COAF and AIWA-SF Inspire Rural Girls in Armenia Through Basketball

San Francisco, CA – AIWA-SF and Children of Armenia Fund (COAF) have partnered to expand afterschool basketball clubs for rural girls in the Lori region of Armenia. COAF has been a long-standing partner of AIWA-SF since many of the organization’s initiatives in education, healthcare, social services and economic development empower women and girls in villages across Armenia. 

COAF launched its first afterschool basketball club for girls in 2013, and registration was initially low due to various stereotypes. As time went by, there was less hesitation on the part of young girls, with many actively enrolling. Their participation demonstrated increased athleticism and confidence, thereby breaking stigmas and artificially constructed norms being forced upon them. 

As a result, COAF and AIWA-SF partnered to expand COAF’s afterschool basketball clubs, so that girls in new beneficiary villages can also learn how to play the sport. Two new clubs in the villages of Karinj, Mets Ayrum and Pokr Ayrum, located near the recently opened COAF SMART Center, were established in February 2019. 

At the end of the term, COAF will organize an intercommunity tournament. Special guest speakers and field trips to various sporting institutions and matches will also be included in the program. 

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About AIWA-SF: The Armenian International Women’s Association is a dynamic global 501(c)3 dedicated to empowerment, education and enrichment. Through many projects and initiatives, AIWA is dedicated to inspiring, empowering and connecting Armenian women worldwide. AIWA-SF is an affiliate chapter of the Armenian International Women’s Association, EIN #: 04-3113182. Donations marked for AIWA-SF are routed to the affiliate chapter. To get involved with the AIWA-SF affiliate, please visit http://www.aiwasanfrancisco.com or send an email to aiwasanfrancisco@gmail.com. We are grateful for all donations. To help us promote progress, contributions can be mailed to: AIWA-SF 15559 Union Ave #227 Los Gatos CA 95032

About COAF: The “Children of Armenia” Charitable Fund (COAF) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization that employs community-led approaches aimed at improving the quality of life in rural Armenia, with a particular focus on children and youth. COAF’s target development areas are education, healthcare, social and economic development. COAF launched its programs in 2004, starting in one village and expanding to 51 villages in Armavir, Aragatsotn, Lori, Gegharkunik, Shirak and Tavush regions.