Our Goal

To ensure the Accessibility, convenience, and affordability of digital dental services for the residents of the border community of Berd and local dental clinics, through the investment in digital stomatology and the continuous training of regional specialists.

Description of the Project

Berd is a border community in north-eastern Armenia, encompassing 1 urban and 16 rural settlements. Its distance from the capital limits access to modern technologies and the provision of convenient services, particularly in areas of aesthetic healthcare and essential orthopedic interventions that require local implementation. This is especially challenging for young children and elderly grandparents, who often face discomfort, delayed prosthetic treatment, and a lack of timely consultations.

Our project aims to establish a digital dental laboratory in Berd, equipped with high-quality CAD/CAM systems and 3D scanners, implemented by the Tsili Tsov Local Action Group, a territorial development NGO. As a result of this initiative, we will also launch a mobile service to make digital dental solutions accessible even in the most remote and vulnerable communities.

This will not only significantly improve the quality of care but also generate revenue by providing services to other clinics and medical centers beyond the region, thereby ensuring the sustainability and financial stability of the Tsili Tsov NGO.

The project consists of several development phases:

• Acquisition of equipment
• Specialist training
• Expansion of mobile services
• Growth of the partner network
• Implementation of innovative methods

If successfully launched, our partner organization, the UNDP Armenia Office, with the support of the EU “Empowering Local Actors for Development in Lori and Tavush” Program, will provide additional equipment, materials, and tools necessary for the project’s full implementation.

IMPACT

The launch of a digital dental center in the border community of Berd will have a deep and long-lasting impact, particularly in the following areas:

Healthcare Impact

• Access to high-quality dental services was previously unavailable or difficult to access for the community.
• Early prevention and timely treatment which helps to avoid the development of complex conditions.
• Improved oral health and comfort for the elderly, individuals with disabilities, and children during dental procedures.

Promotion of Digitalization and Innovation

• Introduction of CAM/CAD technologies as an innovative approach.
• Digital X-rays, 3D scanning, instant crown design – saving time and improving quality.

Territorial Impact

• Villagers will no longer need to travel to urban centers for dental care.
• Revitalization of border settlements through the availability of essential services locally.

Economic and Social Development

• Job creation for dentists, operators, and technical staff.
• The attraction of young professionals to rural areas encourages them to stay and contribute to community development.
• Potential for medical tourism from nearby communities and even neighboring countries.

Community Engagement

• A transparent and participatory management model with patients and community members.
• Increased public trust as residents see tangible improvements in their quality of life.

The Problem

Remote rural communities are consistently left behind in terms of access to advanced technological solutions, which significantly affects the availability, comfort, and reliability of healthcare services, particularly for the elderly and young children. Due to the absence of modern dental technologies, critical aesthetic and orthopedic services are not available locally. For instance, the production of dental crowns and prosthetic structures heavily depends on laboratories based in Yerevan, which lengthens the treatment process and results in financial outflow. This not only increases the time required for treatment but also raises its cost.

The Tsili Tsov Local Action Group for Territorial Development aims to contribute to the socio-economic development of the Berd community and improve the quality of life for its residents by ensuring access to high-quality and affordable healthcare services. This program will allow for the creation of a competitive service center and the local training of necessary specialists.

Solution

• The project will address the technological gap in local dental services by introducing digital equipment that will replace dependency on external laboratories.
• It will reduce treatment time, lower costs, and improve access and quality of services.
• The mobile service delivery model will expand geographical reach, ensuring access for even the most remote rural and border communities. As a result, the quality of life will improve not only for the members of the LAG (Local Action Group) but also for the broader population of the region. This will also contribute to strengthening the financial sustainability of the Tsili Tsov LAG NGO.

THE Project implementing and resposible TEAM

The project will be implemented by the Tsili Tsov Local Action Group (LAG), a territorial development NGO that operates in the Berd region and focuses on rural socio-economic development using the LEADER methodology. This approach is based on territorial, bottom-up development, with partnerships across public, business, and civil society sectors, promoting innovation through integrated and multi-sectoral strategies tailored to the needs and potential of the Berd community.

Key team members are:

Project Manager: Anahit Badalyan, Executive Director of Tsili Tsov LAG, President of the ARM LAG National Network, and Founder-Director of the Berd Women’s Resource Center. She is a journalist by profession with over 15 years of experience in implementing community development programs.

Project Implementation Lead: Garik Paytyan, Monitoring and Evaluation Manager at Tsili Tsov LAG and Founder of “Zovak” Guesthouse. He is a cartographer by training and has over 7 years of experience in initiatives related to agritourism development.

Supporting TEAM

President of Tsili Tsov LAG: Nara Papyan, Director of the Nerkin Karmiraghbyur border school, linguist, and a leading advocate of educational experimentation.

Board Member: Sevak Badalyan, Deputy Mayor of Berd and a programmer by profession.

Board Member: Artur Safaryan, dentist, member of the Berd Municipal Council, and Founder of the “Prospective Border” NGO.

Board Member: Armen Melikyan, cultural and public figure, Founder–President of the "Berd Cultural Center" NGO, and Cultural Programs Coordinator at Tsili Tsov LAG.

Board Member: Artur Mirzoyan, Director of the Verin Karmiraghbyur school and Educational Programs Coordinator at Tsili Tsov LAG.

Board Member: Hovsep Gyurjinyan, Economist and Founder of the “Silky Tavush” business initiative.

Board Member: Seda Hovakimyan, Art history teacher and one of the Founders of the Berd Women’s Resource Center Foundation.

About the Tsili Tsov LAG:

• Operates in support of the development and empowerment of 10 rural and 1 urban communities in Berd.
• Focuses on local economic development, social inclusion, rural tourism promotion, youth engagement, and environmental initiatives.
• Has funded 39 local entrepreneurial, educational, cultural, and tourism-related initiatives under the EU “Empowering Local Actors for Development in Lori and Tavush” grant program.
• Has established a collaborative environment with local governments, community centers, local entrepreneurs and producers, and both local and international organizations.
• Organizes and continues to initiate community events, capacity-building trainings, infrastructure improvements, ongoing support for local businesses, as well as cultural, educational, and tourism-related programs.
• Is a founding member of the ARM LAG national network and a strong advocate of LEADER principles in Armenia and beyond.

Budget

The total budget of the project is 6 million AMD (approx. $15,000 USD), which will be fully allocated as follows:

1. Ceramic firing furnace – 2.4 million AMD (~$6,000)
2. Metal dental prosthetics casting unit – 3.6 million AMD (~$9,000)
3. Semi-mobile CAM/CAD dental laboratory – to be provided by a project partner/UNDP