More than 1,200 children live in Armenia’s 15 orphanages. These facilities provide for the children’s basic needs, but their limited budgets do not allow these children to participate in visits to popular historical sites, amusement parks, concerts, or attend cultural events.

Armenia’s orphan children should have the opportunity to experience popular cultural events, exhibits, and excursions. Many different activities and excursions can be organized for these children. The extent of the activity or trip is directly related to the sponsorship amount. For sponsorship amounts between $250 -$750 approximately 20 children and an appropriate number of chaperons will be able participate in a memorable activity. Please consider supporting multiple excursions for these children.

The Paros Foundation staff and volunteers will organize and oversee the excursion/activity. Opportunities to sponsor excursions for orphanages serving both disabled and non-disabled children exist. Whenever possible, our staff will work with the destination for the excursion to secure group pricing and/or discounts.

Following the 1988 Spitak Earthquake, thousands of people were left homeless in the city of Gyumri. Many of these families took refuge in the overseas shipping containers (domiks) that were shipped into Armenia loaded with humanitarian relief supplies. Although more than a quarter century has passed since the earthquake, this depressive reality still remains. Currently, more than 1,800 families still live in domiks scattered throughout Gyumri in extreme poverty. Many of them are unable to provide for their familys’ needs including warm clothes, nutritious food, heat and electricity for their homes and other basic necessities.

During his visit to Armenia two summers ago Dustin Hochmuth, one of the SERVICE Armenia 2017 participants, and several of his peers, witnessed these horrible conditions and decided to assemble packets for 10 families in dire need of everyday necessities and non-perishable food items. This effort was led by one of the SERVICE Armenia 2017 coordinators, Stephanie Nersesyan. Following the success of that effort, Dustin decided to return to Armenia the following year on the SERVICE Armenia 2018 trip and spearhead his own project providing similar packets of necessities to 100 families in desperate need. Dustin helped raise the funds needed and with his  SERVICE Armenia 2018 peers spent several days purchasing, assembling and distributing the packets of food to family in Gyumri.

Dustin has decided to take on this effort again this year. His goal is to raise enough funds to help 50 families this summer. Each packet will cost $30 and will include basic staples including personal hygiene products, non-perishable food items such as rice, flour, sugar, salt, oil, and pasta. The packets will also include fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy products and canned meats. Once in Armenia, Dustin will again lead the group throughout the implementations of the project starting with shopping for the items, assembling the packets and distributing the packets themselves to families in need. Donations in any amount will help this important cause.

More than 1,200 children live in Armenia’s 15 orphanages. These facilities provide for the children’s basic needs, but their limited budgets do not allow these children to participate in visits to popular historical sites, an amusement park or concert, or attend a cultural event.

Armenia’s orphan children should have the opportunity to experience popular cultural events, exhibits, and excursions in Armenia, or simply have a fun afternoon or activity that they normally would not be able to experience. Many different activities and excursions can be organized for these children. The extent of the activity or trip is directly related to the sponsorship amount. For sponsorships amounts between $250 -$750 approximately 20 children and an appropriate number of chaperons will be able participate in a memorable activity. Please consider supporting multiple excursions for these children.

The Paros Foundation staff and volunteers will organize and oversee the excursion/activity. Opportunities to sponsor excursions for orphanages serving both disabled and non-disabled children exist. Whenever possible, our staff will work with the destination for the excursion to secure group pricing and/or discounts.

Noyemberyan is a city located two kilometers west of the Armenia/Azeri border and nine kilometers south of the Armenia/Georgian border. 5,000 people call Noyemberyan their home. The city has two kindergartens and a growing number of children. Kindergarten #2 is currently overcrowded and has a waiting list of new children to attend. One building on the campus is not used and needs a complete renovation. To completely rebuild this building, more than $45,000 is needed. The Paros Foundation, along with the City of Noyemberyan has entered into an agreement with World Vision to see to the needs of this kindergarten. World Vision will provide all of the necessary building materials (about $28,000) and The Paros team will provide the oversight and labor to complete the complete reconstruction of the third kindergarten building (about $17,500.) The city of Noyemberyan is committed to funding the salaries and additional expenses of operating the expanded kindergarten.

Inadequate infrastructure left over from Soviet times has created unbearable conditions for families to live, learn and work in many villages throughout Armenia. Many of the husbands and fathers in these communities, especially in the Tavush Region, are heroes–serving as contract soldiers protecting our borders in their villages– while others work as seasonal migrant workers in Russia. Prosperity and our Nation’s security go hand in hand.

