About the project

Abandoned and ruined churches, monasteries, dwelling caves from the Middle Ages, graveyards or prehistoric cult sites…Throughout remote areas in the South Caucasus one can find a large number of neglected cultural assets, that are in deep need of care and attention. Under the slogan “Crossing borders to save, preserve and care” this issue is currently addressed by the SOS Culture project which was launched in January 2012 by the Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets (FPWC). 

With an overall duration of 24 months, the SOS Culture project is funded by the European Union within the framework of the Eastern Partnership Culture Program and is implemented by FPWC in cooperation with the dvv international – Georgia Country office and Research on Armenian Architecture Foundation. The overall EU contribution to SOS Culture project is 492,754 Euro.

The overall objective of the project is to register and preserve endangered cultural assets in the remote border regions of Armenia and Georgia with the involvement of local citizenry. Involvement of local communities will in its turn promote economic, social and cultural development in the areas, covered by the project. 

The approach of the SOS Culture project is rooted in the idea that well preserved and explored historic sites have a tremendous positive influence on the creation of an environment, which nurtures sustainable economic, social and human development in remote and impoverished regions, making those regions attractive for tourists. 

SOS Culture relies on the active involvement of youths (age 14 -23) from different national and ethnic origins living in the target areas of Armenia and Georgia. The young people participate in protection and research activities, implemented in the vicinity of their villages. These activities include cultural assets of different origins and religions, as well as pre-historic sites and medieval architectural monuments. By doing this, the project underlines that “Cultural assets belong to everybody”: regardless of nationality, religious faith or language, people living nearby a monument should care and preserve. This instils a new approach and knowledge about local cultural assets among the members of the youth clubs, established by FPWC and its Georgian project partner dvv international. Participating in the project activities, the members of the youth clubs support the cultural and touristic development of their regions. 

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Latest News

Two days workshop in Yerevan

On December 21st and 22nd within the framework of the “Green School” project the Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets (FPWC) organized with the support of Coca-Cola foundation an environmental workshop. The core aim of “Green School” project is to create active and productive network of “Green Schools” in Armenia and to unite 1000s of young people to protect the environment and nature. The participants of workshop were teachers of secondary schools, the coordinators [more]


Alaverdi: SOS Culture Youth Club's letter to Mayor Artavarzd Varosyan

Dear Mayor Artavazd Varosyan, We are the SOS Culture Alaverdi youth club members, organized by the “Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets” (FPWC).  Herewith we would like to raise a question on a very important problem for our city. Environmental pollution of our river has reached alarming sizes. Our river has become to a big dump. SOS Culture youth club members would like to do something against this. We hope that with your support and joint efforts we can d[more]


Capturing beauty of cultural monuments and valuing diversity

Training courses in the framework of the SOS Culture project are continuing in our SOS Culture youth clubs. Currently we are running training courses on Filmmaking, and Tolerance and Diversity. Both courses are very interesting and exciting for youth club members. Courses are not only theoretical, but also very practical where they can practice knowledge they gain during the training. Training is designed for young people to be informative, develop specific skills and competences and also be fun[more]


Two Unforgettable Days in Imereti

After one-month summer holidays, activities within framework of the “SOS-Culture” project have been renewed. On October 13-14 the Institute for International Cooperation of the German Adult Education Association (dvv international) Project Office Georgia has organized field trip to Imereti which aimed on visiting historical monuments and cultural assets situated in mentioned region; and also facilitating the process of Youth Clubs’ members’ acquaintance, palling up and experience-sharing. Pro[more]


Three Intensive Days in Berdavan

The EU funded SOS culture project initiated new series of activities to raise its efficiency. Several activities took place from 16th to 18th of November, 2012 in Berdavan. First, SOS culture youth clubs’ coordinators had training sessions on effective communication, new methods of teaching, intercultural communication and staff management. The ToT covered the content and training skills required to effectively accomplish the objectives of the EU funded SOS Culture Project. The aim of this train[more]