DECENT LIFE IN HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT This is what the Urban Foundation is striving to achieve for the people of Armenia by coming a step closer to our vision after the implementation of each initiative with a belief that even "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step" (Chinese proverb) The staff of the Urban Foundation has been working together for more than 20 years. From 2000 to 2004, the Armenian team of the Washington-based Urban Institute implemented the “Armenia Earthquake Zone Recovery Program” in more than 10 urban and rural communities of Armenia's earthquake zone (Shirak, Lori, and Aragatsotn marzes), and as a result, 7,000 earthquake-displaced households were permanently housed - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhdbkA-Bwe8 . Encouraged with the success that was the result of exceptional devotion and teamwork, on April 28, 2004, the core of the team established the Urban Foundation being assured that they, both as a team and individual experts, have a sound potential to support the development and democratization of Armenian communities. The Mission of the Urban Foundation is to promote sustainable and harmonious development of Armenian settlements through promoting local democracy, ensuring the demonstration of human potential and developing regional cooperation. STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS AND GOALS • Integrated Community Development Promote comprehensive development of Armenian communities through community mobilization, encouragement of participatory processes, improvement of urban economy, environmental protection and continued education • Democratization and Valuation of Human Potential Contribute to the development of democratic institutions, the demonstration of human capacity and protection of human rights, especially through the active involvement of youth • Regional Cooperation Support regional cooperation and integration processes through dialogues, bilateral and multilateral initiatives, and exchanges, sharing of best practices