BERKELEY, CA—The Paros Foundation is excited to announce its dates for SERVICE Armenia 2017. The Program will run from June 24 to July 25, 2017 and enables young people to travel and tour Armenia and Artsakh, while engaging in meaningful service projects benefiting Armenia and her people. Applications are now available on the Foundation’s website www.parosfoundation.org.

“I am looking forward to a fun and successful SERVICE Armenia 2017 program this summer.” Said Peter Abajian, Executive Director of The Paros Foundation. “It is quite exciting to see students from throughout the country develop friendships with one another while working on meaningful service projects in Armenia.”

“Seeing what we accomplished over the month in Armenia was very meaningful for me.  Working with the kids and working on renovating the three classrooms was very exciting and fulfilling.”  Said Alec Muradlyan, “I would definitely recommend this program to anyone interested.”

Throughout the Program, participants will tour historic, religious and cultural sites in Armenia and Artsakh with experienced, English speaking staff and guides. Safe and well located accommodations and transportation combined with interesting cultural and educational activities will ensure all will have an engaging and memorable experience. The program is open to both Armenian and American young people (ages 17 to 23ish) 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 April 1, 2017.

“Overall, this was the best month ever and I couldn’t imagine my first experience in Armenia any other way. I made amazing memories with the best people, who I will carry out friendships with for a lifetime!” Said Nicole Sarkisian, SERVICE Armenia 2015 Participant.

More information including photos, video and the application form can be found at www.parosfoundation.org. For more information, please contact Peter Abajian (310) 400-9061 or via peter@parosfoundation.org.

ABOUT THE PAROS FOUNDATION

Formally launched in 2006, The Paros Foundation and its staff in Armenia and the United States have earned a reputation as the “go to” organization to oversee small and medium-sized project implementation in Armenia.  Beginning with our support for seven exemplary local non-government organizations working with children, people with disabilities and the arts, the foundation works towards helping build a sustainable and vibrant homeland while improving living conditions for its most vulnerable populations.

With an aggressive goal of identifying, vetting, fundraising for and ultimately implementing 100 special projects, The Paros Foundation launched the Paros 100 for 100 Projects for Prosperity in October of 2011 to commemorate the centennial of the Armenian Genocide.  Following the successful completion of this initiative, the Foundation’s leadership agreed to continue operating via this project-based model of philanthropy, and launched the “Paros Projects for Prosperity.”

To facilitate volunteerism, The Paros Foundation launched its SERVICE Armenia program in 2013. This Armenia-based service program  provides participants an opportunity to travel to, and experience all that Armenia has to offer while helping make a difference.

Donations to The Paros Foundation, a 501(c) 3 organization, are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.  The Foundation underwrites100% of administrative costs allowing all donor contributions to be allocated directly to the projects.

To learn more about the Paros Foundation or its projects or to sponsor a project of the Paros Foundation’s Projects for Prosperity initiative, please visit www.parosfoundation.org or call (310) 400-9061.

Berkeley, CA– The Paros Foundation is proud to report that $104,000 was successfully distributed to 104 families of Heroes killed through the end of May 2016. Paros staff personally met with all of the families and passed on this modest, but immensely important amount.

“The families of our heroes expressed their deep appreciation for the support they received from The Paros Foundation,” said Peter Abajian, Executive Director of The Paros Foundation. “Families stated over and over again how meaningful it was having both having us visit them and knowing the Diaspora remains vigilant.”

On the morning of April 1st, 2016, under President Ilham Aliyev’s rule, Azeri armed forces launched an attack on Artsakh claiming the lives of 104 civilians, volunteers and soldiers, young and old. What has been coined as the “Four Day War” left Armenians throughout the world in a state of shock, anger and sadness. In response to the devastating news and with encouragement from supporters, The Paros Foundation immediately launched the Support Our Heros fund. The goal of the fund was to raise $1,000 for each Hero’s family.

