The Netherlands Diary/Նիդ.օրագիր

The Netherlands Diary/Նիդ.օրագիր
The Netherlands Diary

Sunday 31 May 2020

Հայրենիքի զարգացման նախաձեռնություն հիմնադրամ (HDIF)

HDIF- ը գրանցված հասարակական կազմակերպություն է Հայաստանի Հանրապետությունում:
HDIF- ն աշխատում է նախաձեռնել, դյուրինացնել և զարգացնել կայուն տնտեսական հնարավորություններ Հայաստանի բնակավայրերում:
 HDIF- ն ստեղծում է աշխատատեղեր, որոնք վճարում են նվազագույն աշխատավարձից բարձր աշխատավարձ, ընդգրկում է խոցելի խմբերին, նաև նպաստում տարածաշրջանային տնտեսական զարգացմանը:

Համաձայն Ասիական զարգացման բանկի 2017 թ.-ին հրապարակված զեկույցի, Հայաստանի բնակչության 25.7% -ը ապրում է աղքատության ազգային գծից ցածր, մինչդեռ բնակչության 1/3-ը համարվում է աղքատ:

HDIF- հիմնական նպատակը կանանց զորակցնելն է `նրանց կրթություն և անհրաժեշտ հմտություններ տալով` որպես անկախ բիզնեսի օպերատորներ հաջողակ լինելու համար: Դրան են ուղղված տարբեր թեմաներով դասընթացները, սեմինարներ կազմակերպելը:

HDIF Donates Over 7,000 Masks to Local Refugees, the Elderly, and Persons with Disabilities

On May 18 in the fight against COVID-19, wearing a mask became mandatory throughout Armenia.  HDIF has been collaborating closely with Mission ArmeniaWorld Vision ArmeniaFund for Armenian Relief, and Armenian Progressive Youth to distribute more than 7,000 donated masks to local refugees, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.

The masks have been donated by one of HDIF's export client, El Puente - Die Fair Trade Pioniere, in Germany as well as the Daughters of Vartan Araxi chapter of the San Francisco Bay Area.  El Puente continues to patiently wait for its shipment of 7,000 masks to Germany because the the Eurasian Economic Union, of which Armenia is a member, has banned the export of PPE's from its member countries.

HDIF's producer partners in Vardenis and Koghb have been involved in the production of #PeoplesMasks for nearly two months.  Recently, a Syrian Armenian center in Yerevan, called Nor Arev, has also begun mask production. (See "Featured Producer Partner")

Interested in purchasing a mask from HDIF?  Email us at hdifarmenia@gmail.com. They cost 1200 AMD each, and an additional 1200 AMD for door-to-door delivery in Yerevan. Also contact us if you'd like to donate masks for local distribution.

This Month's Featured Producer Partner

Nor Arev
Switching from Crafts & Gifts to Mask
Production to Help Stop the Spread of COVID-19



“Refugees have skills and talents that only need a chance to grow and flourish. Within each piece [created] lies a story of history and culture, and the chance for a person who has fled war and persecution to offer something of beauty and style to the world.”
~ Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees

[Article and photos reprinted from UNHCR Armenia] 
HDIF has been working in partnership with UNHCR to help Nor Arev / Նոր Արեւ implement a new mask production project. The ladies sewing the masks are displaced women, originally from Syria, who have set up shop in the ‘Industrial Zone’ provided to the Syrian Armenian Union NGO, Սիրիահայերի Միություն.
Under the leadership of Vani Nalbandian, instead of making crafts and gift items, they have switched to producing 100 to 200 masks a day to help Armenians against the spread of COVID-19.

“Nor Arev gave me the opportunity to make some income and support my family. During these difficult days of emergency when people are in need of masks, I feel honored that my skills and input can serve useful for the host community,” said one of the women while sewing a mask.
These diligent women have joined the global mask production initiative introduced by UNHCR and its partner MADE51 promoting refugees’ self-reliance and women empowerment worldwide.

The Latest from HDIF-USA


Father's Day in the U.S. is on Sunday, June 21st.  This gives you plenty of time to order handmade gifts from Armenia.  Give your dad, grandpa, father-in-law, brother, uncle, husband, or significant other a unique and special surprise.  Every purchase supports our mission to promote economic development in Armenia through jobs for women and persons with disabilities. Online shopping is quick and easy! Order now:  www.hdifusashop.com.

Reminder: As soon as the ban on exporting PPE's is lifted, HDIF-USA will be receiving a large shipment of #PeoplesMasks that will be available at www.hdifusashop.com.  We will keep you posted via email and social media.

What's Happening Next Month

In Armenia, HDIF will be working with Nor Arev on a new project creating a prototype of a medical grade, waterproof hospital gown. Even better, shoe covers are also being developed. According to Tim, the design "needs to be tweaked a bit," but check out the video to see the impressive first effort. Currently, HDIF is looking into an internationally-accepted design for production of the gowns.
HDIF'S NEW LOCATION:
Currently closed due to COVID-19
ISAHAKYAN STREET 18, 2nd Fl, Rm 6 

(Two blocks from the Ani Hotel)

Store Hours: Monday-Friday 10AM-6PM  For inquiries, call 077 473335

HDIF is the only World Fair Trade Guaranteed organization in the former Soviet region. www.hdif.org

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