Kindergarten in Maralik renovated and inaugurated

The kindergarten in the Armenian village of Maralik was in such poor condition that the children had to stay at home in winter. Thanks to help from Schaffhausen, it has now been fully renovated. It is named after one of its greatest supporters: Romi Baronian.

Maralik, there is no other way to put it, is a sleepy provincial village in Armenia. It takes an hour and a half on bumpy roads to get there from the capital, Yerevan, heading north-west until you are very close to the Turkish border. The village lies at around 1,700 metres above sea level. In Soviet times there was still something like industry up here. But since the South Caucasus republic became independent, the factory buildings have stood empty.

Today Armenia is largely agricultural, and what little money the state has goes to the army. Relations are tense, above all with its eastern neighbour Azerbaijan, but things are complicated with Turkey too. The borders with Turkey and Azerbaijan have been closed for years. Politically, economically and militarily, the country leans heavily on Russia.

Five degrees inside the kindergarten

None of this was noticeable when a delegation from Schaffhausen visited Maralik at the beginning of October 2019. On the contrary: the atmosphere was relaxed and festive. The village was celebrating the inauguration of its renovated kindergarten. The foundation invested around CHF 300,000 in the project. The greatest commitment came from Romi and Mike Baronian. The pharmaceutical entrepreneur and former head of Cilag and his wife, who is originally from Schaffhausen, have been involved in Armenia for many years – in spirit, in person and financially. Mike Baronian set up a site in the country with his company Azad as early as 2007.

In February 2018, Romi Baronian stood in the Maralik kindergarten for the first time; the building dates back to Soviet times. “Inside it was just five degrees,” she recalls. “It was so cold that the children had been sent home.”

A kindergarten without children? That was the norm. From October to April the kindergarten was closed. The building was in a sorry state: damp walls, open floors, draughty windows. But the fabric was sound. Romi Baronian saw potential. Her husband then put forward the proposal to the foundation to renovate the kindergarten.

This required around CHF 300,000 – a sum the foundation was able to raise thanks to many supporters, mainly from the Schaffhausen region. Romi Baronian followed the project closely. Among other things, she reorganised the rooms in the building so that the roughly 120 children aged between three and five could be better looked after.

At the beginning of October, the renovated kindergarten was finally inaugurated. And it was officially renamed the Romi Baronian Kindergarten – a small token of recognition for the woman who had worked so hard for the project. Mike Baronian was also made an honorary citizen of Maralik. Later that evening, the mayor invited the Swiss guests to a celebratory dinner.

Armenia’s First Lady came too

Several hundred people gathered for the inauguration, including many children. A group of girls performed traditional dances, while the younger children immediately took over the new playground.

The whole event was covered by several media teams. They had come because of one woman: the guest of honour at the opening was Anna Hakobyan, the wife of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

Her bodyguards became briefly uneasy when members of the foundation suddenly stood in front of her holding shovels. But it soon became clear what they were for: a small tree was to be planted in the garden in front of the kindergarten. It is a tradition. And so Armenia’s First Lady, too, shovelled in some earth. For the foundation – and for Maralik as well – such a high-ranking visit is an honour. It also brings the hope that the government will pay more attention to regions beyond the capital.

After a ribbon was cut and the village priest gave his blessing, the guests toured the rooms. There are several playrooms and bedrooms – in Armenia it is customary for children to have a nap at midday. For the staff there is a modern kitchen and a staff room.

The sanitary facilities are from Geberit, the taps from Grohe. “We want the best quality at the best price,” says Romi Baronian. Much of the interior, such as the furniture, comes from a local supplier.

Many important works are not immediately visible. The foundations, for example, were insulated so that the tuff stone walls do not draw up so much moisture. Underfloor heating and radiators were also installed, and all the windows were replaced.

But would it not have been better simply to put up a new building? “We certainly asked ourselves that question on the foundation board,” says Mike Baronian. “But it would have cost us CHF 200,000 to 300,000 more.”

Maralik is the foundation’s seventh major project. In earlier years it was active in Proshian, a suburb of Yerevan, and in Aygehovit, in the far north-east of the country on the border with Azerbaijan. Kindergartens were renovated there too, as well as day clinics. The projects are visited regularly. These visits are more than just inspections.

“People appreciate that they have not been forgotten,” says Romi Baronian.

About the project: Romi Baronian Kindergarten in Maralik