Dilijan Development Fund officially opened on 1 June. The founders are Ruben Vardanyan (well-known Russian businessman and philanthropist) and his spouse Veronika Zonabend. The ceremonial opening of the Fund coincided with the Children's Day, and the Dilijan Municipality with the support of the Dilijan Development Fund and IDeA Foundation organized festivities in the town.
Talking to media on the heels of the opening ceremony, Head of the Dilijan Development Fund Arthur Hakobyan said the town's investment program has already been drafted and will be finally approved by international structures in a few months. The Fund will be working in three areas: economic, educational and cultural.
The program of Dilijan's development seeks to attract local and international investors, create the town's master plan, support the micro and small enterprises, develop the tourism infrastructures, create sport centers, preserve the historical and cultural heritage of the town and create resting areas, Hakobyan said.
According to him, 60 children already learn paining and street-art at the newly established Street Art Club in Dilijan, with 45 more children being engaged in a theatrical troupe. A chorus and a resource center for women will be created shortly.
Veronika Zonabend, in turn, told reporters that the Fund's charitable projects are based on a special social business model that seeks to make the projects completely self-financing in the succession of time.