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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

Paros Blog
December 28, 2021

Atamian Family Continues to Sponsor Home Reconstruction in Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur

Home Reconstruction Continuing in Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur with the Continued Sponsorship of the Atamian Family

The reconstruction of two additional homes in the Tavush border community of Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur was completed earlier this month. This brings the total to nine homes that Jean-Marie and Lori Atamian have rebuilt in this important and growing border community of 1,100 inhabitants.
Before reconstruction began
The homes of Narek Vardanyan, a soldier who was seriously injured in the 2020 war, and Ghugas Avagyan, whose sons are both on active military service, were rebuilt and equipped to modern norms. The Vardanyan home was reconstructed to allow Narek to easily access the rooms and be more comfortable. The Avagyan property initially consisted of only partial exterior walls and was rebuilt from the ground up. A short video of the ribbon cutting ceremony on both homes can be viewed at www.parosfoundation.com.
In launching this most recent phase of his infrastructure projects, Mr. Atamian stated that “in light of their extraordinary service to our nation in defending our borders during the 2020 war, we wanted to prioritize the reconstruction of Narek’s and Ghugas’ homes as a symbol of our respect and appreciation to their families.” He went on to state that “soldiers like Narek and Ghugas’ sons are heroes and should be treated as such.”
Since 2013, the Atamians have financed the reconstruction of the village’s medical center, kindergarten, secondary school (3 large two-story buildings), emergency services building, and water infrastructure. In addition, the Atamian family has supported more than 20 additional families in the village with agribusinesses and/or home repair grants. Jean Marie and Lori Atamian are committed to continuing their work to improve the housing conditions of large and military families. As noted by Peter Abajian, Executive Director of The Paros Foundation, “by creating a better standard of living for villagers along the border, we are ultimately helping create a more secure homeland.”
The Paros Foundation launched its Prosperity on the Border initiative in 2015 to help significantly improve conditions in border communities. To date, The Paros Foundation has implemented infrastructure projects in 12 border communities in Tavush. Following the 2020 war, the foundation purchased, renovated, and resettled seven displaced families from Artsakh into new homes in the village of Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur as part of the Armenia Resettlement Coalition.
Making An Impact
The Paros Foundation was launched in 2006 and has implemented more than $10 million worth of projects in Armenia through its unique model of philanthropy and community partnership. These projects are located throughout the country with the majority of work focused in Gyumri and in the Tavush Region, along the border with Azerbaijan. The Foundation underwrites all administrative expenses, allowing 100% of donor contributions to be allocated in their entirety to the projects.
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By Narine
Paros Blog
December 15, 2021

Effective Giving – How You Can Give Back This Holiday Season

We are writing to ask for your urgent support to help us continue
our important work for the Armenian nation.

Our work continues throughout Armenia and Artsakh despite the raging pandemic and Azeri hostility. We are proud of the many accomplishments we have achieved this year including the resettlement of 12 displaced families from Artsakh into new homes in Armenia, with more to come; and the beginning of construction of three new homes in Artsakh for families in Stepanakert and Martakert. The completed renovation of the Artsvabert Kindergarten and the launch of the expansion and renovation of the Verishen Kindergarten will provide more than 100 new children early education programs in these two border communities. Economic opportunities and job creation were catapulted forward through the expansion of the Aygepar Business Incubator and the opening of the Hianali Beauty Center (a social enterprise and part of the Assarian Vocational Training Program at Debi Arach) in Gyumri.

While these significant accomplishments are making real world differences on the ground in Armenia, we must continue to help secure our borders and people by focusing especially on three program areas:

Rebuilding Border Communities

To help secure a vibrant border and to keep these communities both populated and able to take-in displaced Artsakh families, these villages must have basic infrastructure including schools, medical centers, kindergartens, homes, irrigation and drinking water. Since 2012, The Paros Foundation has rebuilt and significantly improved 12 kindergartens, three schools, five medical centers, and brought water to two villages. In addition, we have either partially or fully rebuilt 38 homes including 12 that were given to displaced Artsakh families.

