Sustainable Energy Academy 2018 Holds Wrap-Up Festival in Chambarak

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CHAMBARAK, Armenia – On December 1, the Sustainable Energy Academy 2018, jointly organized by the Acopian Center for the Environment of the American University of Armenia (AUA) and the South Caucasus Regional Office of the Heinrich Boell Foundation, held a Wrap-up Festival in the city of Chambarak. The Festival was the concluding event for activities of Academy 2018.

At the Wrap-up Festival, nine grant-winning teams from different communities of the Getik Valley showcased the projects they had developed and implemented. The projects included the installation of solar water heaters, energy efficient lighting, solar fruit dryers, as well as community research and awareness-raising about sustainable energy issues.

These projects were developed after two Youth and Civil Society Workshops organized for the Getik Valley communities in September. After these workshops, the participants were invited to develop sustainable energy project proposals. They received support from mentors trained by the Academy and AUA Acopian Center experts to develop and refine their proposals. The project proposals received were evaluated by a Grant Committee and the top ones were awarded small grants for project implementation. Overall, nine small grants were awarded. Moreover, an additional “Greenhouse, Energy Audits on Buildings and Solar Drier” workshop was organized in Chambarak on November 17.

The Sustainable Energy Academy, which has been organized for three consecutive years, aims to inform and empower community youth and civil society members to seek sustainable energy solutions that improve their lives and protect the environment. This year, the activities of the Academy focused on the Getik Valley in Armenia, stretching from the village of Gosh to the village of Vahan. The AUA Acopian Center partnered with the “Chambarak Development Foundation,” which ensured local participation and provided logistical support.

For more information on the Sustainable Energy Academy visit http://ace.aua.am/sea.

The AUA Acopian Center for the Environment, a research center of the American University of Armenia, promotes the protection and restoration of the natural environment through research, education, and community outreach. AUA Acopian Center’s focus areas include sustainable natural resource management, biodiversity and conservation, greening the built environment, clean energy, and energy efficiency, as well as information technology and the environment.