NKA School Remodel – Phase 2

Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur 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 was 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. In 2015, the elementary school wing was completely remodeled with the generous contribution by Michael and Patricia Starzer (CO-USA) through our NKA School Remodel – Phase 1 project. The elementary school wing is made up of five classrooms on the first floor. In addition to the five classrooms, the hallways and the boys and girls bathrooms were remodeled as well as updates to the heating system, new lighting, new paint and new flooring. The wing that houses the middle and high school classrooms, and the cafeteria are all still in poor condition and in need of renovations.

Sponsorship of this project will facilitate the remodel of the second phase of this project including six classrooms on the second floor, the adjacent hallway, the staircase and two bathrooms, which make up the middle and high school. The scope of work will include repairs to the roof, new flooring and paint throughout, new classroom furniture, new electrical fixtures and two completely renovated restrooms. Phase three renovations (see Phase three project listing) will include renovating the school’s kitchen, the dining hall and the school’s entryway.

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 this 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.