No products in the cart.

The Paros Foundation underwrites all administrative and overhead costs allowing 100% of all donor contributions to go directly towards projects and supported organizations.

Donations to The Paros Foundation Projects for Prosperity are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. To sponsor a project through The Paros Foundation, a 501 (c) 3 organization (Tax ID 20-5094630), or learn more about specific projects in need of funding, please contact us using the information below.

Contacts

2217 5th Street

Berkeley CA 94710

info@parosfoundation.org

(310) 400 9061

Category: Paros Blog

Paros Blog

Aquaponics Greenhouse & Educational Center Now Open In Border Village

On June 23, 2023 representatives and supporters from the Austrian Development Agency, the Tavush Regional Government, the Berd Consolidated Community, MAquaponics, and The Paros Foundation gathered to celebrate the official ribbon cutting and launch of the Ponics Greenhouse and Educational Center adjacent to the village school in Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur. The Goshtigian Family from California, who generously supported the project on behalf of The Paros Foundation, were on hand to witness the launch of this cutting-edge agricultural system.

 

We are very happy that we were able to provide support for this innovative project through The Paros Foundation for the benefit of the community in Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur and for the future education of the children here.”
-Patrick Goshtigian

The Ponics System uses animal waste converted to liquid fertilizer to grow high-yield crops in a sustainable system using very little water and is suitable for use in limited space. Two full-time people are now employed in this project. Students will be actively engaged in this teaching center and all proceeds from sales will be reinvested into the local community.

The Berd Consolidated Community provided The Paros Foundation with the land to install the system. The Austrian Development Agency provided the majority of the funds for the equipment. MAquaponics LLC designed the aquaponics system and was the implementing partner on this project. The Paros Foundation provided support for construction and the ongoing education, marketing and administration of the project.

 

“This project is exactly what border communities like Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur needs to expand its local agricultural sector.  Limited water and land make growing food difficult and this system and its related educational component can be the solution.”

-Peter Abajian, Executive Director

Paros Blog

Journey Through Armenia 2023 Registration is Now Open!

October 20th-November 1st, 2023

Experience all Armenia has to offer through an exciting 10 day itinerary, which will include several visits to UNESCO world heritage sites, amazing cultural outings and several visits to Paros project sites.

Opportunities to interact with Armenia’s children through service work will certainly leave you with a memorable and lasting impression. Delicious food, premium accommodations and transportation and English-speaking staff and guides ensure all will have a meaningful experience.

Deadline to sign up is August 1st, 2023. Space is limited so don’t wait!

Paros Blog

Speak Up Against Formula 1 In Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan is gearing up for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix at the end of this month. 

They are preparing to open up roads in Baku, while at the same time keeping roads closed to Artsakh.

Please take a moment to send our pre-filled email to the race organizers to make them aware of what is taking place. Feel free to also share on social media.

Paros Blog

Sponsor-A-Hive Back Again!

Economic opportunities for rural Armenian communities are scarce. To help address this important issue, The Paros Foundation has launched several initiatives aimed at job creation in rural communities. This includes planting more than 800 fruit-bearing trees, establishing a pig farm, fertilizer production, small animal feed production and honey production. These economic development opportunities are all administered under the auspices of the Aygepar Business Incubator, which provides rent-free space, sanitary conditions and marketing and technical expertise to local businesses.

The Paros Foundation successfully launched a high quality honey production just outside of the village of Verin Tsakhavan and later, in the village of Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur in the Berd area of Armenia’s Tavush Region with 200 bee hives. The immediate goal is to expand this production adding 50 more bee hives in a new community. This will both add to the commercially viable quantities of high-altitude, raw honey, and will lead to expanded job creation and opportunities in the market place. All components of this important project are manufactured locally in the Armenian market including the hives, bee families, wax starter sheets and concrete block stands. Even the glass jars for sale are manufactured in Armenia!

In addition to this project’s job creating and economic benefits, as with the hives in Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur, these new hives will serve as an educational curriculum for students at the school in the new village that is ultimately selected. This living classroom approach has proved very successful to date.

Paros Blog

SERVICE Armenia 2023 Application Deadline Extended!

June 24th – July 15th, 2023
Ages 17-22

This trip will be three weeks with the same programming as past years. Participants aged 17-23 will serve, tour, and play in Armenia. Participant fees are $2,250 per person including a $400 charitable contribution, not including airfare.

Deadline to apply extended to March 31st!

If you have any questions about our SERVICE Armenia 2023 program please call Peter Abajian, Executive Director at (310) 400-9061 or contact him via email pabajian@gmail.com. For flight inquiries, please contact Shake at SIMA Tours SimaTours@gmail.com

Paros Blog

SERVICE Armenia 2023 Application is Now Live !

June 24th – July 15th, 2023

This trip will be three weeks with the same programming as past years. Participants aged 17-23 will serve, tour, and play in Armenia. Participant fees are $2,250 per person including a $400 charitable contribution, not including airfare.

If you have any questions about our SERVICE Armenia 2023 program please call Peter Abajian, Executive Director at (310) 400-9061 or contact him via email pabajian@gmail.com.

Paros Blog

Support Gyumri Housing, After-School, & Vocational Center This Giving Tuesday!

To help solve the desperate housing situation in Gyumri, the Municipality has given The Paros Foundation an 18,000 square foot building to create 16 residential apartments for domik families living in terrible conditions. Once construction is completed, this space will also be home to a second Debi Arach Children’s Center, a flexible vocational training space and a social enterprise.