In a matter of weeks, more than $120,000 was raised for this effort. The Paros Foundation witnessed the coming together of Armenians throughout the world who contributed to the ” Support Our Heroes” fund. The Paros Foundation extends their deepest gratitude to Mr. Serj Tankian for his very successful effort to help promote this cause.

“This effort is particularly important in that families of deceased soldiers in Armenia and Artsakh are economically disadvantaged to carry on,” said Serj Tankian via his social media post.

AIWA-San Francisco Chapter, who collected $4,000 for severely impoverished widows of soldiers and contract fighters in Artsakh partnered with The Paros Foundation to help distribute these funds. Furthermore, the Repat, Sahman and Arar organizations who are based in Armenia also joined The Paros Foundation to help raise funds and conduct joint distributions for this important effort.

Excess funds collected will used to provide aid to families of soldiers who were killed subsequent to May 2016. The fund will remain open and continue to help families of our heroes. A complete list of deceased soldiers is available on The Paros Foundation website www.parosfoundation.org.

The Paros Foundation underwrote all administrative expenses associated with this effort allowing all contributions to be allocated 100% to the families. Donations to The Paros Foundation, a 501(c) 3 organization, are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

ABOUT THE PAROS FOUNDATION

Formally launched in 2006, The Paros Foundation and its staff in Armenia and the United States have earned a reputation as the “go to” organization to oversee small and medium-sized project implementation in Armenia.  Beginning with our support for seven exemplary local non-government organizations working with children, people with disabilities and the arts, the foundation works towards helping build a sustainable and vibrant homeland while improving living conditions for its most vulnerable populations.

With an aggressive goal of identifying, vetting, fundraising for and ultimately implementing 100 special projects, The Paros Foundation launched the Paros 100 for 100 Projects for Prosperity in October of 2011 to commemorate the centennial of the Armenian Genocide.  Following the successful completion of this initiative, the Foundation’s leadership agreed to continue operating via this project-based model of philanthropy, and launched the “Paros Projects for Prosperity.”

To facilitate volunteerism, The Paros Foundation launched its SERVICE Armenia program in 2013. This Armenia-based service program  provides participants an opportunity to travel to, and experience all that Armenia has to offer while helping make a difference.

Donations to The Paros Foundation, a 501(c) 3 organization, are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.  The Foundation underwrites100% of administrative costs allowing all donor contributions to be allocated directly to the projects.

To learn more about the Paros Foundation or its projects or to sponsor a project of the Paros Foundation’s Projects for Prosperity initiative, please visit www.parosfoundation.org or call (310) 400-9061.

Dear Friends,
The April military offensive by Azerbaijan proved the need to keep our border communities strong, prosperous and vigilant. The brave people living in these villages are the protectors of our homeland, yet many of these villages lack basic infrastructure making it difficult for families to live and work. Our assessment of several villages in Tavush and Geghagunik border regions identified specific infrastructure, educational, economic development and humanitarian projects. Successful implementation of these projects will lead to increased vitality and opportunity in these villages and will ultimately contribute to our nation’s security.

In 2013, The Paros Foundation launched the “adopt a village” model in Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur. Residents greatly benefited from the renovated medical center, village school, and kindergarten facility. With the addition of our agribusiness project, which provides families with needed infrastructure, livestock, feed and expertise to develop their own successful agribusinesses, villagers were able to further provide for their families, improve the village economy, and develop stronger, deeper roots. This model works!

With your generous support and commitment, The Paros Foundation will invest $75,000-$250,000 in each of several border villages–upwards of $2 million over the next three years. We greatly appreciate contributions in any amount. Invest today and help secure Armenia’s future, strengthen her borders, and build prosperous communities by making your tax-deductible donation today!

The Paros Foundation underwrites 100% of administrative expenses allowing all contributions to be allocated to these projects. Please visit www.parosfoundation.org to view our successfully completed projects in Armenia’s border villages.