In 2022 with your help, we hope to complete the expansion and renovation of the Verishen and Aygezor Kindergartens, the medical center in Akunk, and several additional homes for families in Artsakh, Aygepar, Medz Masrik and Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur.

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Fighting Poverty in Gyumri

To break the cycle of what now amounts to generational poverty in Gyumri, both short-term humanitarian and long-term development programs are essential parts of the solution. Since 2012, The Paros Foundation has developed and is implementing programs to help end poverty in Gyumri. These programs include humanitarian solutions, such as distributing groceries, firewood (for heating and cooking), warm winter coats and boots and other clothing. Our Purchase-A-Home project has moved 25 families who were previously living in “domiks,” into new homes. Longer-term solutions to fighting generational poverty include our work at the Debi Arach Children’s Center and through the Assarian Vocational Training Programs. Debi Arach works with more than 180 children after school to meet both their humanitarian and developmental needs with a strong focus on academics. The Assarian Vocational Training Programs provide career planning for school-aged children, and free-of-cost job training and placement for young adults. This year, we successfully launched a social enterprise, the Hianali Beauty Center, to serve both as a high-end beauty salon and a hands- on training facility. These programs equip the next generation with the tools they need to work themselves and their families out of poverty.

With your help in 2022, Debi Arach will continue to make significant contributions to the lives of children in Gyumri, we will move families into new homes through our Purchase-A-Home project and we will continue to expand job training and placement efforts.

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                                                              Economic Development and Job Creation

To help keep families together and combat economic emigration for work, local economic opportunities are critical especially in remote border communities. In 2018, The Paros Foundation launched the Aygepar Business Incubator. This Incubator is designed to provide residents with free space to launch their own businesses, and to create jobs. To date, the multi-story facility is housing a rabbit farm, fertilizer and a small-animal feed production. With ongoing renovations to the building, soon a bakery and commercial kitchen facility will be launched in the center. As a part of the Incubator, a fruit orchard and honey farm are operating off-site in neighboring villages. All these efforts are creating valuable jobs and economic opportunities to help secure these border communities.

With your support in 2022, our hope is to expand at the Aygepar Incubator to include a commercial kitchen, increase the number of hives at the Honey Farm, develop export markets for local production, and create a large fruit and vegetable storage refrigeration facility.

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By Narine
Press Releases
December 12, 2021

SERVICE Armenia 2021 Young Professionals Successfully Connects with Armenia

Following the successful restart of the SERVICE Armenia program this summer, The Paros Foundation hosted their first SERVICE Armenia trip for young working professionals this October. For seven years Paros has taken young people ages 17 to 22 to Armenia for a month-long service and tour program. While Paros had to sadly cancel their 2020 trip, they couldn’t keep their young and eager future participants away for long. Following the difficult year due to the war, Paros had an influx of interest from young professionals who also wanted to visit Armenia, tour and participate in service work and give back professionally.

“We decided to expand our SERVICE Armenia program to those ages 24 and older, who are interested in making a difference in Armenia. Our goal with the Young Professionals trip was not only to be able to make a difference in their lives by connecting them with Armenia, but to also facilitate this group giving back to their homeland with their various professional experiences.”
-Peter Abajian, Executive Director

During an unforgettable two-week period, the SERVICE Armenia Young Professionals group accomplished several service projects. The group worked on hard work flooring and painting the Ghoghanj Children’s Center, an organization The Paros Foundation supports in the Nor Nork neighborhood of Yerevan. The group implemented an orphan excursion for children from the Yerevan Children’s Home. They assembled food packets and distributed them to impoverished families, as a part of our Groceries for Gyumri project. The group also spent the day in Gyumri where they visited the Debi Arach Children’s Center and attended the opening of the much-anticipated Hianali Beauty Center, a Project of the Assarian Vocational Training Program. Among the highlights of the visit to Gyumri included a visit and tour of Digital Pomegranate, a high-tech company based in Gyumri, and the site of another vocational training program sponsored through Paros.

