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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

Category: Paros Blog

Paros Blog
December 8, 2023

Creating a Secure, Stable, & Successful Armenia

When one evaluates a charitable effort, one must consider the organization’s effectiveness among other important criteria. Is the organization making a difference? Are the efforts it’s making on target? Is it reaching its goals?

Paros coordinates with donors, state and local officials and our team of volunteers to develop the best strategy to improve community development, poverty reduction and humanitarian concerns. Our small, but efficient, staff work on the ground to determine the best allocation of resources to help meet our project goals.

The Paros Foundation’s unique model of project-specific philanthropy, 17 years of in-country experience, and its 100% Promise of all funds being directed to projects (not administrative expenses,) makes it the right choice as your charitable partner for your philanthropy in Armenia. Please join our efforts and donate today to help provide a SECURE, STABLE & SUCCESSFUL future for Armenia.

The Aygepar Business Incubator creates local jobs, offers new businesses quality, sanitary space to operate, and creates a sense of economies of scale working with other local start-ups. This all creates a more secure community and more secure border.

Learn more and consider contributing so we can continue building a secure and prosperous form of economy for this region here.

Learn More & Donate

The Debi Arach Children’s Center in Gyumri was launched in 2015 to help add stability in the lives of children and their families devastated by generational poverty. Since its launch, this program has been working to raise their standards of living through holistic programs aimed at changing these children’s lives for the better. High-quality after-school education including homework assistance, daily hot meals, counseling, vocational training, and medical and humanitarian assistance all add needed stability in the development of these children’s futures. Learn more here.

Learn More & Donate

Since our High Tech Education project was launched last year more than 20 schools, colleges, and children’s centers have begun instruction on the proper use, flight, repair, and modification of quadcopter drones. This educational experience encompasses many aspects that broaden student’s perspectives on not only high-tech career possibilities but also the value of technology in many different careers including agriculture and construction. Learn more about the impact these programs are making here.

Learn More & Donate
By Narine
Paros Blog
November 22, 2023

Update on Artsakh Refugee Support Fund

Dear friends and supporters,

Our team has accomplished much in a relatively short time and I would like to provide everyone with another short update as to our activities and approach to help our fellow Armenians, who are now refugees in Armenia, that have been ethnically cleansed from Artsakh.

During my recent trip to Armenia, our team visited the communities of Kapan and Kajaran in the South, Gyumri, Berd, Vardenis and Meds Masrik (East and North East of Lake Sevan). In each of these communities, we visited with local leaders and refugee families to discuss both short-term and long-term needs. From these visits and meetings, we determined to work on both short-term humanitarian assistance and long-term, permanent housing, both with the support of partners and donors.

Many people have asked what they can do to help. Honestly, at this moment in our nation’s history, our major focus must be on resettling our Artsakh families as quickly as possible. If we fail in this mission, I would expect a mass exodus to other countries come spring. Please know that our team in Armenia has the capacity to expand our permanent housing effort for our Artsakh families as funds are raised. A permanent home for a family costs approximately $30,000. To date, thanks to your generous support, we have raised just over $400,000 for this effort. Thank you to all of you for your support.

As of today, we have completed the following:

1. Firewood for heating and cooking – We completed the distribution of one month’s supply of firewood for heating and cooking to 20 families from Artsakh in the Vardenis community of Meds Masrik. This effort will continue based on need throughout the winter and will be expanded if needed. The area received its first snow of the season yesterday.

2. Winter boots – Thanks to the generosity of Zadur Shoes (a local Made in Armenia company) who generously partnered with Paros to distribute 500 pairs of high-quality winter boots, we have been able to already distribute 200+ pairs and the distribution will be continuing. In addition, thanks to generous support from St. Mary’s Armenian Church Parishioners, winter boots for children have also been ordered and up to 500 additional children will receive winter boots in the coming weeks.

3. Clothing – Clothing distributions are continuing and additional shipments of new clothing from the US have been shipped to Armenia.

4. Permanent Housing – After our assessment of several communities and visits to several vacant homes, our team has begun the purchase process for the first seven homes (three homes in Geghamasar, three homes in Kajaran and one in Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur.) Work on renovating these homes will begin as soon as we take possession of these homes. The first two home purchases in Geghamasar are completed and the renovation of them will begin next week. In addition, our team is actively pursuing the identification and purchase of five additional homes within these same communities with the funds we have secured to date.

It is important to note that thanks to the generous partnership of our long-term partner organization and friend, Development Services for Armenia (DSA) also known as the Organization of Humanitarian Services for Armenia, these homes will be equipped with basic appliances as needed. We sincerely appreciate DSA’s friendship and support!

Thank You,
Peter Abajian
Executive Director

Support Now
By Narine
Paros Blog
October 27, 2023

Update on Artsakh Refugee Support Fund

Our team has visited the communities of Kapan and Kajaran in the South, Gyumri, Berd, Vardenis and Meds Masrik (East and North East of Lake Sevan). In each of these communities, we visited with local leaders and refugee families to discuss both short-term and long-term needs. What we have learned is the following:

1. The Armenian Government (with support from international donor countries like USA, France, etc. (I suspect), is providing each person displaced from Artsakh a one-time 100,000 dram (about $250) stipend. In addition, as these families move from shelters, they are providing six months of housing assistance amounting to $120 per person in the family. We have confirmation that both of these amounts are being paid out.

2. International relief organizations are distributing food, clothing, and cots. In addition, both local and diaspora-based organizations are doing some of the same. Those people remaining in hotels and/or public shelters are being fully taken care of as well.