ABOUT THE PAROS FOUNDATION

Formally launched in 2006, The Paros Foundation and its staff in Armenia and the United States have earned a reputation as the “go to” organization to oversee small and medium-sized project implementation in Armenia.  Beginning with our support for seven exemplary local non-government organizations working with children, people with disabilities and the arts, the foundation works towards helping build a sustainable and vibrant homeland while improving living conditions for its most vulnerable populations.

With an aggressive goal of identifying, vetting, fundraising for and ultimately implementing 100 special projects, The Paros Foundation launched the Paros 100 for 100 Projects for Prosperity in October of 2011 to commemorate the centennial of the Armenian Genocide.  Following the successful completion of this initiative, the Foundation’s leadership agreed to continue operating via this project-based model of philanthropy, and launched the “Paros Projects for Prosperity.”

To facilitate volunteerism, The Paros Foundation launched its SERVICE Armenia program in 2013. This Armenia-based service program  provides participants an opportunity to travel to, and experience all that Armenia has to offer while helping make a difference.

Donations to The Paros Foundation, a 501(c) 3 organization, are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.  The Foundation underwrites100% of administrative costs allowing all donor contributions to be allocated directly to the projects.

To learn more about the Paros Foundation or its projects or to sponsor a project of the Paros Foundation’s Projects for Prosperity initiative, please visit www.parosfoundation.org or call (310) 400-9061.

Tavush, Armenia–Opening day in the Tavush border village of Nerkin Karmir Aghpyur was filled with excitement and celebration as the students, staff and families first viewed their school’s newly renovated wing.

Jean-Marie and Lori Atamian and their family made this work possible with their generous support, through the Paros Foundation’s Projects for Prosperity. The Atamian family and the Paros Foundation have worked together for more than four years to improve the quality of life here for the families of Tavush.

“This investment brings the total to almost $200,000 which we have directly invested in this strategic border community,” said Peter Abajian, Executive Director of The Paros Foundation.  “By addressing the educational, safety, health and economic development issues facing the residents here, we hope to bring a greater level of prosperity to this village.”

The renovation of this wing of the primary school included the complete reconstruction of six classrooms, the large hallway and two new bathrooms including new classroom furniture for the children.  A plaque installed in the hallway reads “Reconstruction of this wing of the Nerkin Karmir Aghpyur School is in honor of our brave soldiers, who defend the borders of Armenia and Artsakh on a daily basis, and their families.” Last year, through the efforts of Michael & Patricia Starzer, the elementary school wing of this school was completely renovated.  The final phase of the work at the school will include the renovation of the kitchen and dining hall and the school’s entryway and locker rooms and will be completed in the coming months.

“I invite other families to invest in a border village as my family and friends have and to share in the satisfaction of positively impacting the lives of our brothers and sisters in this strategic manner,“ said Jean-Marie Atamian.

In the coming weeks, the Paros Foundation will launch its “Prosperity on the Border” initiative focusing on investing in Armenia’s border villages in the Tavush and Gegharkunik regions.   This campaign will target economic development, educational and infrastructure projects in strategic border communities. Prosperity on the Border will invest in border communities to improve the living standards and economic conditions for families.

About The Paros Foundation

Formally launched in 2006, The Paros Foundation and its staff in Armenia and the United States have earned a reputation as the “go to” organization to oversee small and medium-sized project implementation in Armenia.  Beginning with our support for seven exemplary local non-government organizations working with children, people with disabilities and the arts, the foundation works towards helping build a sustainable and vibrant homeland while improving living conditions for its most vulnerable populations.

With an aggressive goal of identifying, vetting, fundraising for and ultimately implementing 100 special projects, The Paros Foundation launched the Paros 100 for 100 Projects for Prosperity in October of 2011 to commemorate the centennial of the Armenian Genocide.  Following the successful completion of this initiative, the Foundation’s leadership agreed to continue operating via this project-based model of philanthropy, and launched the “Paros Projects for Prosperity.”

