Armenia Covid-19 Small Business Support Initiative

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Description

The Armenia Support Fund (ASF) was established in early 2020 to take on strategic initiatives impacting Armenians in both Armenia and around the globe. In response to COVID-19, ASF has partnered with the Paros Foundation to launch the “Armenia COVID-19 Small Business Support Initiative” which aims to raise funds to support the business-related needs of family-owned businesses negatively impacted by COVID-19 in Armenia. After reporting record breaking GDP growth numbers in 2019, Armenia’s GDP is projected to be ~25% of what it would have been in 2020 before COVID-19.

This first phase will work to identify and support 20 family businesses with the goal of supporting up to 2,000 businesses as funds become available.  Small businesses that are properly register, family-owned, employ less than 20 people and had 2019 annual sales of under 200K USD (96.5M AMD) will be eligible to apply for grants of up to $2,500 to help them meet specific needs of their COVID-19 effected businesses. Paros Staff will work with potential applicants to gather required information for their application and submit to the ASF and Paros team for approvals. Once approved, The Paros team will oversee and administer the grants, ensuring full transparency and success in helping these businesses thrive through this crisis.

If you are a business in Armenia and wish to apply or learn more, click here: Application

Region

Throughout Armenia

City / Village

All

Start Date

June 2020

End Date

February 2021

Gallery Images

Armenia’s thriving restaurant industry has been devastated by COVID-19 and
the lack of tourism.



Armenia’s economy depends on the inflow of hundreds of thousands of tourists annually to help support thousands of family businesses.



Family businesses selling fruits other goods at a local market in Armenia.



Tourist season because of the Corona Virus is all but lost for the 2020 season.

The Need

COVID-19 has had devastating effects on Armenia’s economy and families that own small businesses. In addition, the pandemic has ruined Armenia’s flourishing tourism industry, which impacts everything from small artisans to hotels and restaurants. ASF’s goal is to help some of these families get their businesses through crisis and continue building Armenia’s economy.

Short Term Impact

In the short term, beneficiaries of this project will receive grants up to $2,500 to help them and their families survive the current COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, this one time infusion of support, the application process and follow up will help them improve their business model for the future. The economic benefits of these grants will also be felt immediately in the Armenian economy.

Long Term Impact

In the long term, helping these family businesses through the pandemic will not only help Armenia’s economic recovery happen more quickly, but will help ensure these families remain committed to their businesses and not consider abandoning them and possibly leaving the country for economic reasons.

Sponsors Benefits

All sponsors of this project will be listed on the Armenia Support Fund website, The Paros Foundation website and in all appropriate press related to this important project. Meetings with businesses can be arranged for sponsors visiting Armenia in the future.
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August 1, 2020

We are excited to announce that representatives from both Paros and the Armenia Support Fund visited and awarded the first two businesses in Armenia their small business grants! Garik and his family run a bed and breakfast, The Edge of The World, in Norashen in Armenia’s Tavush Region. The second grant went to The Terracotta Studios, in Yerevan, which provides art instruction for young people.

August 12, 2020

Meet the next two Armenia Support Fund grant recipients – both based in tourism. This industry has greatly suffered with the absence of tourism in Armenia during the summer months and now throughout the year. Anush Exazarian and her family run a travel agency, Vaneni Travel Studio in Yerevan, which was dramatically affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Ani Hovhanisian and her family built the Noosh Guesthouse in Ashnak Village in the Aragatsotn region of Armenia. They had plans to expand when Covid-19 struck.

August 21, 2020

With the help of our community and in partnership with Armenia Support Fund, the next two recipients have received their grants in Armenia. Kabayan Tours is owned and operated by Moushegh Kabayan. He intends on using his support to help develop the domestic tourism market by designing tours catering to niche markets. Star Tours is owned and operated by Marianna Malishanko and focuses on promoting Armenia as a tourist destination for the Asian market.

September 4, 2020

The next three grant recipients are Tatevik, Rose & Karlen. Tatevik & Rose are both tour guides, an industry that has greatly suffered due to the complete stop of summer tourism to Armenia. Karlen owns a car rental company, which has also suffered due to the lack of travel.

