The Paros Foundation launched the Debi Arach Children’s Center in Gyumri, Armenia on April 15, 2015 with the help of generous donors. The center, which provides 150 children each week the necessary academic, psychological, social and humanitarian support, has since been a source of positivity in this city. The residents of Gyumri, Armenia’s second largest city have endured very devastating realities since the tragic 1988 Spitak Earthquake. More than 100,000 residents were left homeless, and plagued with unemployment and rampant poverty for years to come. In turn, the fate of children in Gyumri has also been affected. Dealing with the difficulty of finding means to feed and care for their families, many parents are unable to provide their children with the proper guidance, supervision, educational aid and the financial resources for them to excel in school and have successful futures. The Debi Arach Children’s Center, which in Armenian means “moving forward,” helps these socially vulnerable children through a holistic approach providing them with both humanitarian and educational support. The center provides counseling and group therapy with a psychologist on staff, homework help and tutoring for almost every subject the children learn in school including English, Math, Art/Design, and Computer classes. Additionally, they are served a nutritious meal everyday, helping them receive the calories and/or nutrients they would otherwise not have. Furthermore, the Center addresses a very important hygienic need by providing the children in attendance with supervised bathing facilities. The goal is to help hundreds of children develop a vision for a successful future, and to give them the skills they need to reach these goals. This project is impacting the lives of hundreds of socially vulnerable children by helping them gain the guidance and support they need in order to create greater future opportunities, and become successful individuals and good citizens.

 

Currently home to 286 households and 955 people, the village of Baghanis was established in the fifth century and is situated in the Tavush region of Armenia. The village is adjacent to the Republic of Azerbaijan, sharing a 2 km-long border. Today, the residents make a living by farming and tending to their livestock. Now, economic development and opportunities for work are essential to continue improving the conditions in this border village. Sponsorship of this project will help provide needy villagers with the opportunity to care for their families and to help improve the village’s economy.

As a part of this effort the family will be provided training and/or business tips for the ensured success of their agribusiness. Frequent visits will be made to the family to track their progress and determine the success of their new venture.

Vachagan B.’s family has five members including his wife and their three children. Their oldest son is serving in the army. Vachagan has a beautiful property that he wishes to develop into a vibrant and fruitful orchard, but he needs irrigation water. He is requesting funding for water pipers to bring water to his orchard from the nearby substation, which is almost a half mile away. Vachagan is prepared to do the work himself and just needs the pipes.

Several villages in the Tavush region of Armenia are bordering Azerbaijan. Residents in these border villages live and work under a constant risk of sniper fire and renewed armed conflict each day. The economy of the villages and the livelihood of many of its residents have suffered due to these difficult and dangerous times. It is of strategic importance to support these villagers in their daily lives so that they may remain inhabitants of these villages, mere footsteps from Azerbaijan. Economic development and opportunities for work are essential to continue improving the conditions in these border villages.

To date we have successfully implemented eight agribusiness projects in the village of Baghanis. Currently home to 286 households and 955 people, the village was established in the fifth century and is situated in the Tavush region of Armenia. The village is adjacent to the Republic of Azerbaijan, sharing a 2 km-long border. Today, the residents make a living by farming and tending to their livestock. The village is actively trying to improve the quality of life for its residents and is in need of aid.

Marat S. lives with his wife and three young children. His parents also live in the same household. Marat has a barn that is in satisfactory condition to house a cow. He has asked for a cow and 15 bee hives. Also, as a part of this effort, families will be provided training and/or business tips for the ensured success of their agribusiness. Frequent visits will be made to the family to track their progress and determine the success of their new venture.

Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur is an important border village with a population of 1,100 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. The economy of the village and the livelihood of many of its residents has suffered due to these difficult and dangerous times. 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. With the help of Jean-Marie and Lori Atamian of New York, The Paros Foundation has already implemented major infrastructure projects including the renovation of their medical center, kindergarten and primary school. This effort has had a tremendous impact on the community. Economic development and opportunities for work are essential to continue improving the conditions in this border village. Sponsorship of this project will help provide needy villagers with the opportunity to care for their families and to help improve the village’s economy.

