Another one of the 18 kindergartens being renovated under the Yerevan energy efficiency program was put into operation. Yerevan Mayor Hrachya Sargsyan checked the conditions created for the children in the kindergarten, with Ambassador Andrea Wiktorin, Head of the EU delegation to Armenia, and with the representatives of other supporting and partner structures of the project.

"We are putting another energy efficient and earthquake resistant kindergarten into operation, which Yerevan renovated with a non-sovereign loan. The project continues successfully, we are already discussing the issue of renovating new kindergartens in the second phase and we expect that by the end of the year we will sign a contract with the support of the government and have the opportunity to renovate 14 more kindergartens, as well as carry out works in 4 polyclinics. All this is aimed at ensuring the well-being of our citizens," said the mayor of Yerevan.

The total cost of this important project is around 15 million euros. It is financed by the European Investment Bank, the Eastern Europe Energy Efficiency and Environment Partnership (E5P), the Green Climate Fund and the budget of Yerevan Municipality. The cost of reconstruction of kindergarten No. 49 is 400 million AMD.

"We have a very close and effective cooperation with Yerevan Municipality in the field of energy efficiency, and this beautiful kindergarten is one of the wonderful examples. We cooperate in the framework of economic and investment programs, as well as in terms of the implementation of green initiatives, where we have, for example, the green bus program. I am happy for all of this, as a result of which we will bring our benefit to the citizens," mentioned EU Ambassador Andrea Wiktorin.

"Our efforts will be continuous, our activities will not be limited to Yerevan, we will deal with energy efficiency all over the territory of Armenia. The building, of course, is very beautiful, and it will also save about 50% of energy. The children will have a much more comfortable place to spend their time, they will play in a warm environment, and I am very happy that UNDP was able to contribute to the implementation of this project," said Natia Natsvlishvili, UNDP Resident Representative in Armenia.

Kindergarten No. 49 was built in the 1980s and was overhauled. The project launched at the end of 2020 and fundamentally changed the environment and building conditions. Not only energy efficient, bright, colorful, but also safe conditions were created for about 270 children in the kindergarten.

In the frameworks of the project, energy efficient equipment, solar photovoltaic panels, LED lighting were installed in the kindergarten. Moreover, replacement of doors and windows, thermal insulation of the roof and walls were carried out, as a result of which the financial costs of energy maintenance of public buildings, as well as CO2 gas emissions will be reduced. As an important component, special attention was also paid to the seismic resistance of the building.

"I am very happy to be here and see this new kindergarten, it certainly looks very nice and fresh, and I think the most important thing is that it is also energy efficient, because a number of renewable energy measures have been implemented, and, of course, you know that heating and hot water supply are very important, because they increase the level of comfort," emphasized Maciej Czura, Head of the European Investment Bank (EIB) Regional Representation for the South Caucasus

"You know that many donors are included in this project, you see the flags of all of them, which document the level of trust these countries have in the leaders of Armenia, in Yerevan Municipality. The project was implemented jointly with the European Investment Bank and the Yerevan Municipality, and we see what kind of results we have achieved," said Tim Straight, Honorary Consul of the Embassy of the Republic of Finland in the Republic of Armenia.

"At the moment, we have 25 kindergartens under construction, and maybe the works cause a little difficulty for our citizens, they don't know where to take their children to kindergarten, but we must overcome these difficulties together so that our children can grow up in a prosperous and good environment," said Hrachya Sargsyan.