September 10, 2020

The next group of Armenia Support Fund grant recipients received aid and are able to stay afloat. These business include: Abu Hagops, a Syrian Armenia owned restaurant in Yerevan, VJ Accessories, which produces leather goods, Pes-Pes, a company that produces child friendly educational maps of Armenia, Burger Coffee House, which caters to university students and tourists in the Yerevan City Center and Maronyan Fashion, a local fashion designer.

December 1, 2020

By December 1st, 2020, 21 more small businesses received grants from the Armenia Support Fund some of which include: Naro Dolls, VGuard Leather, Chocolate Story, Aleppo Optic, Abak Mental Math Academy and Emilia Art House.

February 16, 2021

The final 15 small businesses received they grants from the Armenia Support Fund by February 2021, some of which include: Tork Taekwondo Club, Sunny Guest House and Mailyan Souvenir Production. They were are very grateful and are excited for the opportunity to be able to continue their business. 

Emergency Home Reconstruction-Emma A.

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Description

Emma A. and her son live in the border village of  Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur.  On the morning of July 12, the Azeri’s launched a cross border attack on the Berd area of Armenia’s Tavush Region utilizing attack drones, tanks and other heavy artillery.  Although the Azeris ultimately lost control of strategic military posts to the Armenian defense forces, a considerable amount of damage was inflicted upon the villages of Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur, Aygepar, Movses and Chinari.

In response to this assault, The Paros Foundation immediately committed to improving these villagers’ homes well beyond the damage sustained during this recent shelling. Work has already started in rebuilding Emma’s home, thanks to the on-going generosity and sponsorship of Jean-Marie Atamian and his family, who have adopted this important border village and made major investments in its infrastructure since 2012. In the words of Mr. Atamian: ” No one should underestimate our resolve standing with our villages; for every house the enemy destroys, we will built 10 new homes.” Other residential projects in the neighboring border village of Aygepar, along with immediate reconstruction of its kindergarten, will be addressed with funds raised from the Emergency Reconstruction Fund.

A large caliber mortar landed a few feet from Emma’s home.  Its explosion left a crater in her yard, destroyed her garden including several fruit trees, and structurally damaged her home.  The reconstruction of her home will include rebuilding the support structure for her home and balcony, replacing the roof and windows, running a proper heating system throughout the home, building a new bathroom (replacing the family’s outhouse) and completing a full interior renovation.

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 remains under constant risk of sniper fire and renewed armed conflict. NKA was the single most damaged Armenian village during 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 conditions. In particular, 70% of their fertile land is unusable because of frequent sniper attacks. 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 eight 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. In the last year alone, three houses were rebuilt, and two additional homes are currently under construction now.

Region

Tavush

City / Village

Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur

Start Date

August 2020

End Date

November 2020

Gallery Images

Emma A. and her son’s home was severely damaged by a mortar that landed a few feet from her home.



Structural damage to Emma’s home needs to be corrected as the first step in her complete home reconstruction.



Scraptnal from an Azeri mortar, and the pressure from the explosion, has partially collapsed the balcony and support beams from her home.



An Azeri mortar struct a few feet from Emma A’s home, which seriously damaged her home and garden.



The Paros Foundation team quickly arrived on site and assessed the damage caused to Emma’s home by Azerbaijan’s attack.

The Need

A large caliber Azeri mortar landed a few feet from Emma’s home. Its explosion left a crater in her yard, destroyed her garden including several fruit trees, and left her home with serious structural damage.

Short Term Impact

In the short term, Emma’s home will be completely reconstructed giving her and her son (and his future family) a fresh start. The reconstruction of this home will benefit the local economy and a minimum of four workers will work on this home.

Long Term Impact

In the long term, the benefit of repairing homes damaged by the conflict is significant from both the village standpoint and a mental standpoint.

