rmenia, the smallest of the former Soviet Republics, is in the midst of historic change. In the 1990's, Armenia survived a devastating earthquake, a war and blockade, chronic shortages of power and an economic collapse. In spite of these set backs, Armenia is making progress in its transition to a market economy. Armenians recognize the importance of English fluency and economic development, as well as the need for preventative health and preserving natural resources. The Peace Corps responds to these needs with programs that develop the country and its people's ability to support business development and education, and to address challenges in health and environmental sectors.

Business Development

The Community and Business Development project supports Armenian organizations and businesses through a range of capacity building projects. Volunteers are assigned to business support centers, municipalities, local non-governmental organizations and to regional branches of a national small and medium enterprise development center.

Peace Corps Volunteers support local organizations to become self-sustainable and to better serve their communities through strategic planning and through participatory management and community-based revenue generation. They enable entrepreneurs to develop and grow their businesses through improved marketing, customer service, decision-making, critical thinking, financial management and other business principles that meet international standards. Volunteers collaborate with educational institutions and training centers to help students gain skills in information technology and entrepreneurship and to increase their understanding and abilities to compete in a free enterprise market.

Education

The Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) project was initiated in 1992 at the request of the Armenian government to increase the quality of English education programs throughout Armenia.

Volunteers emphasize development of English communication in a variety of ways: elementary and high school classroom teaching, English clubs, in-service teacher trainings, assisting applicants to apply for exchange programs, and by setting up networks with international agencies to address a range of social issues.

In addition, Volunteers assist communities in a variety of secondary projects such as youth development and civic education and by raising community awareness on issues such a Gender and Development, HIV/AIDS and environmental issues.

Health

Health Volunteers help increase public health awareness and encourage community members to practice preventive health measures. Volunteers organize health classes in local schools and organizations, and co-present with their counterparts through seminars, clubs, community and professional lectures, and discussion groups on such topics as general health and hygiene, women's health, HIV/AIDS, self-esteem and life planning, nutrition, exercise, and physical therapy. Many health Volunteers are placed in schools to help teachers introduce health classes into their curriculum and to conduct health clubs as extra-curricular activities. In addition, health Volunteers train health workers in clinics and hospitals for their professional development.

Volunteers assist their communities identify local health needs through comprehensive surveying techniques. Volunteers also assist local non-governmental health organizations to strengthen their capacity and project management skills.

Environment

Armenia has a rich natural environment. However, environmental degradation as a legacy of the Soviet era and as a consequence of recent economic crises is a significant issue for Armenia's future.

Peace Corps Armenia has been involved in environmental education for over ten years through secondary projects. As a result of a convergence of interest and increase of activities by the public and by Volunteers, the Environmental Education project was initiated in 2003. Volunteers work in schools and with non-governmental organizations. They collaborate with teachers to integrate environmental subjects into the curriculum, and organize clubs, hikes, and other extra-curricular environmental activities through Eco Clubs. Volunteers also work with counterparts to organize community-wide environmental activities and summer eco-camps, help organizations to build capacity and project management skills.