Stepanavan St. Gregory The Illuminator School #2 Improvement Project
Description
The town of Stepanavan is located in Armenia’s northern portion of the Lori Region. More than 10,000 people live in this ancient town. Stepanavan can trace it earliest settlements to the 4th century. Stepanavan was devastated by the 1988 earthquake including losing one of its primary schools. The Western Diocese of the Armenian Church raised the funds to build a new school for the children in Stepanavan. Vartkes Barsam, a philanthropist and active member of the Armenian community of Los Angeles served as project manager and oversaw the construction. The school was opened on 2003 and has served more than 525 children per year since. While the school has been well maintained, it is time to address some of the larger needs of the school starting with the heating system, school windows, bathrooms and to create a kitchen and dining hall. Following these important capital improvements, the balance of the school will receive a cosmetic renovation including new lighting and a fresh coat of paint.
A new boiler room will be built adjacent to the school and two large capacity boilers will be installed to heat new radiators throughout the school (which also have to be installed.) New windows throughout the school will also be installed to improve the efficiency of the overall heating of the school. This phase of work will cost the following:
$6,000 Construction of a new boiler room.
$95,000 Installation of two new boilers, pipes and radiators throughout the three floors of the school.
$44,000 Installation of 540 square meters of new double pain windows throughout the school.
Region
City / Village
Start Date
End Date
Gallery Images
The Need
School #2 in Stepanavan serves more than 525 children. The school needs a new heating system and new windows to help provide a safe and comfortable environment for the children in which to learn.
Short Term Impact
In the near term, more than 525 children and the school’s staff will enjoy a safer and more comfortable learning environment. The local economy will benefit with locals labor and materials utilized whenever possible.
Long Term Impact
In the long term, thousands of children and staff will benefit from the renovations completed at the school. Because of better heating, the school will better accommodate a variety of after school programming for the children in the colder winter months.
Sponsors Benefits
All sponsors of this project will be recognized on The Paros Foundation website, on a plaque at the Stepanavan St. Gregory The Illuminator School #2, and in appropriate press related to this important project. Visits can be arranged to Stepanavan for sponsors during their visits to Armenia.
Ms. Diane Barsam
Newport Beach, CA September 6, 2023Ms. Diane Barsam
Newport Beach, CA April 24, 2023Ms. Mary Kanian
Walnut, CAIn Memory Of Vartkes Barsam April 18, 2023
Mrs. Sheila Papayans
Palos Verdes Estates, CA April 10, 2023The Shirvanian Family Foundation
Newport Beach, CA April 4, 2023Mr. Dickran Barsam
North Hollywood, CA March 29, 2023Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth & Cynthia Norian
Beverly Hills, CA March 20, 2023Drs. Bryan & Katrina Vanesian
Apple Valley, CAIn Memory Of Vartkes Barsam March 13, 2023
Ms. Diane Barsam
Newport Beach, CA November 18, 2021Ms. Diane Barsam
Newport Beach, CA June 4, 2021Mr. Charles Raine
Palos Verdes, CAIn Memory Of Vartkes & Jean Barsam December 6, 2020
Ms. Diane Barsam
Newport Beach, CAIn Honor Of Vartkes & Jean Barsam July 20, 2019
Ms. Diane Barsam
Newport Beach, CA September 6, 2023Ms. Diane Barsam
Newport Beach, CA April 24, 2023Ms. Mary Kanian
Walnut, CAIn Memory Of Vartkes Barsam April 18, 2023
Mrs. Sheila Papayans
Palos Verdes Estates, CA April 10, 2023The Shirvanian Family Foundation
Newport Beach, CA April 4, 2023Mr. Dickran Barsam
North Hollywood, CA March 29, 2023Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth & Cynthia Norian
Beverly Hills, CA March 20, 2023Drs. Bryan & Katrina Vanesian
Apple Valley, CAIn Memory Of Vartkes Barsam March 13, 2023
Ms. Diane Barsam
Newport Beach, CA November 18, 2021Ms. Diane Barsam
Newport Beach, CA June 4, 2021Mr. Charles Raine
Palos Verdes, CAIn Memory Of Vartkes & Jean Barsam December 6, 2020
Ms. Diane Barsam
Newport Beach, CAIn Honor Of Vartkes & Jean Barsam July 20, 2019
Mrs. Flora Dunaians
Pasadena, CAIn Memory Of Jean Barsam March 8, 2019
Mr. & Mrs. Stephen & Sandra Hampar
Toluca Lake, CAIn Memory Of Jean Barsam February 25, 2019
Ms. Michelle Shrikian
Newport Coast, CAIn Memory Of Jean Barsam February 25, 2019
Kubiak Family
Costa Mesa, CAIn Memory Of Jean Barsam February 24, 2019
Mr. & Mrs. Paul and Sosy Hachigian
Newport Beach, CAIn Memory Of Jean Barsam February 18, 2019
Mr. & Mrs. Michael & Debra Smyres
Paso Robles, CAIn Memory Of Jean Barsam February 17, 2019
Mrs. Louise Bedrosian
Rancho Palos Verdes, CAIn Memory Of Jean Barsam February 15, 2019
Mr. & Mrs. Richard & Kathleen Terzian
Los Angeles, CAIn Memory Of Jean Barsam February 14, 2019
Diane Jean Barsam Family
Newport Beach, CA February 11, 2019Ms. Patricia Samarge
Los Angeles, CAIn Memory Of Jean Barsam February 11, 2019
Mrs. Nora Hampar
Toluca Lake, CAIn Memory Of Jean Barsam February 11, 2019
Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth & Cynthia Norian
Beverly Hills, CAIn Memory Of Jean Barsam February 11, 2019
Updates: Images & Information
Diane Barsam visited the school with Paros Project Manager, Gegham Minasyan to discuss the school's needs and to formalize plans for future assistance.
With enough funding available to replace all of the exterior windows, work began on removing and replacing all of the windows.
Work on all of the exterior window replacement is complete and minor temporary repairs were made to the walls around the new windows until such time that funding is available for the school's interior remodel. The next effort will be to replace the school's heating system.
The school's heating system has been replaced with new radiators, pipes, and boilers throughout the entire 3 story school providing much needed heat during the winter.
Today our crew has started renovation on the school's gym roof.
Gym roof renovation has finished. The students now have an insulated gym roof to allow them to play comfortably.
The multiple bathroom renovations have begun. We can't wait to give the students new and clean restrooms.
The first bathroom renovation is finished! We will soon start construction on the next set of bathrooms.
All 14 bathroom renovations are complete! With the support of our donors were able to renovate every bathroom at the Stepanavan St. Gregory the Illuminator School #2.