Sponsors Benefits

Sponsors of this important project will be listed on The Paros Foundation website and in all press related to this important project. Visits to this home site can be arranged for sponsors when in Armenia.
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August 26, 2020

Work to rebuild Emma and her son Vartan’s home is moving along well. Emma is happy with the progress being made. When Vartan is not serving as a soldier guarding the border near his home in Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur, he lends his support to the crew working to rebuild.

 October 3, 2020

Because of the attack in Artsakh by Azerbaijan, the village is on high alert and work has stopped on Emma’s home. Her son, Vartan, is at his border post.

 November 12, 2020

The crew is back to work and working to complete the work on the exterior of Emma’s home prior to winter. With the new heating system installed, work will continue inside as the work outside is completed.

Home Rebuild for Suren G.

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Description

Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur (NKA) is an important border village with a population of approximately 1,100 residents in the Bert area of Armenia’s Tavush Region. This community remains under constant risk of sniper fire and renewed armed conflict. NKA was the single most damaged Armenian village during 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 conditions. In particular, 70% of their fertile land is unusable because of frequent sniper attacks. Many homes have been heavily damaged over the years and are in need of substantial renovations and repairs, including, indoor plumbing, new windows, doors and floors, roof repairs, new heating systems, and even room additions.
NKA 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 seven 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. In the last year alone, three houses were rebuilt.
The fourth major house reconstruction project will benefit the family of Suren G. Suren works as a police officer. His family (wife and three daughters) live in their family’s ancestral home. The home is in very poor condition and will be completely remodeled and rebuilt. The scope of work will include a new roof and underlying structure, a new foundation and exterior wall under part of the home, and a complete interior remodel. Work will take five months to complete and cost $25,000.

Region

Tavush Տավուշ

City / Village

Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur

Start Date

May 2020

End Date

September 2020

Gallery Images

Suren and his family.



This is a view of Suren’s makeshift kitchen. The floor is very slanted because the foundation beneath is cracked and sinking.



Because of previous water damage, Suren’s floor in the living room has rotted through, making this space unsafe and unusable.



The front portion of Suren’s home is sinking.

The Need

Due to the remote and dangerous area in which this village is situated, residents are unable to travel for work, or establish many other economical opportunities so that they can financially provide for their families and repair their homes. Helping Suren G and his family renovate their homes will help improve the quality of life for his family and help secure the population of NKA.

Short Term Impact

In the short term Suren’s home will be rebuilt and remodeled. In addition, some short-term local employment will be created benefitting the village economy. Materials will also be purchased locally whenever possible to also support the local economy.

Long Term Impact

In the short term Suren’s home will be rebuilt and remodeled. In addition, some short-term local employment will be created benefitting the village economy. Materials will also be purchased locally whenever possible to also support the local economy.

Sponsors Benefits

Sponsors of this important project will be listed on The Paros Foundation’s website and in all related press. Visits to the project site can be arranged when sponsors are visiting Armenia.
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May 23, 2020

Suren and his family have moved to their relatives home temporarily while construction is taking place. Our work crew has begun the demolition work.

July 9, 2020

Our team is making solid progress on Suren’s home. Once all the demolition was complete, the team poured new foundations for the addition on the home, blocked the exterior walls, poured the cement columns and are now installing the home’s new roof and substructure.

September 1, 2020

With the structure now complete and cement dried, windows were delivered today and installed. Work is also progressing well on the interior of Suren’s home!

November 10, 2020Work on Suren’s home was suspended for a little over a month, as the construction crew was called into military service to defend against the Azeri attack. Most of the workers have returned from their service and work has resumed.
December 5, 2020

Suren’s family will begin cleaning the interior of their home tomorrow and will begin the move on Monday!

December 6, 2020

The team purchased new appliances for Suren and his family and they will be delivered and installed in tomorrow just in time for moving day!

December 22, 2020

With all new furniture and appliances, Suren and his family have moved into their newly rebuilt home just in time for the new year! Thank you to the Atamian Family who made this significant change to Suren’s family possible.

Debi Arach Children’s Center 2020 Operating Budget

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Description

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 170 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.