Garnik G. and his family have been identified as one of the families who are in need of additional support in order to help their agribusiness grow. Their family consists of four members including Garnik, his wife and their two children. They have a small 160 sq. ft. barn. They have a pig and five chickens. They are requesting three sows and feed to enhance their agribusiness. As a part of this effort Garnik and his family will be provided training and/or business tips for the ensured success of their agribusiness. Frequent visits will be made to the family to track their progress and determine the success of their venture.

Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur is an important border village with a population of 1,100 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. The economy of the village and the livelihood of many of its residents has suffered due to these difficult and dangerous times. 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. With the help of Jean-Marie and Lori Atamian of New York, The Paros Foundation has already implemented major infrastructure projects including the renovation of their medical center, kindergarten and primary school. This effort has had a tremendous impact on the community. Economic development and opportunities for work are essential to continue improving the conditions in this border village. Sponsorship of this project will help provide needy villagers with the opportunity to care for their families and to help improve the village’s economy.

Zvart S. and her family have been identified as one of the families who are in need of additional support in order to help their agribusiness grow. Their family consists of Zvart, her daughter in law and her two children.  Zvart’s home has been occasionally hit by sniper fire due to its proximity to the border. They have a barn that is in acceptable condition. Part of Zvart’s home was rebuilt following the war in the 90s with Azerbaijan because it was destroyed during the fighting. Zvart was forced to sell the families’ cow, when her husband and son died within a couple of months of one another.  The family currently has no form of income and they are requesting a cow and possibly chickens . As a part of this effort Zvart and her family will be provided training and/or business tips for the ensured success of their agribusiness. Frequent visits will be made to the family to track their progress and determine the success of their venture.

Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur is an important border village with a population of 1,100 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. The economy of the village and the livelihood of many of its residents have suffered due to these difficult and dangerous times. 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. With the help of Jean-Marie and Lori Atamian of New York, The Paros Foundation has already implemented major infrastructure projects including the renovation of their medical center, kindergarten and primary school. This effort has had a tremendous impact on the community. Economic development and opportunities for work are essential to continue improving the conditions in this border village. Sponsorship of this project will help provide needy villagers with the opportunity to care for their families and to help improve the village’s economy.

Hovannes P. and his family have been identified as one of the families who are in need of additional support in order to help their agribusiness grow. Their family consists of five members including Hovannes, a contract solider, his wife and their three children, one of whom is a newborn. They have a 130 sq. ft. barn that is in need of renovation. Hovannes is in need of financial assistance to obtain materials needed for his barn renovations. He will complete the construction work by his own means once we have provided the materials. He has also requested a cow, sheep, pigs and few chickens, funding permitting. As a part of this effort Hovannes and his family will be provided training and/or business tips for the ensured success of their agribusiness. Frequent visits will be made to the family to track their progress and determine the success of their venture. Helping this family renovate their barn will aid them in providing better shelter for their animals, thus, allowing them to expand their herd.

Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur is an important border village with a population of 1,100 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. The economy of the village and the livelihood of many of its residents has suffered due to these difficult and dangerous times. 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. With the help of Jean-Marie and Lori Atamian of New York, The Paros Foundation has already implemented major infrastructure projects including the renovation of their medical center, kindergarten and primary school. This effort has had a tremendous impact on the community. Economic development and opportunities for work are essential to continue improving the conditions in this border village. Sponsorship of this project will help provide needy villagers with the opportunity to care for their families and to help improve the village’s economy.

