On 4 September, at 10:00 PM in the Ararat region Lusarat Community School, the opening ceremony of the second floor was held. The school was renovated by Armenian Red Cross Society. The event was attended by Ararat region Governor, First Secretary of the Embassy of Japan Keisuke Yamagishi and ARCS President Mkhitar Mnatsakanyan.
Thanks to the initiative of ARCS, in 2014 - 2015 academic year, 300 pupils of Lusarat border community have the opportunity to get education in the improved and modern conditions. Interior decoration and furnishing of the school building was implemented by grant of Japanese government.
Having welcomed the participants, students and teachers ARCS President Mkhitar Mnatsakanyan mentioned:
“Qualified education is an important prerequisite, which is necessary for having conscious future citizens. Thanks to the support of our Japanese partners, Armenian Red Cross Society spared no effort for improving learning conditions of our children. You should have the same responsibility for your studies”.
First Secretary of the Embassy of Japan Keisuke Yamagishi highly appreciated the work done, mentioning the quality of the repair and furnishing:
“On behalf of the Government of Japan, I congratulate the new academic year in the new building. The Government of Japan continues the implementation of socio-economic development programs, which will strengthen the friendship between Armenia and Japan”.
The children welcomed the guests with Armenian folk songs and dances, poetry; with wishes and words of gratitude in Japanese.
Concluding the official part of opening Governor of Ararat region Rubik Abrahamyan thanked the benefactors.
“Educational institutions have a strategic importance for our nation, they are our state cornerstones. Educated generation - strong statehood”, he said.
ARCS conducted community vulnerability and capacity assessment in Ararat region, in the frames of Disaster Management activities, still in 2008.
As a result, it was revealed that the borderline refugee populated Lusarat community school was in poor conditions, which was directly affecting the quality of the educational process.
Giving importance to providing a qualified education to schoolchildren in գgood conditions and urgency of the issue, ARCS started fund raising activities, in order to support the school renovation and restoration of the conditions that would favor the education.
Project on renovation of the first floor of Lusarat community school developed by ARCS was presented to the Japan government. The project received a positive response, it was approved and funded by the Japan government.
The first floor renovation and furnishing works were carried out in February-May 2011, creating a comfortable environment for 150 children in 1-6 grades. ARCS, however, didn’t consider it as a completed mission, continued fundraising activities and succeeded. Highly appreciating the quality of the first-floor renovation and furnishing works, Japanese government decided to provide funds for the second floor. Today Lusarat school is completely renovated by the consistency of ARCS and is ready to welcome all its pupils in the renovated conditions.