The building that was selected is suitable for 16 residential apartments and has an additional 6,000 square feet that Paros will use to open a second branch of its Debi Arach Children’s Center, additional vocational training programs and a second social enterprise.

“Debi Arach has had such a big impact on my life. Through the career planning classes offered I was able to choose the profession that was right for me and have been accepted to the State University of Economics – Gyumri Branch Finance Department.”

Anahit Petrosyan
Debi Arach Student

“We lived in a domik our entire lives. In 2019, we received an apartment and our lives completely changed. After many cruel years in the domik, we now live such happy lives. My children are happy and they have their own room. We are so thankful and wish this same happiness for other families living in domiks.”

Matevosyan Family
Gyumri Residents

“One year ago I was accepted to take classes at the Hianali Beauty & Training Center, where I excelled in my hairdressing classes. I graduated from the program with much praise and high marks and I now work at the salon.”

Anni Hovannisyan
Hairdresser at Hianali

How To Help

The Detroit community kicked off a nationwide fundraising effort during which more than $75,000 was raised for this project. Similar events will take place in communities around the country in the coming months. A special thanks to Dr. & Mrs. Gary & Linda Assarian and Mr. & Mrs. Howard & Catherine Atesian for hosting this wonderful event.

To learn more about events in your area or to donate please visit our website at ParosFoundation.org or reach out to info@paros-foundation.org (310) 400 – 9061.

Paros Blog

Paros Foundation 2022-21 Annual Report

Armenia and her people faced incredible challenges in 2020-2021. The Covid-19 pandemic and its economic devastation, July 2020 attacks on Armenia’s sovereign border in Tavush, and the 2020 war in Artsakh, left Armenia and the Armenian American community in a demoralized and defeated state. Despite these tremendous challenges, unprecedented levels of support for our work from donors throughout the world helped us try to meet the needs of our brothers and sisters in Armenia and Artsakh. During the pandemic, Paros helped ease suffering associated with the physical and financial aspects of what transpired.

 

 

Read more about our past two years and the impact we have made in Armenia in our latest Annual Report.

A very special thank you for our donors who enable our work in Armenia. Please take this opportunity to become a part of The Paros Foundation’s family of donors and get involved!
Paros Blog

SERVICE Armenia Young Professionals Registration Deadline Approaches!

Back for a second year, SERVICE Armenia Young Professionals is a trip designed for participants ages 24-40, taking place this October 14th-30th! This trip was created for young professionals who want to tour Armenia while participating in service work with other young adults. We can work with participants to engage in Armenia within their professional areas as well. For example, a teacher can spend a day at an Armenian school volunteering. This trip is a great opportunity to network within the Armenian professional community, and to bring people together for an unforgettable experience!

Participant fees are $2,300 per person for single occupancy or $1,850 per person for double occupancy (including a $350 charitable contribution towards defraying service project costs), not including airfare.

Registration deadline is July 15th. Trip is subject to cancellation if less than 10 applicants sign up.

If you have any questions about our SERVICE Armenia Young Professionals 2022 program please call Peter Abajian, Executive Director at (310) 400-9061 or contact him via email pabajian@gmail.com.

SERVICE ARMENIA SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY AVAILABLE!

We are proud to announce that the Rosine Kizirian Scholarship is available again by the Kizirian Family for the 2022 SERVICE Armenia trip this Fall

The Rosine Kizirian Scholarship honors the love that Rosine had for her Armenian culture. Raising her children and grandchildren in America, Rosine was dedicated to imparting her wisdom of the Armenian language, faith, and culture onto her family. Her commitment to preserving the Armenian culture helped shine a guiding light on so many young Armenians. This scholarship will be awarded to someone who exemplifies a similar love and curiosity for their Armenian identity.

One recipient will receive a $350 scholarship towards their SERVICE Armenia trip fee.

Scholarship Qualifications:
Must be applying to participate in summer SERVICE Armenia Young Professionals 2022 program with The Paros Foundation.

Essay Prompt:
In 300 words or less, either tell your story of Armenian identity and what it means to you or why a trip to Armenia is important to you. Please submit your prompt to Sofia, Sofia@cobaltsapphire.com by September 15th. The winner of the scholarship will be announced shortly after.

**If you have already applied and paid you can still apply to the scholarship**

Paros Blog

SERVICE Armenia Registration Deadline June 6th

SERVICE ARMENIA SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY AVAILABLE!

We are proud to announce that the Rosine Kizirian Scholarship is available again by the Kizirian Family for the 2022 SERVICE Armenia trip this summer.

The Rosine Kizirian Scholarship honors the love that Rosine had for her Armenian culture. Raising her children and grandchildren in America, Rosine was dedicated to imparting her wisdom of the Armenian language, faith, and culture onto her family. Her commitment to preserving the Armenian culture helped shine a guiding light on so many young Armenians. This scholarship will be awarded to someone who exemplifies a similar love and curiosity for their Armenian identity.

One recipient will receive a $400 scholarship towards their SERVICE Armenia trip fee.

This trip will be three weeks with the same programming as past
years. Participants aged 17-23 will serve, tour, and play in Armenia. Participant fees are $1,800 per person including a $400 charitable contribution, not including airfare.

*Limited spots remaining

If you have any questions about our SERVICE Armenia 2021 program please call Peter Abajian, Executive Director at (310) 400-9061 or contact him via email pabajian@gmail.com.