Gevorg A. and his family have been identified as one of the families who are in need of additional support in order to help their agribusiness grow. Their family consists of four members including Gevorg, his wife and their two children. They have two small barns, 87 sq. ft. and 163 sq.ft. Both barns are in need of renovations to their roof. They also have a pig, two sheep, and 5 chickens. Gevorg is in need of financial assistance to obtain materials needed for the roof renovations. He will complete the construction work by his own means once we have provided the materials. Once the barns have been repaired, he is requesting 10 more sheep. As a part of this effort Gevorg and his family will be provided training and/or business tips for the ensured success of their agribusiness. Frequent visits will be made to the family to track their progress and determine the success of their venture.

Students attending schools in Armenia do not easily have access to Western/English language literature. In the last decade, English has steadily become the most popular foreign language in Armenia. Students throughout the country are learning how to read, write and speak English and could really benefit from another means by which to learn and practice the language further. In addition, reading can significantly increase students’ vocabularies as well as strengthen their creativity. These books are not readily available or affordable, especially in rural and impoverished villages, towns and cities.

Peter Chelebian, an Armenian-American from Los Angeles has recently come up with a brilliant idea to help children in Armenia gain access to terrific literature. He hopes to use his passion for books to help make a difference in the lives of his fellow brothers and sisters.

Peter will be helping lead the effort in raising funds to place small English literature libraries, each stocked with 50 important literary works. The bookshelves housing the books will be built in Armenia. In the last two years Peter has successfully helped raise enough funding to place six libraries throughout Armenia. $2,025 ($675 each) is needed in order to complete three full libraries in three different cities, towns and/or villages. Donations of books (in excellent condition) are welcomed alongside monetary support for this important project.

Jean-Marie and Lori Atamian announce their fifth major gift since 2013 to complete the reconstruction of Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur s’ medical and educational infrastructures.

NKA is a border village with a population of 1,100 in Armenia’s Tavush Region. This community, whose territory faces Azerbaijan, lives and works under a constant risk of sniper fire and renewed armed conflict. In order to improve the living and economic conditions of the village, the Atamian family has undertaken a multi-year investment project which, to date, has included reconstruction of the medical clinic, kindergarten and secondary school.

Beginning in 2015, the Atamian family initiated the complete remodel and reconstruction of the secondary school to provide elementary and high school children the opportunity to learn in a bright and safe environment. The school is comprised of three large two-story buildings.
Phase 1 of the project included the complete rebuilding of the elementary school wing, including five classrooms on the first floor, the hallways and the boys and girls bathrooms. Phase 2 of the project, included the renovation of six classrooms on the second floor, the adjacent hallway, the staircase and two bathrooms (middle and high school wing). Phase 3, completed in the summer of 2017, included renovations to the wing that houses the cafeteria and kitchen, the entryway of the school, the gym locker rooms, guard office, security bunker and improvements to the schoolyard and entry stairs and façade.

Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur is an important border village with a population of 1,100 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. The economy of the village and the livelihood of many of its residents has suffered due to these difficult and dangerous times. 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. With the help of Jean-Marie and Lori Atamian of New York, The Paros Foundation has already implemented major infrastructure projects including the renovation of their medical center, kindergarten and primary school. This effort has had a tremendous impact on the community. Economic development and opportunities for work are essential to continue improving the conditions in this border village. Sponsorship of this project will help provide needy villagers with the opportunity to care for their families and to help improve the village’s economy. Sedrak A. and his family have been identified as one of the families who are in need of additional support in order to help their agribusiness grow. Their family consists of four members including Sedrak, his wife and their two children. They have 225 sq.ft barn that needs a new roof. They have two pigs and 30 chickens. Sedrak is in need of financial assistance to obtain materials needed for the roof renovations. He will complete the construction work by his own means after we have provided the materials. He is also requesting three calves, two more pigs, two sheep and three beehives. As a part of this effort Sedrak and his family will be provided training and/or business tips for the ensured success of their agribusiness. Frequent visits will be made to the family to track their progress and determine the success of their venture.