To facilitate volunteerism, The Paros Foundation launched its SERVICE Armenia program in 2013. This Armenia-based service program  provides participants an opportunity to travel to, and experience all that Armenia has to offer while helping make a difference.

Donations to The Paros Foundation, a 501(c) 3 organization, are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.  The Foundation underwrites100% of administrative costs allowing all donor contributions to be allocated directly to the projects.

To learn more about the Paros Foundation or its projects or to sponsor a project of the Paros Foundation’s Projects for Prosperity initiative, please visit www.parosfoundation.org or call (310) 400-9061.

Berkeley, California–The Paros Foundation’s 2016 SERVICE Armenia program was another great success. Participants included 23 young people from across the United States and Dubai who worked together on seven different humanitarian and educational service projects over the course of four weeks, all while touring and enjoying Armenia and making life-long friendships.

“I loved every second of it. The service work we did was great and taught me a lot of life skills also. I especially liked when we had contact with the local kids. There were so many things to do in Armenia we were never bored. All the touring places we visited were amazing too,” said Talar Abajian, a high school senior who participated in this year’s program.

“Through the generous support of donors and SERVICE Armenia volunteers, three classrooms were renovated at the Lchashen village school, shoes were distributed to more than 200 students, and a playground w
as created at the Getashen village school for their kindergarten,” said Peter Abajian, Executive Director of The Paros Foundation. “In addition, we helped with the GOAL soccer camp in Gyumri, worked at the Debi Arach Children’s Center, and distributed English language literature through our Book-in-a-Bag project to three village schools.”

“I had a great time with Paros this summer, and I’m happy to say that I’m interested in participating next year too,” said Thomas Yocum, 2016 SERVICE Armenia participant.

The Paros Foundation established SERVICE Armenia in 2013 to provide young people between the ages of 17 and 23 with the opportunity to engage in meaningful service work while having fun in Armenia and Artsakh. Applications for SERVICE Armenia 2017 will be available in January on our website www.parosfoundation.org.

About The Paros Foundation

Formally launched in 2006, The Paros Foundation and its staff in Armenia and the United States have earned a reputation as the “go to” organization to oversee small and medium-sized project implementation in Armenia.  Beginning with our support for seven exemplary local non-government organizations working with children, people with disabilities and the arts, the foundation works towards helping build a sustainable and vibrant homeland while improving living conditions for its most vulnerable populations.

With an aggressive goal of identifying, vetting, fundraising for and ultimately implementing 100 special projects, The Paros Foundation launched the Paros 100 for 100 Projects for Prosperity in October of 2011 to commemorate the centennial of the Armenian Genocide.  Following the successful completion of this initiative, the Foundation’s leadership agreed to continue operating via this project-based model of philanthropy, and launched the “Paros Projects for Prosperity.”

To facilitate volunteerism, The Paros Foundation launched its SERVICE Armenia program in 2013. This Armenia-based service program  provides participants an opportunity to travel to, and experience all that Armenia has to offer while helping make a difference.

Donations to The Paros Foundation, a 501(c) 3 organization, are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.  The Foundation underwrites100% of administrative costs allowing all donor contributions to be allocated directly to the projects.

To learn more about the Paros Foundation or its projects or to sponsor a project of the Paros Foundation’s Projects for Prosperity initiative, please visit www.parosfoundation.org or call (310) 400-9061.

Life in the domiks today

Only tremendous effort and ingenuity keep the domiks from being fatally cold in winter and ovens in summer.

As I learned through interpreters, many of the domik families share a similar story: High unemployment drove a breadwinner to work abroad, often in Russia, but for reasons X, Y or Z, the money stopped coming. That’s common for many in Armenia, where 30 percent of the population is poor.

