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.

Karine S. and her two young sons live in the border village of Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur.  Last year, Karine’s husband was killed in a tragic auto accident.  Prior to this accident, Karine and her husband had purchased a home of their own in the village with plans to renovate the space, work the properties orchard and build a future for their children.  

Karine and her boys currently live in a rented home in the village.  The home they purchased needs to be rebuilt completely and partially expanded.  Once rebuilt, the home will have two bedrooms, a kitchen, living room and bathroom.  

Karine and her boys would be grateful to receive the support needed to help them renovate their home and give them a fresh start for their future.

The Kharpert Home for Special Children is an orphanage located in the village of Nor Kharpert serving more than 250 children with varying degrees of developmental disabilities. The orphanage is a state run facility that receives governmental support to provide these vulnerable children with their basic care and education.

Excursions for these children to amusement parks and/or other appropriate venues provide these children with both valuable community experience and needed recreation. Children with disabilities in Armenia are generally kept sheltered from society. These children do not attend school, but rather attend classes at the orphanage. It is important for both these children and society for these children to experience community life.

This August, the kids from he Kharpert Home have a special trip planned. They will be giving a concert, during which they will be singing and dancing in Gyumri. Although they are very excited for this special opportunity they are in need of funding to make this trip possible. They will need $2,500 to cover the costs of hotel rooms and transport to and from Gyumri. Please consider supporting this important project for the Kharpert Home. 

Nor Ughi Village is located in Armenia’s Ararat Region and is home to the Vedi Alcohol Company.  Almost 2,000 people call Nor Ughi and neighboring Ginevet Village their home.  Many in these villages are employed at Vedi Alcohol factory or are engaged in agricultural activities. 

162 students attend the village school from both the neighboring village of Ginevet and Nor Ughi, which is in overall poor condition.  Portions of the school have been modestly renovated using the school’s annual budget.  The gymnasium at the school has heat and new windows, but the walls, floors, ceiling, adjacent hallway and locker rooms need a complete renovation.  Currently, students cannot utilize the gym in its entirety because of the fact that the existing wood flooring is rotten and unsafe to walk on in many areas. 

Mr. and Mrs. John & June Mangassarian from Rhode Island, visited the school in the past as part of his leadership with a Fuller Center project in the same village.  The Mangassarians have pledged to match any contribution to this important project to help.  

Work on this gym will take an estimated four months to complete and will include repairs to the walls and ceiling, new electrical, flooring and paint.  The locker rooms and hallway will also be renovated as part of this project. 

Nor Luyce works with young girls, ages 14-17, from two local orphanages and/or from poverty stricken families from Gyumri, Armenia. Under the direction of their Executive Director, Shoghik Mikayelyan, the program provides their mentees with positive roles models and emotional support. The reduction of isolation is provided by mentors and by field trips, which expose the children to various work and educational settings. In addition, Nor Luyce’s program emphasizes the development of educational and career plans. They are now at the stage of either beginning or continuing to help implement each older child’s plan for higher education. Each child has also either completed or is in the process of completing a career plan, which includes the most appropriate type and place of higher education.

Nor Luyce is trying to provide Valentina K., with a scholarship that would reduce her out of pocket cost towards her education. Valentina Khachatryan was born in Gyumri, located in Shirak region. There are six people in her family: her father, mother, brother, grandmother, grandfather and herself. Her father is a teacher. He works in a school, but because of a serious accident, he is now on forced leave. He has had many surgeries. Her mother is a nurse and works as a laboratory assistant in a private clinic. Her grandparents do not work. The monthly income of the family is 200.000 AMD.

Currently, Valentina is in her first year at the Yerevan State Medical University, and is studying at the Faculty of “General Medicine.” She joined the Nor Luyce program in 2020. Now she is in the Higher Education Phase. Since the beginning of the project, Valentina has always been active, proactive, and willing to participate in all meetings, events and implemented programs. She is confident, intelligent, modest.

At the moment, Valentina has a problem with her tuition fees, because the annual fee at the Yerevan State Medical University is 1 million Armenian drams, which is a big burden for her family.

Valentina needs our support. $1,000 will cover her tuition fee for one year. She couldn’t apply for a discount because both of her parents work through they earn not enough to cover her tuition fee. The requested scholarship funds will help Siranush continue her studies.

Nor Luyce works with young girls, ages 14-17, from two local orphanages and/or from poverty stricken families from Gyumri, Armenia. Under the direction of their Executive Director, Shoghik Mikayelyan, the program provides their mentees with positive roles models and emotional support. The reduction of isolation is provided by mentors and by field trips, which expose the children to various work and educational settings. In addition, Nor Luyce’s program emphasizes the development of educational and career plans. They are now at the stage of either beginning or continuing to help implement each older child’s plan for higher education. Each child has also either completed or is in the process of completing a career plan, which includes the most appropriate type and place of higher education.

Nor Luyce is trying to provide Violeta M., with a scholarship that would reduce her out of pocket cost towards her education. Violeta Minasyan was born in the city Gyumri, located in Shirak region. Her family is made up of four people: her mother, her father, her sister, and herself. Violeta’s father is not working at the moment; he used to go abroad for work, but due to the war situation, he has been staying here. Her mother works as a midwife in the local maternity hospital in Gyumri, and her sister is a student. The monthly income of her family is 90,000 AMD.

Currently, Violeta is studying in the Service department at Shirak State University to become a specialist in the service field. She first began her involvement at Nor Luyce in 2015. Now, Violeta is a graduate of Nor Luyce. Before participating in our program, Violeta was shy, not very active, and less confident, but after participating in the program, she became bolder, more active and confident. She actively participates in all Nor Luyce events and has gained professional direction. She is now studying in her dream major and has managed to receive very high marks in school over the years.

Violeta is currently having a problem paying her tuition fees due to the financial strain on her family. The tuition fee is 250,000 AMD per year.

Violeta needs our support. $800 will cover her tuition fee for one year. The requested scholarship funds will help her continue her studies.