The Ghoghanj Children’s Center located in the Kentron of Yerevan provides afterschool and summer school programs for approximately 85 children every month. Children who attend the Center are loosely defined as “at risk.” These children typically come from very poor households, often times with a single head of household, who cannot pay for such assistance. The goal of the Ghoghanj Children’s Center is to provide the necessary academic, psychological and social support to ensure that the children attending mature to well adjusted, successful, young adults.

In order to further impact more “at-risk” children, the Center has identified a need for this model to be replicated and offered to other communities in Armenia. Through the generous support of the Dadourian Foundation, a second center for “at-risk” children was opened in 2014 in the Nor Nork neighborhood of Yerevan to provide support to 85 additional children annually. The new center has provided students the same core classes daily (English, Russian, Computer, Design, Painting, Theater and Dance) as the Ghoghanj Children’s Center – Kentron. The goal of this project is to broaden the services offered to socially vulnerable children and families in other communities and provide them with the proper support and guidance needed to excel in school and become self-confident and respectful young adults.

Amount will include rent, utilities, teacher salaries, maintenance and additional improvements, and supplies.

The Packs on Backs initiative, was started by the The Heros Humanitarian Foundation (HHF), a former Los Angeles based non-profit organization that supported children in need and their educational advancement. HHF partnered with The Paros Foundation to bring their Packs on Backs initiative to Armenia, and together successfully distributed 380 backpacks and school supplies to children in Gyumri and Vanadzor in the summer of 2015 and 225 backpacks to the children at the Kharpert Children’s Home in the summer of 2016. Since then, the Packs on Backs initiative continues to impact the lives of children in need in Armenia with this essential need.

Our next distribution will be for the kids attending the Debi Arach Children’s Center in Gyumri. Socially vulnerable children attend the center after their school and receive both humanitarian and educational support through a holistic approach. The Paros Foundation established the Debi Arach Children’s Center on April 15, 2015 and has since provided children each week the necessary academic, psychological, social and humanitarian support they need to succeed. Gyumri’s devastating history has left more than 100,000 residents homeless, and plagued with unemployment and rampant poverty. These families often struggle to provide their children with life’s basic necessities; therefore making backpacks and school supplies a distant priority. Children at the center were recipients of backpacks and school supplies during our first distribution in 2015 and distributions have continued in years since.

This distribution will meet the ongoing needs of all of the children. Our goal is to distribute backpacks and supplies for 180 children attending Debi Arach. A donation of $35 will help obtain one backpack filled with supplies for one child. School supplies will be grade appropriate and include a combination of pencils, pens, pencil cases, notebooks, folders, erasers, sharpeners, glue, scissors, rulers, highlighters, and crayons. In-kind donations of the items listed are also welcomed.

Arevik S. and her husband Armen reside in Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur with their five young children (ages 1.5 to 13) and elderly parents. Their home is in need of a complete remodel, including a proper heating system and an interior bathroom, to provide safe and healthy living conditions.

Currently, the family relies solely on minimal pension income and sporadic seasonal work, leaving them unable to afford these essential renovations. This remodel will directly improve their quality of life and bring lasting stability to this family.

Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur is an important border village with a population of approximately 1,100 residents in the Berd area of Armenia’s Tavush Region. This community remained under constant risk of sniper fire for much of the last 30 years. NKA was the single most damaged Armenian village during the Azeri conflict in the 1990’s. 70% of their fertile land is located along the Azeri border. Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur is a beneficiary village of the Paros Foundation’s Prosperity on the Border Initiative. With major financial support of Jean-Marie Atamian and his family over the last 13 years, much of the village’s infrastructure has been completely rebuilt and improved including, but not limited to, its large secondary school, expanded kindergarten, medical center, emergency services building and water distribution system. In addition, several families have benefited from agribusiness and animal husbandry projects. Having funded the rebuilding of NKA’s infrastructure, the Atamian family is now focusing its attention on the reconstruction of severely damaged houses to provide decent and safe homes for deserving families in the village.

Sona and her husband, Karen, live in the border village of Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur with their two children, ages 14 and 8, and Karen’s parents. Karen serves as a contract soldier on the frontlines, while Sona works as a school librarian. To help support their household, the family also raises animals and sells figs seasonally.

