This Month at The Paros Foundation – May 2023
New Kindergarten in Marmashen Village
The Shirak Region community of Marmashen now has a functioning kindergarten thanks to this collaborative project between the local community, Focus on Children Now, The Paros Foundation and its donor Ms. Jeanette Boras (CA-USA). The Gala celebration took place on May 4th, 2023 with representatives in attendance from the local community, FCN, parents, Paros staff and most importantly, the students! Up to 60 children will be able to attend kindergarten for the first time in Marmashen. Not only is this a huge benefit for the children as far as socialization and early education, but it is a direct benefit for their families as the children are there for a full day. This is the third Shirak Region community that has benefited from a kindergarten through this collaboration. The other two kindergartens are located in the communities of Keti and Jajur and were sponsored through the generous support of Mark & Charlene Asdourian (CA-USA) last year. The trilateral partnership on these three kindergarten projects broke down as follows: The local communities renovated the buildings to house the kindergartens, Focus on Children Now provided all of the necessary furniture for the children including lockers, tables, chairs, beds and bedding, and The Paros Foundation provided all of the kitchen cabinets, appliances, and all of the cooking, serving and eating settings.
Sswweeeeeet! The Honey Project is Expanding!
Thanks to individual family sponsorships and a generous donation from Dr. & Mrs. Gary & Linda Assarian (MI-USA) the Armenian Honey Project will be expanding into the Shirak Region village of Gusanagyugh near Gyumri. Generous individual support helped fund 32 new beehives. The Assarian family is not only funding 18 more, but their support is sponsoring a new beekeeper’s salary for one year along with field preparatory work that needs to take place prior to the new 50 hives being located within this new community. In addition to creating new jobs in this community, the locally produced honey will ultimately be packaged in the Assarian Clean Kitchen at the Aygepar Business Incubator in Tavush, thus creating new employment opportunities there as well. The economic impact of this project so generously supported by both the Assarian Family and individual donors around the country is significant through both the creation of these three fields of hives, the education taking place in local school curriculums and the packaging and selling of the honey. All in all, this is a pretty sweet project!
$4,000 Remains to Complete Matching Grant
Following a major matching grant funded generously by Mr. & Mrs. Hovhannes & Anahit Mardirossian (NJ-USA) aimed at installing a proper heating system on an emergency basis at the school in the Tavush village of Getahovit, enough funds have been raised over the last 18 months to rebuild the school’s boiler room, replace two boilers, replace all of the school’s heating pipes and radiators, rebuild the school’s chemistry lab and store room, and build a new administrative office for part of the school’s administrative team. Because of the number of students at the school, the school now plans on utilizing a wing of the school that was previously not in service. A third boiler needs to be installed to properly heat that portion of the school. Hovhannes and his wife, Anahit, have again agreed to match all contributions needed to complete this important project of $8,000. We currently need donations of $4,000 to purchase and install the boiler at the school. Learn more and donate here.
Scholarship Fund Created for Komitas Conservatory
Thanks to the vision of the Cultural Society of Istanbul Armenians in Detroit, Michigan, and in memory of one of their supporters, a new scholarship fund is being created that will help a few select students on an annual basis attend the Komitas Conservatory. The Komitas Conservatory is the premier institution in Armenia for musical and vocal education. More on this exciting new fund next month!
Working Towards a New X-ray Machine for Nor Hachen
On May 21, an enthusiastic group of Paros friends and supporters gathered at Momed restaurant in the Atwater Village neighborhood of Los Angeles to both enjoy one another’s company, an excellent meal and raise funds towards purchasing a new x-ray machine for the Nor Hachen Poly Clinic located about 30 minutes north of Yerevan. During last year’s Med Aid Medical Mission to Armenia, our team of healthcare professionals led by Dr. Krikor Deramerian, spent the day at the clinic and learned of this tremendous need and committed to helping raise the necessary funds to purchase a new machine. The event itself, along with additional support from donations made that evening and contributions from people who were unable to attend, has raised more than half of the funds required to complete this important purchase. The community of Nor Hachen serves more than 30,000 residents and their existing machine from Soviet times is unsafe to use. Learn more and help support this important initiative here.
Journey To Armenia 2023 Interest Form
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. If you are interested please fill out the form here and we will follow up with more information as it is available!
Adopting a village in Armenia has become an increasingly popular philanthropic model. By rallying efforts around one village, donors are able to make a big difference for people of one community in a meaningful way. Join us as guest Stepan Piligian shares his experience leading the charge on adopting a village in Armenia.
The Birthright Armenia program brings together Armenians from all over the world to experience their ancestral homeland, give back, and ultimately fulfill their birthright. Join us as we interview country director, Sevan Kabakian, about this incredible organization.
The number of kindergartens
Paros has renovated