3. Most of the children of these families are getting enrolled in school and are now attending regularly.

4. Debi Arach Children’s Center has opened its doors to all Artsakh children in Gyumri. Debi Arach Director, Aida Khachatryan, and the center’s psychologist are visiting local schools to present the programs and encourage the Artsakh children to attend and receive the support they need. In addition, we have gathered resumes from teachers from Artsakh that we have met with to try and fill a teaching position we have open at Debi Arach.

5. We have accepted at least three Artsakh women into Hianali Beauty Center’s training program, a social enterprise launched and supported by the Gary & Linda Assarian Vocational Training Program. We are also actively trying to hire one hairdresser and a cosmetologist.

Given the reality on the ground in these communities, our short-term plan for humanitarian assistance at this moment is three-fold:

1. Firewood For Heating And Cooking – In the communities of Gyumri and especially Vardenis/Meds Masrik, winter is fierce. The head of the local community urged us to help with firewood. As of today, we have supplied 20 families with one month’s supply of firewood. This will continue based on funding and need.

2. Winter Boots – Most of the families we met with in Gyumri and Vardenis/Meds Masrik told us they only brought essentials and most did not bring or even have appropriate winter clothing. Zadur Shoes, a local Armenian brand, that was started as a partnership with one of our SERVICE Armenia dads and his cousin, are manufacturing and donating 500 pairs of women’s boots. These boots are really excellent quality. We have started the distribution of these boots to women and girls in Gyumri and Vardenis/Meds Masrik. This process is a bit slow as they are size-specific, but we will use Debi Arach as the distribution point in Gyumri and our local contact on the ground in Meds Masrik for the entire Vardenis area. The company is going to also manufacture children’s sizes and we are working to line up donors to help fund winter boots for children in these communities as well.

3. Clothing – We have a variety of new clothing, hats and scarfs and will be distributing these to needy Artsakh families whenever we visit. We have also received a bunch of gently used adult and kid clothing and will be distributing that as well where appropriate (once our team has gone through it all.)

– Long Term Housing Plan –

Our long-term housing plan is absolutely essential to be launched asap. The major problem facing these families is their long-term housing solutions. If they have a place to live and some kind of income, they will stay in Armenia. Otherwise, the outflow from Armenia will continue. Already, we are seeing families from Artsakh applying to leave the country.

We have viewed both homes and buildings in all of the communities we have visited. Our team is already in the process of purchasing three homes in the Vardenis consolidated community village of Geghamasar. This community has fertile land and we are in the process of purchasing now. These homes are generally in good shape, but need renovations prior to them being handed off to families from Artsakh. We are purchasing these homes (all of them have land for a family farm and a barn) for an average of $7,000. The renovation to make these abandoned homes livable including an inside bathroom and heating system will bring the finish price of these homes to about $23,000. This number is approximate and will vary based on the size of the homes. All three of these homes are suitable for 6 to 8 or 9 people. This finished price does not include appliances or furniture. I am hoping we can partner with the local community or other organizations for these items.

The other community in which we are preparing to purchase homes is the Kapan community of Kajaran. This community has homes in an apartment building that need to be completely rebuilt. Our initial estimates saw three homes that we can complete for approximately $24,000 per home including the purchase price (which we are still negotiating). The local community leader is ready to provide each family with a plot of land in the community to farm and is ready to help them find employment also.

In the consolidated community of Berd, we also found three suitable homes, but we will not begin working in this region until we have secured additional funding.

To date we have raised about $220,000. We will purchase, renovate and move as many families into homes as we can raise funds to support. We have already lined up construction crews to begin the renovation work on the homes in Geghamasar. In addition, our team has already begun interviewing families from Artsakh to start the identification process so as soon as the homes are ready, we can move them in.

Ultimately, once we have identified the family and have the home ready, we will follow our established process of gifting them 90% of the home and retaining a 10% ownership in the home for 10 years to ensure they are not tempted to sell it and move out of the country. This model has been very successful in both Gyumri with our domik families and with our 2020 Artsakh families that we have moved into homes.

Any support you would consider making would be greatly appreciated. Our brothers and sisters need us now more than ever. If you have any questions, please ask.

Thank You,
Peter Abajian
Executive Director

Support Now
By Narine
Paros Blog
September 25, 2023

Contribute To Our Artsakh Refugee Support Fund

Dear Paros Supporters:

At this very moment tens of thousands of Armenians are trying to leave Artsakh in light of the attack and its full takeover by Azerbaijan. Almost 7,000 have arrived into Armenia already and we expect this exodus to continue. It is possible that none of the 120,000 Armenians will remain in Artsakh. While the future is still uncertain, the one thing we know for sure is that Armenia will need serious support to help permanently shelter this number of refugees from Artsakh who are fleeing to Armenia.

Following the 2020 War, our team on the ground effectively helped refugees both during and after the war with humanitarian assistance and ultimately turned our focus to rehoming families into Armenia who lost their homes in Artsakh. This helped repopulate two border communities of Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur in Tavush, and Meds Masrik in Geghargunik, and benefited the local population, economy and school. We are now launching a similar effort to quickly identify suitable communities to purchase, renovate and rehome refugees as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, we are in this situation again. Please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to help this important effort.

Thank you,
Peter Abajian, Executive Director

Support Now
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Photo credit: Zartonk Media
By Narine
Paros Blog
July 6, 2023

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

By Narine
Paros Blog
June 11, 2023

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!

Register Here
By Narine
Paros Blog
April 14, 2023

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.

Send Pre-Populated Email
By Narine
Paros Blog
March 17, 2023

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.

Donate Here
Customize Your Label
By Narine
Paros Blog
March 12, 2023

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!

SERVICE Armenia Application

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

By Narine
Paros Blog
December 23, 2022

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.

SERVICE Armenia Application

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.

By Narine