SERVICE Armenia Deadline & Scholarship Opportunity
The Rosine Kizirian Service Armenia 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 $300 scholarship towards their SERVICE Armenia trip fee.
Scholarship Qualifications: Must be applying to participate in one of the three SERVICE Armenia 2021 programs 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 June 15th. The winner of the scholarship will be announced shortly after.
June 30th – July 18th, 2021
Summer: July 16th – August 1st, 2021 Fall: October 15th – October 31st, 2021
Covid 19 Protocol Applicants are strongly encouraged to participate only if they have been vaccinated against Covid-19. The healthcare system in Armenia is overwhelmed and therapeutic treatments may not be available if you contract Covid 19. If you become ill with Covid 19, please note you will be quarantined at your own expense and will not be able to participate in the SERVICE Armenia program, and your fees will not be reimbursed. A clear PCR test result will be required upon arrival at the airport in Armenia (if you have already not taken one within 72 hours of your departure.)
these opportunities, families are forced to either find work elsewhere, or move out of the region entirely.To help mitigate this and stimulate the local economy we have recently established a small orchard in the village of Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur. The orchard will be located on the grounds of the local school and will serve as a teaching opportunity for the students, along with providing economic support to the entire community.
We need $40,000 more to sustain the orchard for the next three years. Help us plant roots in the border village of NKA so the community can be equipped with a viable local economy.
We are so excited that our #rootsontheborder initiative will also serve as a teaching opportunity for the local children as a living classroom.
Learning about the agriculture that is now rooted in their community will give the children a sense of pride and ownership of the orchard that is helping their very own community, from start to finish. 
Since 2013, The Paros Foundation’s SERVICE Armenia program has taken young people to Armenia for a service and tour program. While Covid-19 forced the cancellation of last summer’s program, SERVICE Armenia 2021 is taking place with three planned trip dates.
“Each year SERVICE Armenia connects young people from throughout the United States to one another and to the homeland in a meaningful and lasting way,” said Peter Abajian, Executive Director of The Paros Foundation. “Because of strong interest from young professionals to travel to Armenia too, we added these SERVICE Armenia Young Professional trip dates, and are looking forward to extending this awesome experience to their age group as well.”
Applications are now available on The Paros Foundation’s website for SERVICE Armenia 2021 at www.parosfoundation.org. The program includes tours to historic, religious and cultural sites in Armenia, English speaking staff and guides, safe and well-located accommodations and transportation combined with interesting cultural and educational activities that will ensure all will have an engaging and memorable experience. The program is open to both Armenians and non-Armenians wishing to participate in this once in a lifetime opportunity. Knowledge of the Armenian language is not required. Join us and create a lifetime of great memories and friends. The deadline to submit the completed application is May 15. Applicants are encouraged to apply early. Contact Peter Abajian at (310) 400-9061 for more information.
The Paros Foundation is financially responsible for purchasing homes, home renovations and its staff to identify and screen families for resettlement. Sahman NGO, will finance, design and implement a significant economic support effort to enable each family to successfully generate enough income to care for their family. Focus on Children Now (FCN) will completely furnish the family home including major appliances and will supplement each of the family’s children with a three-month nutrition. In addition, FCN will underwrite the tuition of any kindergarten-aged children to attend school and secure the benefit of early education. Teach For Armenia will provide each school-aged child a computer tablet and internet connection. In addition, Teach For Armenia’s Emergency Education Program will work directly with school leadership to provide additional educational and psychological support for these children as part of their community transition and integration. Coalition partners will offer final approvals for each aspect of the complete package for each family.
In the village of Varagavan, only one small portion of the building that housed the village kindergarten was able to be used for a partial day program for 19 children in the village. A total of more than 40 children are of kindergarten and preschool age, but none of the children in this community were able to fully benefit from a full day early education program. This large, two story building needed a complete rebuild including roof, water, electrical, sewer and gas systems. New windows, doors, stairs, flooring and kitchens and bathrooms were installed as part of The Paros Foundation’s Prosperity on the Border initiative. Work on the kindergarten at Varagavan was made possible through donations received primarily from the “Cocktails on the Terrace” fundraiser generously sponsored by Gregory and Kelley Badishkanian at their home. To view a video of the Varagavan Kindergarten, please visit www.parosfoundation.org and search for Varagavan Kindergarten.
4,000 families who were living in horrible conditions. These families lived in “domiks”: condemned buildings, wagons or old shipping containers. Nine years later, more than 2,000 families are still living in these deplorable conditions.
Despite the global pandemic and the devastating war in Artsakh, on December 4, 2020, The Paros Foundation reached a major milestone with the move of its 25th family from a “domik” into a permanent home of their own.
We are proud to introduce the recipient of this new home, Zaruhi Minasyan and her two sons, who have lived in a domik for the last 15 years. Zaruhi’s husband left for Russia three years ago and never returned, leaving her to raise their sons alone. With the support from her family and social welfare payments, she makes ends meet. Our friends at the Shirak Center NGO in Gyumri worked with us to identify the family. Once the Minasyan family was selected, our team found them a suitable apartment and purchased it. As part of this project’s agreement with the family, this apartment cannot be sold or rented, and the family must live there for at least ten
years. In addition, once the family has been moved into their new place, their old domik will be disassembled. To prevent others from occupying this domik, Shirak Center NGO, with support from The Paros Foundation, tore down the domik and used the scrap materials to support other families living in poverty in Gyumri.
This 25th “Purchase a Home” was made possible with the support and sponsorship of the Employees of Western Drug and the Youredjian Family.