The Armenian Association of Social Workers hosted the World Bank Mission in the framework of the "Promoting Social Inclusion and Self-Reliant Livelihood Activities in Armenia" project, represented by World Bank Project Team Coordinator Ivan Shulga and World Bank Armenia Office Operations Consultant Vahan Danielyan, as well as other World Bank team members.

March 23, visits were made to the activities implemented within the framework of  the Project: the two-day course for social workers of the community and regional centers of the Unified Social Service in Tsaghkadzor, and to the participants of the business management skills course organized for the beneficiaries who passed the screening stage in Charentsavan, Kotayk marz.

Ivan Shulga welcomed the social workers participating in the course and highlighted the importance of getting to know colleagues working in different communities. He emphasized the valuable nature of this sort of communication and exchange of professional experience.

One participant noted that "social workers in different communities work with different approaches, and it was important that we had discussions to analyze and exchange experiences."

Another expressed: “The most important thing is to interact with professional trainers who educate us with rich theoretical knowledge and that we try to understand together which approach is most effective and realistic."

During the visit to the business management skills course, the project mission representatives got to know the participants, who shared their impressions and business ideas. The participants of the visit expressed their hope that during the next visits they will witness the implementation of the initiatives. They also wished the beneficiaries success. Many of the beneficiaries expressed their gratitude for the opportunity.

The project is implemented by the Armenian Association of Social Workers in cooperation with the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs of Armenia, under the coordination of the World Bank, with funding from the Government of Japan (through the Japan Social Development Fund).