VivaCell-MTS helps improve water supply system in Chinari

The Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets (FPWC) and VivaCell-MTS marked the completion and presented the outcomes of yet another project aimed at improving the water supply system in rural communities. Due to the program, Chinari community in Tavush region will be provided with 6-hour water supply instead of the former 2 hours. The improved system includes a new drainage, a pumping station and a 300-meter water line. The program was also supported by the Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR).

VivaCell-MTS General Manager Ralph Yirikian, FPWC Founder Ruben Khachatryan, head of Chinari community Samvel Saghoyan as well as the Deputy Director of FAR branch in Armenia Margarit Piliposyan attended the opening ceremony.

The community of Chinari, which shares a 28-km border with Azerbaijan, has a population of over 1175 people. Some places of this Armenian village are in a distance of 600 meters from the adversary’s location.

For years, the residents of Chinari had had only two-hour water supply: the villagers were carrying the water in buckets from the reservoir located in the village center. The same reservoir was also used for the livestock’s drinking spots and irrigation.

In the frames of the program implemented by FPWC and VivaCell-MTS a new drainage, a pumping station and a water line of 300 meters has been constructed in the community, and as a result, the water is being collected and pumped into the village's daily regulating main reservoir.

Due to these activities, the water supply in Chinari is currently implemented in 6-hour schedule; also the reservoir surrounding area and the livestock’s drinking spots have been improved.

VivaCell-MTS has implemented volunteering initiatives in Chinari since 2010. Owing to the financial assistance of the employees and the General Manager, the local kindergarten was provided with a heating system, new doors and windows were installed, a new refrigerator and a gas-stove were purchased. A year later, in 2011, in order to at least partially solve the potable water problem of the village, about 3-km length of plastic tubing was constructed.

“Our first programs in Chinari began 6 years ago. They were implemented as an act of voluntarism owing to the financial support of our employees. We are here today along with our partner organization to see the results of our cooperation. In villages like this the results of our partnership are measured not by the volume of the work we have done but by the change of disposition of our compatriots. A villager farming face to face with the adversary is first of all a border guard: the villager has to be sure that he is not alone one in one with problems. We are here to translate that confidence to them,” said VivaCell-MTS General Manager Ralph Yirikian.

In the frames of the joint program implemented by The Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets (FPWC) and VivaCell-MTS aimed at water supply improvement, Chkalov community in Lori region, Tsovagyugh community in Gegharkunik region and Lor community in Syunik region were provided with sustainable water supply during the last year.

This year the same program has been implemented in Paruyr Sevak community in Ararat region. The cooperation between the two organizations, directed at community development, will continue also in 2016.