Republican Party of Armenia

 Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan visited “Lusabats” camp in Hankavan, which is hosting some 400 children from Armenia, Artsakh and Javakhk under the State budget-funded Summer Holidays for Schoolchildren Program, which is implemented annually. The Prime Minister was accompanied by First Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration Vache Terteryan and Governor of Kotayk Marz Aram Harutyunyan.

As he toured the camp to get a first-hand view of recreational and catering amenities available in “Lusabats,” the Head of Government talked to the children asking them about their daily lives. After handing in the presents intended for the campers, the Premier watched the children’s dance performances.

Greeting the campers, Hovik Abrahamyan urged them to be united and cherish the new ties of friendship. “Dear children, we associate with you the future of our State. Every year the Government will pay ever greater attention to ensure better camping conditions for you,” the Prime Minister said.

For a while now, the Government has been funding a yearly summer holiday program for schoolchildren at Lusabats, Hasmik, Aragats and Fabulous Gorge camps in Hankavan, as well as ar Aghbyur summer camp in Tsakhkadzor. As decided by the Prime Minister, program beneficiaries feature children aged 7-13 from Yerevan and the provinces coming from killed and disabled servicemen’s families, as well as parentless children or ones from vulnerable households.

The activities are coordinated by an interdepartmental commission, based on the Prime Minister’s decision. The logistics and beneficiary lists are provided by regional administrations and the Yerevan Town Hall.

Nearly 4,500 children will have a rest in three shifts of 20 days in 2014, with 1,500 children featuring in each shift. This year, the 1st shift will host 200 children from the NKR, 150 children from Javakhk. Syrian Armenian children have been included in the program using additional funds available from the 2012 appropriation.