NKA School Remodel – Phase 3

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 major 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, including five classrooms on the first floor, the hallways and the boys and girls bathrooms, was remodeled as well as updates to the heating system, new lighting, new paint and new flooring. Phase 2 of the project, including renovations to six classrooms on the second floor, the adjacent hallway, the staircase and two bathrooms (middle and high school wing), was generously funded by Jean-Marie and Lori Atamian (NY-USA) and was completed in advance of the 2016-17 academic year. The wing that houses the cafeteria and kitchen, and the entryway of the school are all still in poor condition and in need of renovations.

Sponsorship of this project will facilitate the remodel of the third phase of this project including a full kitchen remodel including the cafeteria, furniture and appliances, and gas connection to the kitchen. In addition, the entrance of the school, the boys and girls locker rooms and the security office will be renovated. The scope of work will include new flooring, electrical fixtures and paint throughout, new kitchen furniture and equipment as necessary and new plumbing for the kitchen and 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 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.