YEREVAN, September 15. / ARKA /. Tens of children from a children’s home in Gavar, the administrative center of Gegharkunik province, their teachers, as well as a group of children from local poor families, employees of ACBA-CREDIT AGRICOLE BANK and World Vision international charity organization climbed September 11 the top of the mountain Armakhan of Geghama mountain range, ACBA-CREDIT AGRICOLE BANK said in a press release.

It said the trip was part of a joint charitable program of ACBA-CREDIT AGRICOLE BANK, Pan- Armenian Fund Hayastan and World Vision Armenia, designed to create educational opportunities for the inmates of the children's home in Gavar and help their social integration.

Climbing to more than 2,800 meters above the sea level, the children had the opportunity to see a crater lake on top of the mountain and visit a chapel at the site of an ancient shrine. Then they had a discussion devoted to Armenia’s Independence Day. The event was attended by 40 children and 25 adults.

"Such events allow the inmates of the children’s home develop relationships with their peers outside the institution and make new friends, which in turn helps them build communication skills and integrate in the society," the press release said.

The joint trilateral program has been implemented in the Gavar children’s home since 2014. As part of the program the center of education was set up for about 80 children from the children’s home and poor families aged 9 -18 to have in-depth classes of Armenian and foreign languages, mathematics, history, as well as other specialized disciplines.

About 41 million drams for the financing of the program were raised by Visa Philanthropist charity bank cards issued by ACBA-CREDIT AGRICOLE BANK together with the Pan-Armenian Fund Hayastan. The program is being implemented by World Vision Armenia.

This is the first joint charitable initiative of ACBA-CREDIT AGRICOLE BANK, the Pan- Armenian Fund Hayastan and World Vision Armenia.

World Vision’s mission is to improve the lives of children in poverty, their parents and communities. It operates in more than 250 communities in Yerevan and six regions of the country, providing assistance to about 32,000 children and their families. Its programs include health, economic development, protection of children and spiritual development.

Pan-Armenian Fund Hayastan was established in 1992. Its main task is the implementation of national development projects in Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.

ACBA-CREDIT AGRICOLE BANK was established in 1996 as part of European Union’s TACIS program. In September 2006, France's Credit Agricole Group became the biggest shareholder of the bank making considerable investments into its capital. -0-