The family home is in need of repair. The project will provide new flooring, replacement windows where needed, and a new heating system, along with a full remodel of the living areas. Their kitchen and restroom, already updated, will remain as is. This project will help provide a safe, warm, and dignified home for a family that continues to serve and strengthen their community.

Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur is an important border village with a population of approximately 1,100 residents in the Berd area of Armenia’s Tavush Region. This community remained under constant risk of sniper fire for much of the last 30 years. NKA was the single most damaged Armenian village during the Azeri conflict in the 1990’s. 70% of their fertile land is located along the Azeri border. Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur is a beneficiary village of the Paros Foundation’s Prosperity on the Border Initiative. With major financial support of Jean-Marie Atamian and his family over the last 13 years, much of the village’s infrastructure has been completely rebuilt and improved including, but not limited to, its large secondary school, expanded kindergarten, medical center, emergency services building and water distribution system. In addition, several families have benefited from agribusiness and animal husbandry projects. Having funded the rebuilding of NKA’s infrastructure, the Atamian family is now focusing its attention on the reconstruction of severely damaged houses to provide decent and safe homes for deserving families in the village.

“Sari Gat” Dairy & Cheese Company plays an important role in the border town of Berd and the surrounding villages of Armenia’s Tavush Region. As a thriving small business, “Sari Gat” produces a variety of high-quality cheeses and dairy products, distributing them throughout the region. More than just a business, “Sari Gat” is a force for good—purchasing milk from local farmers at fair or above-market prices, generating employment, and stimulating economic growth in the community.

Now, “Sari Gat” is preparing to take an exciting step forward. To meet increasing demand and support even more local farmers, the company plans to expand its production capacity by constructing a large refrigerated storage room, 650 square feet in size. This essential addition will enable “Sari Gat” to process and store more dairy products, directly benefiting dozens of farming families and creating new job opportunities in the region.

We invite you to join us in supporting this meaningful project. Your contribution will help build the new refrigeration facility, empowering “Sari Gat” to continue uplifting Berd’s economy and strengthening the livelihoods of families across the Tavush Region. Together, we can make a lasting impact—one that nourishes both people and community.

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 is made up of two buildings and was built in 1981.

Since 1993, The Knights of Vartan 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 their continued support the entry way, one two-story building of classrooms, and the gym & auditorium have been fully renovated. Currently, the third floor of the school’s three story building is in need of renovations to 16 classrooms, two restrooms, the hallways and the third floor portion of the staircase. One classroom has already been renovated.  

Musical Armenia was founded in 2017, to support youth music education in Armenia. They believe that every child in Armenia should have access to music education, regardless of financial means. Musical Armenia has partnered with The Paros Foundation to help provide tuition scholarships and instruments for underprivileged children. Musical Armenia is solely supported by individual donors.

This project aims to provide full, ongoing music scholarships to children from socially vulnerable families in Vanadzor who attend the Orran Center and children in need from Nork Marash who attend the Andreasyan School of Music. The budget includes funds allocated for securing instruments, transportation costs and other related expenses whenever needed.

Your contribution of $20 per month ($240 per year) will sponsor one child for the duration of one year. Sponsorship in any amount is welcomed.

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. 

170 students attend the village school, including 10 displaced students from Artsakh. The students are from both the neighboring villages of Ginevet and Nor Ughi. Recently, the school gym was renovated, and an outdoor soccer field was constructed through the leadership of Mr. and Mrs. John & June Mangassarian from Rhode Island and they want to continue positively impacting Nor Ughi.

Next of the list of priorities is the reconstruction of a science lab that will serve as the laboratory for the school’s physics, chemistry and biology classes.  This project will consist of the renovation of two rooms including a large classroom that will serve as the lab, and a smaller room that will serve as the adjacent storage area.  The scope of work will include the complete renovation of the room’s flooring, walls, electrical & lighting, ventilation and plumbing including the installation of fresh water and sewer lines.  Once the renovation is completed, the Armenian Government will be providing laboratory furniture and equipment to the school. 

Two separate entities have generously agreed to match all donations. The Rafaelian/Caruolo family will be matching all donations to honor Ralph and Lucy Rafaelian, and John and June Mangassarian will also match all contributions. Therefore, for every $1, we move $3 toward our goal!

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 the following young girls from Gyumri, with a scholarship that would reduce their out of pocket costs towards their education:

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 the following young girls from Gyumri, with a scholarship that would reduce their out of pocket costs towards their education: