The organization is established in 1997. Araza is a Non-Governmental Benevolent Organization is a non-profit organization, with its members joint in voluntary basis. The mission of the organization is to support to the establishment of a legal, democratic country with a developed economy and high living standards.

Objectives of the organization are:

1. Participation in creation of the legal and state reform processes for raising the labor, employment and social rights protection of vulnerable groups of society, as well as raising the level of social enrollment in the stated processes.

2. Free of charge provision of legal, information, consultation services in the area of labor and employment, as well as professional orientation, vocational trainings services to the vulnerable groups of population.

3. Participation in working up and realization of policies and projects on small and middle business and community development to assist creation of new work places for the vulnerable groups of the society.

President
Tamara Abrahamyan

Vice-President
Gohar Nalbandyan

Administrative ( E. Simonyan )

• Organization and supervision of office activity

• Procurement of goods and services

Legal (A. Atarbekyan)

• Participation in processes of legislative reforms in form of lobbying, making proposals, organizing public debates on laws

• Participation in the process of establishment of independent monitor

• Participation in the process of establishment and development of social and public bodies

• Participation in the process of democracy development through increasing public awareness

• Participation in the process of democracy development through increasing public awareness

Social (G. Kanayan)

• Providing free information and mediator services

• Educational programs directed at development of small business

• Services of business plan development and fundraising

• Realization of health care, educational and cultural programs for children of beneficiary families

• Humanitarian aid programs for beneficiary families

External affairs and fundraising (A. Abrahamyan)

• Collecting and systemizing area-specific materials

• Elaboration, preparation and dissemination of information on the organization

• Searching donors and sponsors, organizing donation collecting

• Setting up contacts for cooperation

Educational-cultural (V. Gulkanyan)

• Organization of education of preschool children with auditory problems

• Research studies aimed at children upbringing, formation and society integration

• Programs aiming at getting familiar with Armenian and foreign cultures and spiritual values

Information analysis and programs elaborating (G. Karapetyan)

• Analysis of Statistical and sociologic research works

• Program elaboration

Youth department (N. Simonyan)

Recruitment of younger generation in the programs of the organization

Membership

Araza is a member of OXFAM, Civil Society Cooperation, Dashink ecological and CRINGO network, and cooperates with the Southern Block network.

In 2002 Araza initiated founding of “Work and Law” coalition of NGOs occupied with employment and social issues, which participates actively and efficiently in the development of legislation and policies regulating employment area and labor market, as well as in processes of elaboration and realization of Poverty Reduction Strategic Program, and has seriously succeed in it.

Since 2004 Araza is a member of Monitoring, Legal, Judicial and Financial Groups of the Anti-Corruption Committee under the RA President, PRSP Work-Group.

In 2007 Araza established the Public Network, which, starting from May 2008, actively participates in law-making in the Government and the National Assembly, thus assisting in presenting and protection of public interests. At the same time Public Network pursues in the process of formation of legal base and culture of cooperation between the Government and civil society, and NGOs in particular.

«With Araza’s initiation, 106 member organizations of the Public Network have jointly drawn up and concluded a cooperation agreement; during 2008 the members participated in public discussions organized by the Economic, Agricultural and Ecological, Human Rights, Territorial and Local Governance Standing committees of the National Assembly, as well as Republican Party of Armenia. Araza has published 5 issues of “Public Word in the National Assembly” periodical. Araza has coordinated nomination and support of 4 authorized representatives from the network members into the Board of Beneficiaries of Armenia Challenges of Millennium Project’s, and coordinated the process of concluding Î¼Ì ê¶Æ agreement. Araza was a member of target groups elaborating the Public Counsel’s regulation.

Address:

Republic of Armenia

7 Kievyan ave., apt. 94, 0028 Yerevan, (legal address)

26 Aram Khachatryan st. apt. 50, 0012 Yerevan (office)

Tel: (+374 10) 26 52 82, 22 70 97, 27 89 06

Fax: (+374-10) 22 70 97

E-mail: araza@arminco.com

araza@info.am

Homepage: http://www.spyur.am/araza.htm

http://www.format.tv/araza.html

http://www.arazango.narod.ru