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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

Debi Arach Vocational Center 2016/2017

Description

The Paros Foundation established the Debi Arach Children’s Center in Gyumri, Armenia on April 15, 2015. The center, which provides 120 children each week the necessary academic, psychological, social and humanitarian support, has since been a source of positivity in this city. The residents of Gyumri, Armenia’s second largest city have endured very devastating realities since the tragic 1988 Spitak Earthquake. More than 100,000 residents were left homeless, and plagued with unemployment and rampant poverty for years to come. In turn, the fate of children in Gyumri has also been affected. Dealing with the difficulty of finding means to feed and care for their families, many parents are unable to provide their children with the proper guidance, supervision, educational aid and the financial resources for them to excel in school and have successful futures. The Debi Arach Children’s Center, which in Armenian means “moving forward,” helps these socially vulnerable children through a holistic approach providing them with both humanitarian and educational support. The center provides counseling and group therapy with a psychologist on staff, homework help and tutoring for almost every subject the children learn in school including English, Math, Art/Design, and Computer classes.

The center hopes to expand Debi Arach with the establishment of a vocational center to provide young adults with a set of skills and tools they will need to secure gainful employment and help break their family’s cycle of poverty. Currently, at Debi Arach children expressing an interest at attending college receive free tutoring to help them gain admission. Those who do not plan to continue their formal education will be enrolled in several vocational training programs offered at no charge. In addition, young adult who do not currently attend the Debi Arach Children’s Center will also be invited to enroll and participate in the programs. Training classes such as computer programing, hardware repair, welding, culinary and cosmetology – – all of which are in demand in the Gyumri job market – – will be offered.

The center will operate Monday- Saturday and classes will be offered on a rotating basis. 50 young adults will be enrolled per year and attend the training class of their choice. Once the training courses are completed, the Debi Arach staff will work with the students on job placement. Sponsorship towards this project will help complete modest renovations, employ qualified staff and run the vocational center for one year. The goal is to help hundreds of children develop a vision for a successful future, and to give them the skills they need to reach these goals.

Region

Shirak

City / Village

Gyumri

Start Date

September 2016

End Date

August 2017

Thank you to all our donors, we have met our fundraising goal.

The Need
Young adults living in extreme poverty in Gyumri, who are not interested or able to continue their higher education, have very bleak prospects for a successful future. To combat this reality, the Debi Arach Children’s Center has decided to launch a vocational program to provide job skills and aid in job placement in order to help these young adults change their lives towards a successful future by gaining real skills and securing real employment.
Short Term Impact
The short-term modest renovations will take place to the current Debi Arach facility to establish the vocation center. Staff will be hired to oversee the center and facilitate training classes for 50 young adults.
Long Term Impact
In the long term, the cycle of poverty will be broken for the newer generations in Gyumri. The new skills these young adults will gain through vocational courses will help secure great jobs and provide opportunities to change their lives. In addition, Gyumri’s economy will also benefit from additional skills being introduced to the job market.
Sponsors Benefits
Your donation to sponsor the Debi Arach Vocationsl Center will be recognized on a plaque, on the Paros Foundation website and in appropriate press related to this important project. The Paros Foundation will happily arrange a visit to the vocational center when you are in Armenia.
Anonymous User
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The Michael & Rose Assarian Family Foundation

Bloomfield Hills, MI December 17, 2015

Updates: Images & Information

February 1, 2017

Today the “Armath” engineering lab at our Vocational Center is now open and in session. Students aged 10-16 are taking courses in engineering, programming, 3D printing and robotics through training courses developed by the Union of Information Technology Enterprises (UITE). A very special thank you to the Assarian Family Foundation (MI-USA) who funded the establishment of this excellent center and their continued support.

 
May 10, 2017

Dr. & Mrs. Gary & Linda Assarian visited the Debi Arach Children's Center today. They were able to spend some time with the students of the newly launched program offering web programming courses for Armenia's young veterans.