THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF ARDAHAN AND ITS VICINITY ECONOMICAL AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT: WHAT HAS BEEN DONE SO FAR?
 

International Blue Crescent Relief and Development Foundation (IBC) has launched the Ardahan and Its Vicinity Community Investment Project in the second half of 2003. Before launching the project the experienced staff of IBC made some sociological and economical analyses of the region in order to determine the needs correctly. Besides this, all data gathered in the region had to be classified under different groups. Such a policy was inevitable for both far reaching and short term expectations of the project.

Living in these harsh condititions should not be their fates.

IBC has been aware that drinking water problem is still one of the important problems in the region.

All sociological analyses proved that many villages had some “urgent needs”, which was named as “Quick Impact Projects”. Therefore one of the initial ideas of the project was to find a permanent solution to these vital problems. There were many poor villages which had resembled the medieval ages. Those villages did not even have drinking water. The technical and administrator staff of IBC therefore gave priority to drinking water issue in order to alleviate the sufferings of the people living in these villages. Currently IBC has been solving the drinking water problem of 12 villages. These are:

The computer laboratory established at Posof High School by IBC.

Stockbreeding is the fundamental economic activity held in the region.

•  Kayinli Village

•  Kalkankaya Village

•  Kartalpinar Village

•  Taskiran Village

•  Armutveren Village

•  Dagci Village

•  Kucuk Sutluce

•  Asikuzeyir Village

•  Balikcilar Village

•  Haskoy Village

•  Ugurca Village

•  Cobanli Village


IBC organized a stockbreeding seminar for villagers.

Agriculture is another branch that has been supported by IBC.

This was not all, however. Many schools did not have sufficient technical equipments. IBC provided the necessary equipments for these schools. Moreover, a computer laboratory and a technology class were established in Posof High School . Another activity that should be regarded as part of Quick Impact Project was the renovation activities of the schools. Posof High School , Posof Dormitory and three primary schools ( Eminbey Village Primnary School , Gonulacan Village Primary School , Ozbasi – Gulluce Village Primary School ) were the beneficiaries of this activity. Obviously all these activities had direct effect on the social life.

While the relations between International Blue Crescent Relief and Development Foundation and the inhabitants have been becoming genuinely intimate, the Foundation has stepped forward its activities in order to solve much more complicated issues. One of these issues that can be mentioned as the most important one is to support stockbreeding activities in the region. As it might already attract one's attention, stockbreeding is the fundamental economical activity held in the region. IBC was aware that the development of the region could only be realized by giving substantial support to stockbreeding activities. This was not an easy issue, however. The cooperation of local authorities, inhabitants and NGO's was essential. Thanks to the experienced technical staff of both IBC and local authorities this obstacle could be achieved. Till now:

•  1141 stockbreeder has been artificially inseminated.
•  22.559 stockbreeders have been vaccinated.
•  1939 stockbreeders have been examined.
•  And a total amount of 1685 villagers have been trained about stockbreeding activities.

IBC organized two seminars, one in Kocaeli and the other one in Ardahan, about agruculture.

The training of the villagers should be regarded as the most important issue. It can be claimed that by the help of this training activity, IBC has demolished the taboos. Villagers were not only informed about the truths of stockbreeding, but also many misbelieves were eliminated. It should also be noted that IBC will continuing to support stockbreeding activities in the region till the end of the project.

Another branch of the Ardahan and Its Vicinity Community Investment Project is related with agriculture, more specifically saying with fruit growing activities. These activities were held in Posof, where a different climate has given the villagers the opportunity of growing vast kind of fruits. Thanks to the climate of the region, a vast kind of fruits becomes ripe when it is almost impossible to find them in any other part of Turkey . The agricultural experts of the Foundation believe that, this is a great opportunity for the region which should not be missed. Thus, the technical staff of IBC has established 20 seedling areas in Posof. It seems that the number of sample seedling areas will increase in the following period. Training of villagers about agricultural facts is undoubtedly inseparable part of all these activities. Till now, two seminars, one in Kocaeli and the other one in Ardahan, were organized by IBC. Obviously these seminars have broadened villagers' the point of views about vast issues, such as organic agriculture, fruit and vegetable growing. Besides all these, IBC has distributed seeds to the villagers.

To sum it up, since the beginning of Ardahan and Its Vicinity Community Investment Project, IBC has achieved more than it was expected. But as already emphasized in the previous articles, these are not enough, however. The region has been neglected for centuries. Therefore vast overwhelming and ossified problems of the region can only be overcome by the systematic and incorporated activities of different units. In this respect, IBC will continue to do its best.

 
Eklenme: 25/8/2004