Domik resident Melina grew up in and out of orphanages. She and the other residents only wanted their first names used in the story. Melina says she and her two children face a choice between having money for necessities and having their husband and father around. Artyom, a laborer who grew up in a domik, had been working in Russia but came back to his family when that opportunity dried up. Now he can’t find work, and they’re in debt. Melina says they just want their daughters to grow up healthy and have a chance at a comfortable life.

But between the various environmental factors and other symptoms of poverty, “domik kids” are sometimes stunted, often sick, and even more often ostracized at school.

And yet when I visited a cluster of domiks behind a gas station in Gyumri this summer, the families living there welcomed me into their homes.

One reason is that I’m traveling with Vahan Tumasyan. Through the Gyumri-based Shirak Centre aid group, he and others have been bringing domik residents firewood and food and have helped register them with authorities, so they’re officially “people” (with addresses).

There’s no real pattern to where the domiks are, except that they’re generally in undesirable spots, sometimes on land contaminated by defunct Soviet industrial plants. There are single, isolated domiks and there are larger clusters. Regardless, their inhabitants are basically squatters.

All this points to another reason — besides the generally welcoming culture — why we were invited in: When Tumasyan brings outsiders through, the domik families know they might get a new apartment.

“Twenty-eight years later the shipping containers have rotted, and they’re just awful, awful living conditions, especially for the children,” says Peter Abajian, director of the Paros Foundation, a small nonprofit working with the Shirak Centre to get the families into better housing. (Full disclosure: Abajian is married to my wife’s cousin.)

“Their parents have lived in them first and grown up in them,” he says. “And now these children are living in them. These kids have sort of lost track of what a normal life should be.”

The nonprofit partnership provides the money and paperwork needed to get families who sign agreements and meet other criteria into decent apartments. The groups also tear down vacant domiks, providing work, distributing salvageable materials and firewood, and improving the neighborhoods.

But even as Abajian hustles to raise funds from the Armenian diaspora, the numbers are daunting: It costs roughly $20,000 to move a family from a domik to an apartment. Do the math, and that’s a $50 million problem in Gyumri alone, far more than the nonprofits take in.

So the Paros Foundation is trying something else, too, with an eye toward the long term.

‘Looking forward’

“The domik kids don’t need arts and crafts,” Abajian says. “They need a meal so they can think, so they’re not starving, so they can do some homework.”

They need other things too, which is why the Paros Foundation created Debi Arach — “moving forward” in Armenian, a year-old youth center in Gyumri meant to improve domik kids’ prospects through a holistic approach. It serves a total of 140 kids aged 6 to 17 in two groups that each come three times a week.

Housed in a rental building that used to be a restaurant and hotel, Debi Arach has computers, classes to reinforce school lessons, and vocational training. As Armenia modernizes, demand for IT experts is outpacing supply. Much of the training at Debi Arach is geared toward computer careers. “The promise is it will get you to a level where you’ll take care of your family, you’ll be able to rent a home and live a normal life here in Gyumri,” Abajian says.

In addition to its eight teachers, the center has a nurse, a psychologist, and maybe most importantly, places where kids can safely bathe and eat healthy food.

When the center started serving meals last year, Abajian says, students didn’t touch the salad. “It turns out they didn’t know what it was. They know bread. They also didn’t know how to sit at a table and eat together, so the teachers sat with them and created this family atmosphere they don’t have in the domiks. And most of them didn’t know how to use the bathrooms because a lot of their schools don’t have bathrooms either.”

Another thing domik kids lack is private space.

“So we’ve made sure that each kid has a locker here,” Abajian says. “They can store clean shoes to wear when they come. We’ve provided summer shoes and winter boots to make getting here easier.”

At the end of a long day of renovations on the building and coordinating a visit from an American student service group, I ask Abajian why he does this.

“It’s the kids, absolutely. We have to try to save them.”

Dear friends,

I am writing to update you on the situation in Armenia and Artsakh.

