NKA School Remodel – Phase 1

Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur (NKA) is a border village with a population of 1,380 residents in the Bert area of Armenia’s Tavush Region. This community, whose territory connects with Azerbaijan, lives and works under a constant risk of sniper fire and renewed armed conflict every day. Along with the economy these difficult and dangerous times have also had a negative impact on educational advancement and school attendance. The primary school in the village is in need of complete remodel in order to provide elementary and high school aged children the opportunity to learn in a clean, new and safe environment. This school, which has 180 children in attendance, is housed in three buildings of which currently two are in use.
The gym has been renovated through local sponsorship from the village, but the classrooms are in still in poor condition.

As part of the Paros Foundation’s ongoing efforts to rebuild the infrastructure of this large village, Michael and Patricia Starzer of Lakewood, Colorado have agreed to underwrite the complete renovation of an entire floor of the elementary school. Their sponsorship will enable us to rebuild five classrooms on the first floor. The remodel will include the hallways, the boys and girls bathrooms, updates to the heating system, new lighting, new paint and new flooring. Once phase 1 is completed we will fundraise for phase 2 renovations, which will include other classrooms, the library, a science lab, and the cafeteria.

The Paros Foundation, with the help of generous donors Jean-Marie and Lori Atamian of New York, has already successfully renovated the Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur medical center and kindergarten, and provided five families with their own agribusiness for their economic development. These projects have had a huge impact on the community. It is of strategic importance to support these villages in their daily lives so that they may remain inhabitants of this village, mere footsteps from Azerbaijan.