Thanks to the global program "Let's transform our world. Agenda for Sustainable Development until 2030", in 2015, according to the resolution adopted by the 70th session of the UN General Assembly, environmental education and environmental upbringing have acquired special significance.

Armenia, as a full-fledged subject of international relations, has ratified a number of international environmental conventions, by which it has undertaken obligations to make environmental education and environmental upbringing mandatory at all levels of education, formal and informal․

PROBLEM

The unfavorable environmental conditions in our country, combined with a lack of environmental awareness and a very low level of eco-culture, particularly among residents near the Tavush region's forests, have led to significant issues. Many in these communities rely on the forest as their primary source of income. This is evident from frequent violations of the maintenance regulations of "Dilijan National Park" and numerous criminal cases initiated by the police.

Unfortunately, deeply ingrained customs and traditions continue to exacerbate the problem. The most troubling aspect is that this consumerist attitude toward nature is passed down from generation to generation, as residents, often unconsciously, set a poor example for their children. This ongoing disregard for environmental preservation threatens to lead to a severe ecological disaster.

SOLUTION

To prevent environmental disasters and foster eco-culture, “Contribution to Women and Children” NGO comprising mainly teachers and doctors, has launched the “Dilijan Ecocamp.” This extracurricular educational platform will offer schoolchildren from all Tavush communities a chance to spend their summer holidays in nature, combining fun with learning. Through a mix of theoretical and practical environmental education, the camp aims to transform students’ attitudes from consumerist to caring. Participants will then share their newfound environmental knowledge and passion with their families, helping to cultivate a stronger eco-culture in their communities.

The idea for the “Dilijan Camp” educational platform emerged as we witnessed the forest thinning year after year. Our NGO president even addressed this urgent issue in a TEDxYerevanWomen talk.

 Also, our organization created the "Ecopatrol" group, which is composed of 10 children, to carry out cleaning work in the forest and to detect and signal/alarm cut trees.

On 26.07.2024, the president of our organization participated in the award ceremony titled "Climate Change and Women in Armenia 2024" and was awarded as the leader of the ideas competition for his "Ecopatrol" team.

Now, in order to multiply the enrollment of children and expand the scope of our environmental activities, we want to create an extracurricular educational ecocamp.

In order to create the ecocamp, the RA Ministry of Environment has allocated us a 5,000 square meter plot of land from the “Dilijan National Park” for 60 years, on which we want to build cottages for the ecocamp.

We already have a picture and a project of the first cottage, but there is no budget and money for construction, for which we ask for help the support of all people who love nature.

Goal:

To create an educational platform "Dilijan Eco-Camp" and to form an ecological culture among schoolchildren of the Tavush region through informal eco-education and eco-upbringing.

Objective:

1. Build 10 cottages for the eco-camp.

2. Organize fundraising for the construction of cottages.

Eco-camp activities:

• Organize ecological and educational theoretical and practical classes for schoolchildren.
• Organize walks and cleanup in the forest according to the schedule.
• Organize recreation and entertainment for schoolchildren.
• Provide food.
• Provide medical services.

You can contact us on the following phone numbers: +374 99766775,

+374 98733718 or write: manushhovnanyan@gmail.com