Region

Shirak / Շիրակ

Vity / Village

Gyumri / Գյումրի

Start Date

April 2020

End Date

March 2021

To date, the center has already had several important successes. At least nine children have been taken out of boarding schools, attend our center and now live back at home with their families. Many of the children who were receiving poor grades in school are now achieving top scores. The children have become socially well adjusted and much more healthier than before with the continued consumption of multi-vitamins and a daily well-balanced meal. Staff trainings have begun with an academic counsel of professionals from the United States and Armenia to ensure that the children are receiving the best care, treatment and methods for their development.

The center is working on funding year five and raising additional funds in order to develop and add to the programs and classes offered with the ability to hire more educators, and get more supplies, and equipment. Funds will also be used to supplement daily activities, hold forums for guest speakers and provide educational and career planning opportunities. $80,000 is needed to cover operating costs for the Center. In January of 2017, Debi Arach successfully launched its first program within its Vocational Training Center, teaching children computer programming, 3d printing and robotics curriculum. The goal of this newest component is to provide these children with marketable job skills in order to help them work themselves out of poverty. In 2019, with the long term commitment by Dr. & Mrs. Gary and Linda Assarian (MI) the vocational training program was renamed the Assarian Vocational Training Program.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idA8y2UEDp8

The Need

Thousands of children in Gyumri are living in extreme poverty, with no hope for a decent future. These socially vulnerable children are in need of a safe and enriching environment where they can receive additional guidance through social, psychological and academic support giving them a chance to break their cycle of poverty. The children’s center will continue to provide these children with the opportunity to attend afterschool and summer school programs providing them with the additional skills necessary for a successful future. Additionally, these children suffer from malnutrition and related illnesses due to a lack of well-balanced meals. The center will continue to provide each child with a nutritious meal everyday, helping them receive the calories and/or nutrients they need. Furthermore, many families were forced to take refuge in overseas shipping containers (domiks), or in condemned buildings after the devastating 1988 Spitak Earthquake or due to their poor socioeconomic status. An entire generation of children has grown up in deplorable conditions, often times with no running water and little or no heat to take showers. The Center will address this very important hygienic need by continuing to provide the children in attendance with supervised new bathing facilities.

Short Term Impact

The short-term 170 children will receive immediate support and guidance to help them succeed for the second year. The Center will continue offer nutritious meals, bathing facilities, counseling opportunities, homework aid and tutoring and core classes including English, Computer, Art/Design, and Math.

Long Term Impact

In the long term, with the success of the Center’s current offerings, additional classes and programs will be added and attendance will rise. The number of children growing up in poverty in the future will decrease as the number of children successfully graduating from our program and continuing onto college or successful vocations increases. The number of “social orphans” and children temporarily residing in boarding schools in Gyumri will be reduced as parents become increasingly able to keep their children at home given the humanitarian support they receive at the center. Through ongoing employment opportunities created, several families will continue to receive a fair wage, hence improving Gyumri’s economy

Sponsors Benefits

In the long term, with the success of the Center’s current offerings, additional classes and programs will be added and attendance will rise. The number of children growing up in poverty in the future will decrease as the number of children successfully graduating from our program and continuing onto college or successful vocations increases. The number of “social orphans” and children temporarily residing in boarding schools in Gyumri will be reduced as parents become increasingly able to keep their children at home given the humanitarian support they receive at the center. Through ongoing employment opportunities created, several families will continue to receive a fair wage, hence improving Gyumri’s economy.

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April 1, 2020

The Debi Arach Children’s Center and as well as the Assarian Vocational Training Program temporarily closed last month due to Covid-19 following the order of the Prime Minister and until further notice. We are dedicated to providing consistent meals, psychological support, and structured in-home learning to the youth. Although the facility is currently closed, we are working hard to ensure the physical and emotional well-being of all students and staff. We have also committed to continue paying our staff during the closure. We are working closely with our on-staff psychologist, who is checking in with the kids each week to help them navigate their lives during this challenging time. We want to make sure the students still receive consistent, adequate nutrition so we are providing food packages for all families of Debi Arach with guidelines on safety protocols for receiving and cleaning the items.

