Development of border villages remains a priority for VivaCell-MTS and Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets (FPWC). Viewing alternative energy as an environmental and economic means to achieve the goal the partners have started yet another joint program in Armenia's Tavush province. In the kindergarten of Voskevan intensive works are being implemented with the purpose of replenishing the existing heating system with solar water heater.

Opened some five years ago, the kindergarten has a protected location and is safe against the potential bullets of the adversary. It has the capacity to accommodate 50-60 kids. Unfortunately, though, it is not operating to the full extent. Ensuring the necessary temperature for the kids and to heat the two-storied building is quite expensive, particularly, in the winter months, the management of the kindergarten says.

“There are currently 30 children regularly attending the kindergarten. We could have two groups, but have only one. We hadn’t worked in the previous years because of problems with the heating. We work this year because we have got gas supply in the building and boilers for each floor. But we use only the one for the first floor. The second floor has a hall, a piano, kids have facilities to train on the second floor, but we cannot organize that because of the low temperatures. If we cannot provide the heating of the building we have to terminate all works,” said acting principal of the kindergarten Nona Muradyan.

Using Armenia’s favorable weather conditions in the border villages has become an important aim for VivaCell-MTS and FPWC. The implemented works will soon be completed. The partners expect to achieve not only ecological, but also economic effectiveness.

“Voskevan is a border village: shootings are frequent here, and the situation gets escalated every now and then. Despite this situation, people pay significant attention to the young generation. A lot of kids in Voskevan could attend kindergarten but are deprived of that chance because of the conditions. Besides, the community has other serious problems that demand urgent solutions. After solving this problem the saved means will be used for the solution of others,” said head of Voskevan administration Vladimir Ghazinyan.

New system will help to reduce the community's expenses for the kindergarten heating for almost 40%, which is very important for border villages with other problems.