The members of the Arevordi Eco Club from the village of Drprabak, located in the valley of the Getik River, have raised concerns about the lack of waste management in their community in an effort to protect their local environment.

Through their research, the Arevordis discovered that the river is filled with waste, its natural flow has been disrupted, and since there are no garbage bins or collection services in the village, residents dispose of waste directly into the river.

They explain that one of the main reasons for dumping waste into the river is that garbage trucks do not reach Drprabak, which raises a real question — where else can people dispose of their waste?

The Arevordis believe that the existing Boomerang Center in the village, which attempts to sort waste, is still not a complete solution to the problem. Garbage collection services are necessary to prevent further pollution of the river.

To assess the ecological condition of the river, the children monitored its biodiversity and discovered traces of an otter. This indicates that the river still has a healthy ecosystem, though no one knows how long this will last.

The Arevordis decided to address the issue by meeting with the Deputy Mayor of Chambarak, R. Ohanyan, where they presented their concerns with supporting arguments. The municipality has committed to fully resolving the issue within one year.

The Arevordis will continue to follow up on this commitment.

The program is implemented within the framework of the project “EU for Tourism: Community-Based Rural Tourism and Cultural Events in Gegharkunik and Vayots Dzor Regions,” in cooperation with World Vision Armenia and the Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets (FPWC).