As part of the Paros Foundation’s Prosperity on the Border initiative, The Foundation has identified the kindergarten in the village of Varagavan as a needed infrastructure improvement project. Varagavan Village has 223 households with a population total of 713 people, 39 of which are children of school age and 67 children of pre-school age. Varagavan has a kindergarten comprised of 19 children and employs four adults. Other organizations implemented partial renovations to the kindergarten in 2004, mainly to the section they currently use, but the majority of the building including roof repairs remains unmet.

The kindergarten currently serves 19 children, and will have 29 in September. Once renovated the municipality is ready to fund the attendance of an additional 20 students. Sponsorship of this project will help renovate the kindergarten building and create a multipurpose room suitable for the use by the entire village. Repairs need to be made to the roof, floor, kitchen and bathroom. In addition, an outdoor playground will be installed for the childrens’ use.

Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur (NKA) is an important 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 each day. NKA was the single most damaged Armenian village following the Azeri conflict in the 1990’s. The economy of the village and the livelihood of many of its residents have suffered due to these difficult and dangerous times. Furthermore, 70% of their fertile land is unusable because of frequent sniper attacks. Many homes have been damaged and worn out over the years and are in need of partial renovations and repairs, including, indoor plumbing, new windows, doors and floors, roof repairs, new heating systems, and even room additions. The village is economically strained and families are in need of additional aid to care for their families, homes and livelihood.

Sponsorship of this project will help provide 7 families  with materials, technical expertise and/or the necessary labor in order to complete specific renovation projects to their homes. It is of strategic importance to support these villagers in their daily lives so that they may remain inhabitants of this village, mere footsteps from Azerbaijan.

Help us bring the spirit and fun of the Women’s World Cup to Armenia!

Women’s soccer is exploding all over the world and Armenia is no exception. Thanks to your support, today GOALS girls’ leagues are in 8 of Armenia’s 10 regions!! As the world celebrates female athletes in France this summer, GOALS will be holding soccer and leadership camps to bring the joy of sport to Armenia. GOALS is the only NGO working in Armenia to raise awareness and access to sports for girls, shattering stereotypes along the way. We use sport for education outside the classroom with programs about leadership, gender equality, and civic activism.

Նորք (Nork) is a neighborhood in the Armenian capital Yerevan. It is located in the Nork-Marash District. The school currently has 1,010 students enrolled from grades 1-12. The school has 2 buildings in its original condition since being built in 1981. The gym is in need of restoration to provide the children with a clean, safe and comfortable environment for them to conduct physical activity.

The Knights of Vartan since 1993 has supported the #106 school in Yerevan which since 1995 officially was known as the Knights of Vartan #106 Public School. It is one of the many schools the Knights of Vartan has supported via its partnership with the World Bank Armenian Social Investment Fund and the ATDF.

Through years some support such as renovating the roofing, installing new heating system, supporting teachers and Christmas gifts for pupils were implemented.

Hatsik is a village in the Armavir Province of Armenia. The village population, approximately 2500, currently houses one school with 285 students in attendance, 40 being in preschool. The Hatsik Village School, which was the site for renovations completed by the Paros Foundation’s SERVICE Armenia in years 2013, 2014 and 2015, is in need of a renovation consisting of three classrooms, two bathrooms, and a hallway, which will facilitate the entire preschool. Thanks to the generosity of past and present donors, The Paros Foundation has renovated the auditorium, gym, all other classrooms and bathrooms in this buidling at the school. The school is very important to the region of Armavir. The regional government has previously allocated funding to complete the school’s heating system. In addition, the Hatsik Village Municipality raised funds within their network of donors to help with the restoration of the school’s kitchen.

Sponsorship of this project will help raise the amount needed in order to complete renovations at the Hatsik School’s Preschool wing. Our previous renovations at the Hatsik School are well maintained, thus giving us great motivation to continue our work at this site. The Paros Foundation is committed to completing renovations and dramatically improving the overall condition for the children at this school.

The Ministry of Emergency Situations is Armenia’s 911 rapid responders.  This Ministry operates units throughout Armenia.  The brave rapid responders in these units respond to a variety of calls including intruders, fires and health issues. In Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur, the unit is comprised of 24 people, who work around the clock.  In addition to traditional requests, these rapid responders in this border village also organize village patrols and coordinate volunteers at the time of increased border skirmishes.

The Ministry of Emergency Situations is located in a two story building near the village administrative building.  Through local support, the upper floor of the building has been renovated.  Support is needed to install a proper heating system throughout the building and to renovate the lower level including a changing room and fitness room.  The scope of work will include installing new subflooring, tile flooring, new windows and doors, electrical and paint.  In addition, the heating system will be comprised of a new boiler, and radiators throughout the building.  The Ministry is prepared to help bring a gas line to the building as their local contribution.