August 17, 2020

The Debi Arach Children’s Center successfully and safely re-opened its doors to eager students. Several changes and new policies have been set in place for the safety of the kids and staff. Along with the emphasis on safety, the staff has been working hard to prepare students for the start of school scheduled for September 15, 2020. The goal is to expand the center’s programming to continue to be able to serve all of our center’s children in a safe and responsible manner including changing the manner in which meals are served and constructing temporary outdoor classrooms by taking advantage of the warm weather. Furthermore, Debi Arach will be holding both morning and afternoon sessions to accommodate children who will now be attending schools in split sessions to promote social distancing in schools.

CO2 Offset by Planting Trees

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Description

 

My Forest Armenia has partnered with The Paros Foundation for this environmental  project. Their main objective it to plant 400.000 trees per year, or about 160 hectares of new forest every year with a mission to help decrease carbon in the atmosphere, sustainably increase forest coverage and preserve biodiversity using numerous endemic species. My Forest Armenia is growing seedlings ready for planting in its nurseries. This project is a reforestation plan of 20 hectares (50 acres) in a degraded area within the Dilijan National Park in the Tavush region. The forest has become degraded in the last 25 years because of illegal logging but mainly because of cow grazing in the pastures nearby. Villagers let their animals enter protected areas of the park and the undergrowth cannot regenerate. The most important part of the project therefore is to put a fence to protect the national park area. We will plant various endemic tree species so as to maintain the rich biodiversity of the park, mainly oak, beech, pine, birch, etc. Density will be 2,000 trees per hectare (800 trees per acre).

Reducing CO2 in the atmosphere is crucial to reduce global warming, planting trees is the best way to achieve this. At 11.2%, Armenia needs desperately to increase its forest coverage (as a comparison, forest coverage in the US is 34%). One cannot stress enough how forests are vitally important for any country, as it lowers temperatures, increase humidity, stops desertification, preserves bio-diversity and so much more. Further, many regions of Armenia are still quite poor. Reforestation in remote regions of Armenia will provide local villagers with a steady income and alleviate poverty.

By planting 30,000 trees and restore 20 hectares of forest, this project will achieve three objectives: reduce CO2 in the atmosphere, restore a beautiful forest area in the Dilijan National Park and, because we are hiring local workers from rural areas to work on the project, we will increase employment and improve the economic conditions in some of the poorest regions of Armenia.

Region

Tavush

City / Village

Dilijan

Start Date

Immediately

End Date

December 2020

Gallery Images

Reforestation sites in the Dilijan National Park



This area in Dilijan National Park has lost its forest coverage due to illegal logging and grazing cattle.



My Forest Armenia wishes to plant almost 50 acres of new trees and create barriers to prohibit animals from grazing in this space.



Villager’s animals freely graze and create conditions unsuitable for new forest expansion.

The Need

Increasing forests and planting trees is the best way to reduce CO2 in the atmosphere. Furthermore, Armenia needs to increase its forest coverage. Forests are vitally important, as they lower temperatures, prevent soil erosion, increase humidity, etc. Further, reforestation in remote regions of Armenia will provide local villagers with a steady income and alleviate poverty.

Short Term Impact

Local villagers will be hired as reforestation workers with a legal contract during plantation, then part of them will have a longer contract for maintenance.

Long Term Impact

The long-term impact of the project will be to decrease carbon in the atmosphere, increase the forest coverage of Armenia and improve the nature of this attractive mountainous country. It will also improve life in the villages. Local residents will be trained and have new work opportunities, which will contribute to alleviating some poverty as well as empowering them. The villagers will become custodians of the future forests. The forest itself, having a proportion of fruit bearing trees (walnuts, hazelnuts, wild pears, etc.) will provide them with steady income for years to come.

Sponsors Benefits

All sponsors to this project will be listed on The Paros Foundation website, as well as on the website of My Forest Armenia. Donors who visit Armenia can have a guided visit to one of our nurseries and the reforestation site at the Dilijan National Park.