“SERVICE Armenia was the best experience for my first time visiting Hayastan. The program provided a breadth of activities and historical tours that left me feeling more connected to my culture and homeland. We started out as a group of individuals and became a family by the end. I would highly recommend this trip to anyone considering visiting Armenia”

-Eric Nikssarian, SAYP 2021 Participant

The SERVICE Armenia Young Professionals group also toured historic, religious, and cultural sites in Armenia alongside their service. The program had English speaking staff and guides, safe and well-located accommodations and transportation combined with interesting cultural and educational activities. Dates for the 2022 SERVICE

Armenia Young Professional’s trip are set for October 14 to 30, 2022. The program is open to participants ages 24 to 45.

By Narine
Paros Blog
October 7, 2021

Sponsor-A-Hive, Create An Immediate Economic Impact

We are excited to announce our latest initiative, Sponsor-A-Hive! With every $250 donation you will be able to support one hive in the village of Verin Tsakhavan through the Aygepar Business Incubator. To make it even sweeter, each sponsorship comes with a jar of honey from these bee hives, with an optional customizable label, perfect for gifting, or enjoying yourself!

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Each sponsored hive will create a ripple effect of positivity for the economy of Armenia, as the entire process of creating the honey will happen in the country. In the long term, expanded honey production will create commercially viable quantities of honey both for local consumption and export.

SPONSOR A HIVE

Due to the limited nature of the hives, there are only 150 hives and jars of honey available for sponsorship. Help us provide an immediate positive economic impact and receive the gift of honey! If you would like to sponsor a hive, please donate and fill out the custom label form using the link in our bio. Honey will be sent out after November 1st.

This initiative will lead to expanded job creation and opportunities in the market place as all components of this important project are manufactured locally in the Armenian market including hives, bee families, wax starter sheets and concrete block stands. Even the glass jars for sale are manufactured in Armenia!

By Narine
Paros Blog
September 24, 2021

Ghoghanj Children Win at First-Ever Drone Competition

The children of the Ghoghanj Children’s Center recently competed in the first-ever Armenian drone competition, and won! This competition was put on by the Karen Vardanyan Educational Foundation, named after the late Karen Vardanyan who helped implement robotics and drone research in schools. The prize was sponsored by Picsart, international company based in Armenia.

We are delighted to see the students of the center thriving and proud that the money awarded will be used to buy more equipment. Keep up the good work!

As part of the Paros family of organizations supported in Armenia, Ghoghanj provides after school and summer care for children at two locations in Yerevan. Activities like this drone competition help these children find their passions and ultimately sets them up for a future of success.

The competition took place in Lori, first because of the terrain, and second because there is an effort to take technology to areas outside of Yerevan.
The Ghoghanj Children’s Center located in the Kentron of Yerevan provides after school and summer school programs for approximately 60 children every month. Children who attend the Center are loosely defined as “at risk.” These children typically come from very poor households, often times with a single head of household, who cannot pay for such assistance. The goal of the Ghoghanj Children’s Center is to provide the necessary academic, psychological and social support to ensure that the children attending mature to well adjusted, successful, young adults.
By Narine
Paros Blog
September 22, 2021

Two New Families Now Resettled Through The Armenian Resettlement Coalition

We are excited to announce that the Yegoryan and Beglaryan Families from Artsakh have moved into their new homes through the Armenian Resettlement Coalition. These are the first two families to be moved into Mets Masrik, a new village for the ARC initiative. Mets Masrik is in the Gegharkunik Region near the city of Vardenis and many refugee families have taken shelter in this area after the war.

A huge thank you is due to our coalition partners Focus On Children Now, Teach For Armenia, and Sahman NGO. Additionally, a huge thank you to all of our donors who contributed to our matching fundraiser to make a difference for our displaced brothers and sisters. Together we can make a true difference for these families.