As of today, 86 people have lost their lives as a result of Azerbaijan’s aggressive and calculated military attack along the Nagorno Karabakh-Azerbaijan line of contact, April 2nd to the 5th. The current situation is tense, but stable. A cease-fire is in place, but the Azeris are still shooting with various caliber weapons every evening.  On April 3rd, in response to numerous inquiries from donors and friends, The Paros Foundation launched a Hero Support Fund to raise funds and provide them to families of our deceased Heroes.

Our goal remains to provide a minimum of $1,000 to each family of our Heroes. Armenians from 18 countries around the world (including Armenia, Australia, Austria  Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Egypt, Rep. of Georgia, Germany, Italy, Qatar, Russia, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, UK and the US)  have come together to support the families of our Heroes. Currently, we have raised almost $50,000 which will support 50 families. Funds will be distributed to the grieving families of our Heroes beginning in the next two weeks.  I am departing for Armenia soon to personally begin the process of delivering funds to our Heroes’ families.

I would like to offer a very special thank you to Mr. Serj Tankian who has assisted with raising awareness regarding our efforts to bring a bit of relief to the families of our Heroes, along with the many other people who are also working towards this important goal.  We are humbled to be serving as a conduit to support the families of our Heroes. As with any of our projects, 100% of your donation will be used to support this project without any administrative costs.

Help us keep this effort strong until we have raised enough funds to provide each family with $1,000. We thank all of you who have already contributed.

We must mobilize and do what we can to stand in solidarity with the families of our Heroes, who have died defending their Nation. While these funds will not completely address this tragic loss of life, nor ease the grief of our Hero families, it will provide them a bit of relief during these difficult times and show them that the world cares about them.

Thank you and please contact me if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Peter J. Abajian
Executive Director

As a result of the aggressive military attack by Azerbaijan along the front line of contact with the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, according to up to date reports, at least 20 Armenian soldiers from the Artsakh Defense Forces and local civilians including a 12-year-old boy have lost their lives and more than 70 people are wounded including two additional children. Our community must mobilize and do what we can to support an immediate cease-fire and support for these heroes, who have died defending our Nation.

For our part, The Paros Foundation has launched a Hero Support Fund to raise funds and provide them to the families of our deceased heroes. Our goal is to provide a minimum of $1,000 to every hero’s family. While these funds will no where near address this tragic loss of life, nor ease the grief of our hero’s families, it will provide them a bit of relief during these difficult times. As with any of our projects, 100% of your donation will be used to support this project without any administrative costs. Funds will be distributed as quickly as possible to the grieving families of these heroes.

Donations can also be mailed to our office address as follows:

The Paros Foundation
2217 5th Street
Berkeley, California 94710

ABOUT THE PAROS FOUNDATION

Formally launched in 2006, The Paros Foundation and its staff in Armenia and the United States have earned a reputation as the “go to” organization to oversee small and medium-sized project implementation in Armenia.  Beginning with our support for seven exemplary local non-government organizations working with children, people with disabilities and the arts, the foundation works towards helping build a sustainable and vibrant homeland while improving living conditions for its most vulnerable populations.

With an aggressive goal of identifying, vetting, fundraising for and ultimately implementing 100 special projects, The Paros Foundation launched the Paros 100 for 100 Projects for Prosperity in October of 2011 to commemorate the centennial of the Armenian Genocide.  Following the successful completion of this initiative, the Foundation’s leadership agreed to continue operating via this project-based model of philanthropy, and launched the “Paros Projects for Prosperity.”

To facilitate volunteerism, The Paros Foundation launched its SERVICE Armenia program in 2013. This Armenia-based service program  provides participants an opportunity to travel to, and experience all that Armenia has to offer while helping make a difference.

Donations to The Paros Foundation, a 501(c) 3 organization, are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.  The Foundation underwrites100% of administrative costs allowing all donor contributions to be allocated directly to the projects.

To learn more about the Paros Foundation or its projects or to sponsor a project of the Paros Foundation’s Projects for Prosperity initiative, please visit www.parosfoundation.org or call (310) 400-9061.

