Armenia

 

It has been several years that Armenia started to recover from the military confrontation with the neighboring country. Armenia has been living through hard times as the collapse of the soviet regime affected the economic and cultural life of the country. We lost many of our leading positions in sport. The country which gave champions in weightlifting, athletics, wrestling, and chess to the world suffered from economic turmoil: sport also was badly affected at all levels. People had to survive during the years of blockade, living through poverty, unemployment and economic hardships. About 800 000 people left the country resulting major brain drain. Their children-the future champions, scientists, researchers, doctors and lawyers- left along with them.

With years passing by, Armenia started to recover slowly. The government’s encouragement and support for sports made positive changes in this area: sport schools, sport bases and camps were restored. Sport federations started to gather sportsmen and associates around. During the year 2003 the Open Fun Football Schools project became a reality. The new sport schools with the new games, updated approach, and bright-colored sport equipment attracted lots of children and resumed lots of interest in sports. It engaged boys and girls, children with physical impairment and diabetic children.
 

At first the OFFS program was piloted in the capital city of Yerevan. In 2003 two schools were established on the bases of “Malatia” and “Pyunik” sport clubs with over 192 participating children in each. Leaders, instructors and parents took an active participation in the OFFS schools. Sport events were highly supported by the Armenian Football Federation.

If the first year project was implemented on a pilot basis, the second year fully justified the expectations of the project: 8 OFFS schools were established as functional schools in rural Armenia. Children from regions were happy to participate in the games. The number of participants is increasing year by year. Having 10 OFFS instructors, 30 leaders, many volunteers among parents we currently conduct football schools in the capital and all regions of Armenia. One of the most significant OFFS tournaments is the Novo Nordisk cup tournament which is taking place every 14th of November. This year the number of participants was 1405 of which 957 – boys and 448 - girls. 

 

The CCPA project was implemented in Armenia in 2003. Since then a significant progress has been made: persons interested in the project assisted in its further development, while program instructors and leaders passed educational seminars.

 

Each year the schools are becoming more popular, expanding their activities all over Armenia and beyond. We organized joint event with Georgia which was a great success. Our instructors participate in educational seminars every year. After seminars a number of interesting suggestions on the methods and ways of education are being presented. The OFFS program is supported by the Football Federation of Armenia. OFFS instructors are at the same time the instructors for FFA.

 

Love towards sport and football comes from childhood. Thus the OFFS program is only the primary stage of big sport and professional football. The OFFS carries a great value for children since it is both sport and game. We emphasize the positive impact the OFFS activities have on the Armenian children and their families. This is a reconciliation and integration among people through dialogue, collaboration and through playing and enjoying together. 

 

OFFS has been founded by UEFA as a peace loving and social cohesion program. The goal of the program is to foster tolerance, intercultural understanding and reconciliation between countries and nations. We have no local sponsors yet. However there are some improvements in this area as well: for example, three schools out of 15 are financed by local municipalities, individual sponsors, Ministry of Youth and Sport and the Football Federation of Armenia. 

The aim of CCPA-OFFS is to encourage reconciliation and integration among people through dialogue, collaboration and through playing and enjoying together. Armenia with the help of OFFS program has a vision to construct and develop a multi-year peace building project for Turkey and Armenia regions, aimed at fostering tolerance, intercultural understanding and reconciliation between two countries. The program includes cultural exchanges, sport for peace events, cross border peace camps. The Football Federation of Armenia is quite supportive of this project as it promotes peace and social development. 

 

We are planning to extend the OFFS activities, to expand its geographic coverage and reach out to new locations. Since OFFS promotes football and grassroots development we plan to maintain our cooperation with National Football Federation, its instructors and coaches.

 

National Strategic Targets for 2010-2012 include the following:

 

1. Follow the principles and goals of CCPA-OFFS project as an integral part of a large peace building program
2. Continue the cooperation and active participation of Grassroots department of the Armenian Football Federation as an integral part of football family
3. Expand and replicate the OFFS program activities within the regions and furthering peace building ideas
4. To develop and increase local fund raising capacity aimed at financial self-sufficiency and sustainability. 

OFFS Armenia is a non-government organization which is functioning under the supervision of Danish headquarters. Having the UEFA as a main official Football and Social Responsibility Partner, it is supported by international sponsors’ financing.  At the same time OFFS Armenia works efficiently with the support of the National Association-Football Federation of Armenia.