The Yegoryan Family and their seven children fleed their home of 22 years in Yeghegnut, Shahumian Region of Artsakh. They moved around for months with hope that they could return back to their home, where they enjoyed life comfortably. Although they aren’t able to return, the Yegoryan Family is thankful to now have a permanent home where they can have a fresh, safe start, as a family.

The Beglaryan Family and their five children lost their home in Nor Erkej, Shahumian Region, in Artsakh. The family was separated as both parents worked as chefs in the military base. Once the war began David sent his wife and children to evacuate. He couldn’t escape until the ceasefire, when he took what he could and left. Now reunited with his family, they look forward to brighter days in their new home.

ARC Partner Organization Responsibilities
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 support themselves. 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 plan. In addition, FCN will underwrite the tuition of all 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 all aspects of the complete package for each family.

Donate

For more information, please contact any of the coalition partners or email
armenianresettlementcoalition@gmail.com

Focus on Children Now (FCN)
Sahman NGO
Teach For Armenia (TFA)
The Paros Foundation

By Narine
Press Releases
September 9, 2021

First SERVICE Armenia Trips Back Since 2020 Connect Diasporan Youth & Young Professionals to Armenia

Since 2013, The Paros Foundation’s SERVICE Armenia program has taken young people ages 17 to 22 to Armenia for a month-long service and tour program. Due to unforeseen circumstances, Paros had to sadly cancel their 2020 trip, but couldn’t keep their young and eager future participants away for long. Paros returned to Armenia this summer with 12 participants for yet another life-changing and successful SERVICE Armenia trip.

 “SERVICE Armenia connects young people from throughout the United States to one another and to the homeland in a meaningful and lasting way. I am so happy we were able to offer this summer’s program in a safe and successful manner.”
-Peter Abajian, Executive Director

Although this year’s program was only for a two-week period, the SERVICE Armenia group accomplished an amazing amount of service work. The group worked on painting the Ghoghanj Children’s Center, an organization The Paros Foundation supports in Yerevan and refurbishing and painting the outdoor playground at the Kindergarten & Preschool in the village of Paruyr Sevak. The group implemented orphan excursions for children from the Yerevan Children’s Home and the Kharpert Home for Special Children. They assembled food packets and distributed them to 50 impoverished families, as a part of our Groceries for Gyumri project. The group also spent the day at the Debi Arach Children’s Center during which they helped teach the children American Football as a part of the American Summer Grant awarded to the center.

Alongside the SERVICE Armenia program, The Paros Foundation hosted their medical mission, Med-Aid Armenia, this summer with the leadership of Kaiser Permanente Pediatrician, Dr. Kirkor Deramerian. He was joined by three SERVICE Armenia participants interested in the medical field to help conduct basic eye, ear and physical exams at the Kentron and Nor Nork Ghoghanj Children’s Centers, the Paruyr Sevak Preschool & Kindergarten and the Debi Arach Children’s Center.

“Armenia is struggling, and working hard, to meet the needs of its people. We must all do our part as Armenians, and citizens of the world. Med Aid Armenia worked to do its part by helping give kids & families access to the most important and basic need: Health. With this, they can have an opportunity for a healthy and successful future.”
-Dr. Krikor Deramerian.

Sign Up For SERVICE Armenia Fall 2021

Due to overwhelming interest from young adults and professionals to join SERVICE Armenia, The Paros Foundation has decided to host their first ever SERVICE Armenia Young Professionals trip this fall! This program is open to participants 24 years of age and older and will include professional opportunities and official meetings in addition to tours to historic, religious and cultural sites in Armenia and service work on Paros projects. The program has 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.

Applications are available on The Paros Foundation’s
website www.parosfoundation.org. Participants need not be of Armenian descent; the program is open to everyone. 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 September 15, 2021. Contact Peter Abajian at
(310) 400-9061 for more information.