Gyumri, Armenia—The Paros Foundation is pleased to announce that two families have become new homeowners through the Paros Foundation’s Purchase a Home project. The Agayan and Hakopyan families of Gyumri were previously living in temporary shelters or domiks. In 2015, they were moved from these domiks into newly purchased apartments thus receiving a new start. To date, the Paros Foundation’s Purchase a Home project has made home ownership a reality for four Gyumri families thanks to the generous support of our donors.

“There are many families like ours. I wish they would be fortunate enough to receive a home also. It is most important to not lose hope,” said Kim Agayan on the night he and his family first learned they were chosen to be new homeowners. Mr Agayan left Sumgait, Azerbaijan following the Sumgait pogroms and moved to Gyumri. More tragedy followed when his apartment was destroyed in the 1988 Spitak Earthquake. He married, and he and his wife and three daughters lived in a domik until two anonymous donors from California stepped forward and sponsored the purchase of a new apartment.

Earlier this summer, the Hakopyan family of Gyumri also received an apartment through the Purchase a Home project. “Hakop Hakopyan and his wife both grew up in domiks following the Earthquake, and their two sons will not have to endure the hardships they faced,” said Peter Abajian, Executive Director of The Paros Foundation. While the Hagopyan and Agayan family stories have a happy ending, more than 2,700 poverty-stricken families continue to live in horrible conditions in temporary shelters and in condemned buildings.

The Paros Foundation has partnered with the Shirak Center, which identifies potential beneficiaries and works closely with Paros to transition these families into their new homes. Following a rigorous screening process to select the families, the Paros Foundation staff identifies suitable homes in the newly constructed Mush 2 Neighborhood of Gyumri. Each home cost on average $20,000 for a two-bedroom apartment and includes upgrades to make sure they are well appointed. At a minimum, families must demonstrate that they have the means to cover expenses associated with home ownership. “We make sure to the best of our ability that families are in a position to maintain their new homes,” explains Pete Abajian. Agreements are signed passing ownership of the apartment to the chosen family, with the stipulation that until their youngest child reaches 18 years of age, the family cannot sell, rent or move.

As part of this agreement, families must surrender ownership of their old “domiks” which are then dismantled and thus ensuring that no one will ever live in them again. This mandatory component of the Paros Purchase a Home project helps us work towards the goal of ridding Gyumri of these terrible shelters. Wood taken from the salvage is distributed to other families to allow them to burn it for heating and cooking. The metal and other construction materials from the domiks are sold for scrap and above average wages are paid to those who work to tear them down.

The Paros Foundation underwrites all administrative expenses so that 100% of the donor contributions are allocated to the projects. To help support the purchase of home for a another family in Gyumri, or another project of the Paros Foundation’s Projects for Prosperity, please visit www.parosfoundation.org.

About The Paros Foundation

Formally launched in 2006, The Paros Foundation and its staff in Armenia and the United States have earned a reputation as the “go to” organization to oversee small and medium-sized project implementation in Armenia.  Beginning with our support for seven exemplary local non-government organizations working with children, people with disabilities and the arts, the foundation works towards helping build a sustainable and vibrant homeland while improving living conditions for its most vulnerable populations.

With an aggressive goal of identifying, vetting, fundraising for and ultimately implementing 100 special projects, The Paros Foundation launched the Paros 100 for 100 Projects for Prosperity in October of 2011 to commemorate the centennial of the Armenian Genocide.  Following the successful completion of this initiative, the Foundation’s leadership agreed to continue operating via this project-based model of philanthropy, and launched the “Paros Projects for Prosperity.”

To facilitate volunteerism, The Paros Foundation launched its SERVICE Armenia program in 2013. This Armenia-based service program  provides participants an opportunity to travel to, and experience all that Armenia has to offer while helping make a difference.

