governance culture in Lori region communities. During its programs there have been organized community active groups, trainings and events. In the recent years Centre for Community Mobilization and Support has also carried out budget monitoring projects which aim was the promotion of participatory operation of community budget and effective management of resources. Within the project dedicated to rural youth there have been created mechanisms of work with young people with fewer opportunities, the level of activism and initiative have been raised among young rural people in the region Alaverdi. The organization is active in the following areas: - youth activism, - lobbying and advocacy in field of youth, - culture development, - community infrastructures' development, - volunteerism development, - non-formal education, - children rights protection, - intercultural dialogue, - environmental protection, - primary health protection, - education quality improvement. As regards educational programs it has implemented three EVS projects with the aim to promote volunteering, none-formal education and intercultural education in Alaverdi area of Lori region. Currently the organization works at local, regional and international levels. Just in 2016 and 2017 CCMS has implemented two Community-based activities: The level of local rights protection in Lori since 01.10.2015 to 30.09.2016 and since 01.10.2016 to 30.09.2017 (the project in process) and Community-based activities: Local level advocacy in Gegharkunik region since 01.12.2016 to 30.09.2017. Moreover we conducted a project called The Full Generation aimed at cutting the high rate of sex-selective abortions among inhabitants of Lori region and put pressure on the Armenian government to make an action along with the law since rates of sex-selection have risen in Armenia. Centre for Community Support and Mobilization’ NGO is actively working at the national level, organizing advocacy campaigns,public discussions and other legal events which are focused on the implementation of the mission. It participates in regional and national social life and in the processes of making youth policy. Every year we've been continuing three types of advocacy and lobbying programs in our region: "Community development" (since 2010), ''Social worker'' (since 2011), ''Community budget monitoring" (since 2014). The people responsible for the project will be Oleg Dulgaryan (the leader of CCMS) and Anna Chebdowska (current EVS coordinator and previous EVS volunteer of CCMS. As regards educational programs it has implemented three EVS projects with the aim to promote volunteering, none-formal education and intercultural education in Alaverdi area of Lori region. Currently the organization works at local, regional and international levels. We are interested in European Integration and Eastern Partnership. Hosting EVS volunteers is a unique opportunity for European Integration and Intercultural Dialogue in our deprived urban and rural communities not just in Armenia but in Caucasus as well.