By Narine
Paros Blog
September 1, 2021

Assarian Vocational Training Program Launches New Luxury Beauty Salon & School

We are so excited to announce that a new cosmetology program has been added to the Assarian Vocational Program that will serve as a vehicle for impoverished people from Gyumri to learn new skills and secure gainful employment. The program is designed to teach skills such as hairdressing/barbering, esthetics, makeup application, manicure/pedicure and children’s hair in a luxury salon with the goal of providing high-quality training within the framework of a social enterprise.

With renovations of the space complete, the salon is in the process of hiring staff with plans to be fully open mid-October.

A huge thank you to the Assarian Family, whose vision and funding helped create this new opportunity for the people of Gyumri! With their help we were able to launch the Assarian Vocational Center, that has been hugely successful in providing a high level of training for students to eventually obtain work and support themselves and their families out of poverty.

The Assarian Vocational Program started with the help of the Dr. Gary and Linda Assarian Family Foundation, as an opportunity for students of Debi Arach to learn valuable skills in areas like technology for future employment opportunities. Since 2017, the program has grown to be a hugely successful vehicle to bring the young generation of Gyumri out of poverty for good. With partnerships like learning opportunities with Digital Pomegranate for coding, knowledge in textiles through the local Lentex factory, beauty salon training and more the vocational program is setting up these participants to change their own lives.

“Our goal is to help people learn a skill and successfully gain employment. We are excited to support Paros in these innovative programs and their future plans.”

-Dr. Gary Assarian

By Narine
Paros Blog
July 23, 2021

POW: Injured and Captured for 70 Days, Returns to New Business

Paros is proud to support such a worthy cause and give this hero another chance at a fresh start.
Prisoner of war, Narek Amirjanyan, was wounded, captured, and held for 70 days against his will by Azerbaijani forces. Upon his return, like many with the same fate, he was left with very few options for work, and a family that was in a poor financial position. Through money raised from our matching Emergency Relief & Reconstruction Fund, we were able to help support Narek get established with a chicken farm in the town of Ayrum where he lives. To celebrate this new start, Paros Executive Director, Peter Abajian joined the governor of Tavush, Hayk Ghalumyan, head of the Ayrum Consolidated Community, Arayik Paranyan and member of Parliament Hayk Sargsyan in Ayrum. A special thank you to Hayk Sargsyan and his close circle of friends who initiated this project and approached us for partial funding. And a huge thank you to everyone who contributed to our matching fundraiser in 2020.
By Narine
Paros Blog
July 19, 2021

Five Families Now Resettled Through The Armenian Resettlement Coalition (ARC)

Family, friends, and fellow villagers joined the Armenian Resettlement Coalition (ARC) partner organizations as they cut the ribbon on the fourth and fifth family’s new homes in Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur. Local officials from both the village and the Berd Consolidated Community welcomed the Avetisyan and Ayvazyan families. “We are so happy to have this inflow of new students and young people into our community,” said Nara Papyan, Principal of the school in Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur. “Our students and teachers are very excited to welcome these new students into our school and allow them to benefit from the wonderful resources available at our school.”

In the next month, two additional families will be resettled into the village and integrated into the village’s community and economic life through the resettlement efforts of ARC. Following this, ARC will begin resettling families into the Geghargunik Region village of Mets Masrik. By addressing the critical issue of resettlement in a complete and comprehensive manner, ARC’s beneficiary families will have the greatest chance for success in their new communities. The budget for one family resettlement is $37,500, and ARC partners have committed a total of $300,000 to resettle the first eight families.

Focus on Children Now (FCN), Sahman NGO, Teach For Armenia and The Paros Foundation formed the Armenian Resettlement Coalition (ARC) to address the thousands of Armenian families displaced from the Artsakh war that wish to remain in Armenia permanently. Each of ARC’s partner organizations addresses and supports an essential aspect of this complete restart for these families in Armenia.

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ARC Partner Organization Responsibilities
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 support themselves. 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 plan. In addition, FCN will underwrite the tuition of all 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 all aspects of the complete package for each family.

By Narine