Donations to The Paros Foundation, a 501(c) 3 organization, are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.  The Foundation underwrites100% of administrative costs allowing all donor contributions to be allocated directly to the projects.

To learn more about the Paros Foundation or its projects or to sponsor a project of the Paros Foundation’s Projects for Prosperity initiative, please visit www.parosfoundation.org or call (310) 400-9061.

Armavir Region, Armenia–The Paros Foundation is pleased to announce that the Hatsik village school renovation project is now successfully complete, thanks to the addition of a renovated gymnasium and more classrooms by the Paros SERVICE Armenia 2015 volunteers. The entire renovation occurred over the course of three summers with the support of scores of SERVICE Armenia youth and almost $85,000 in donations. The school received a total of 12 new classrooms, three bathrooms, boys and girls locker rooms, renovated entry and hallways, and the new gymnasium.

“The village of Hatsik was an important SERVICE Armenia site for our volunteers,” said Peter Abajian, Executive Director of The Paros Foundation. “Generous donors supported this project, and our volunteers and professional staff worked to significantly improve the physical learning environment for students.”

This renovation was a true cooperative effort. Throughout the process, village children joined in the work. The Hatsik municipality and school administration continued to support the building efforts by contributing both human and financial resources. Children of Armenia Fund undertook the complete renovation of the second adjacent building on the school’s campus. The Paros Foundation underwrote all administrative expenses allowing 100% of donor contributions to go directly to this project.

As part of The Paros Foundation’s work in the village of Hatsik, several other smaller projects were implemented including the provision of eye examinations for students, the distribution of dental hygiene products, the donation of a new EKG machine to the local medical center, and the distributing shoes as part of the Share-a-Pair project. Plans are underway for the construction of a soccer field that would host youth and club soccer teams.

“Our SERVICE Armenia participants worked hard, learned new skills, and accomplished their goals. Working together on the various projects in the village of Hatsik was an enriching experience for all of us,” said Narine Panosian, Associate Director of The Paros Foundation. “Over the last three years, a real bond was formed between the villagers and our team of volunteers.”

The Paros Foundation established SERVICE Armenia to provide young people between the ages of 17 and 23 the opportunity to engage in meaningful service work while having fun in Armenia. Participants spent one month working on a variety of humanitarian projects and touring Armenia and Artsakh, all while developing life long friendships and having fun. Applications for this summer’s program, which will operate from June 23 to July 24, 2016 are currently available at www.parosfoundation.org.

The Paros Foundation would like to express its appreciation to the individuals and organizations that contributed to the work in the village of Hatsik. For a complete listing, please visit www.parosfoundation.org.

About The Paros Foundation

Formally launched in 2006, The Paros Foundation and its staff in Armenia and the United States have earned a reputation as the “go to” organization to oversee small and medium-sized project implementation in Armenia.  Beginning with our support for seven exemplary local non-government organizations working with children, people with disabilities and the arts, the foundation works towards helping build a sustainable and vibrant homeland while improving living conditions for its most vulnerable populations.

With an aggressive goal of identifying, vetting, fundraising for and ultimately implementing 100 special projects, The Paros Foundation launched the Paros 100 for 100 Projects for Prosperity in October of 2011 to commemorate the centennial of the Armenian Genocide.  Following the successful completion of this initiative, the Foundation’s leadership agreed to continue operating via this project-based model of philanthropy, and launched the “Paros Projects for Prosperity.”

To facilitate volunteerism, The Paros Foundation launched its SERVICE Armenia program in 2013. This Armenia-based service program  provides participants an opportunity to travel to, and experience all that Armenia has to offer while helping make a difference.

Donations to The Paros Foundation, a 501(c) 3 organization, are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.  The Foundation underwrites 100% of administrative costs allowing all donor contributions to be allocated directly to the projects.

To learn more about the Paros Foundation or its projects or to sponsor a project of the Paros Foundation’s Projects for Prosperity initiative, please visit www.parosfoundation.org or call (310) 400-9061.