Ashtarak, Region of Aragatsotn – June 2 – Students of School #5 and their guests celebrated the opening of a newly built bus stop. The bus stop was constructed by Ashtarak School #5 students who are part of the HSBC Bank sponsored JA Company Program. The program is implemented by Junior Achievement of Armenia (JAA) in more than 75 schools throughout the nation. “I am so happy to see the students actively taking part in the improvement of their community. Undoubtedly they are the future leaders of Armenia” statedArmine K. Hovannisian, executive director of JAA.
During the program, the students learned the basics of free market economics and established a student enterprise to apply in real life what they had learned. To this end, they conducted marketing research, manufactured and marketed a product . The students also learned about Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and allocated a part of their enterprise profits in realizing a project benefiting the community. To carry out their CSR project,, they also established an NGO, thus learning about the important work of NGOs. The students were selected and awarded 150,000 AMD grant by JAA. With this finances as well as the Ashtaarak Mayor’s and citizens’ contributions,, the students cleaned the territory , built the stone structure, planted greens around it. “We are so touched that we were able to solve the problems facing us. We truly wanted to improve our community. The bus stop had no cover and we would often see our friends and neighbors under the rain waiting for the bus. We are very happy that whatever the weathermay be thepeople will be protected against it. Wehope we will continue our work to help our village” remarked Mary Mikaelyan, one of the students.
HSBC Bank CEO, Thies Clements remarked ” I am delighted to see that our plans for the communities are being realized and truly changing the lives of the community members and the youth In the last ten years, the HSBC Bank has been working with JAA by investing in long term and successful projects. Our programs in the educational field are aimed at developing the potential of the youth. JAA program is unquestionably serving that goal".