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#EveryGirl Sport for Social Impact

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Description

GOALS encourages communities to transform societal norms into equitable values. Sport enables them to push for discussions around gender equity in marriage, leadership positions, and opportunities in a way that other mechanisms don’t allow through on-field games, soccer matches, and cross-cultural events.

Our main challenge in 2019 was to create demand for girls’ sports teams in the regions and villages of Armenia. We are proud to say that we have accomplished our mission. But with this accomplishment comes the new challenge of meeting that demand.

For 2020, at GOALS we seek to empower #everygirl in Armenia to find a pathway to an alternate possible future. While we have already impacted over one thousand girls by allowing them to unlock their potential through sports, we still have a long way to go. With your support, we will be able to expand our reach to many more villages in the regions of Armenia, revamp our sport for social impact curriculum and truly live into the movement that we have ignited.

#Everygirl deserves the chance to shine, play, grow. With GOALS our girls develop a voice, one that will carry them through life as the leaders they are born to be.

Your donations will go directly towards the expansion and operations of our Leagues in Tavush and Gegharkunik regions. Costs include uniforms, sports equipment, travel for teams to practices and games, coaches training, coordination and staffing associated with the Leagues.

Region

Tavush, Gegharkunik, Vayots Dzor, Armavir

City / Village

All in Tavush, Gegharkunik, Vayots Dzor, Armavir

Start Date

December 2020

End Date

January 2020

Gallery Images

National Tournament 2018



During camps and trainings, the girls work to master their skills.



Lernagog Summer Camp 2017



Artik Tournament 2017



Teamwork, leadership and skill development make GOALs special.



2018-Cross-Cultural-AGBU-Jack-Dikranian-2-scaled

The Need

Throughout Armenia, there are limited opportunities for girls to play soccer. Despite having a strong desire to do so, girls cannot find the resources necessary or sporting groups that make experiencing the game a possibility. In addition, organized sport participation has several benefits to youth development such as leadership skills, teamwork skills, confidence building and improved overall physical health. The GOALS organization helps give young women the chance to play soccer through their GOALS Leagues, Media, Coach and Referee trainings, Camps and After-school Clubs while helping Armenian communities change the broader mindset limiting girls and women in many aspects of their lives and see that girls can and should be future leaders of their country!

Short Term Impact

In the short-term, we will expand the teams in Tavush and Gegharkunik and support the empowerment of these young women.

Long Term Impact

In the long-term, public opinion regarding girls’ participation in soccer is changing, paving for the way for greater sports and leadership opportunities. We see a movement toward more inclusive soccer leagues that start at a young age and continue, also contributing to a competitive National Team for Armenia.

Sponsors Benefits

Sponsors will be listed on The Paros Foundation website, on the GOALs website and in all relevant press of this important project.
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February 17, 2020

Phase 2: Thanks to your generosity we were able to reach our first goal of 25k and fund our efforts in Gegharkunik and Tavush. Keeping in mind the spirit of reaching #everygirl for phase 2 of our efforts we are seeking support for the expansion of Vayots Dzor and Armavir Leagues. Your donations will go directly towards the expansion and operations of our Leagues in Tavush, Gegharkunik, Armavir, and Vayots Dzor. Costs include uniforms, sports equipment, travel for teams to practices and games, coaches training, coordination and staffing associated with the Leagues.

 May 15, 2020

With the current State of Emergency in Armenia, all programming has been postponed until further notice. Although we are unable to resume regular programming at this time GOALS is committed to coming up with creative and innovative ways to continue to engage our girls and continue to provide a safe space for growth, learning, and leadership. On behalf of the GOALS team, we want to thank you for your continued support throughout these challenging times.

Artsvabert Water Pipe & Reservoir Renovation

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Description

Արծվաբերդ (Artsvabert) is a town in the Տավուշ (Tavush) province of Armenia, which shares a 34km long border with Azerbaijan. Artsvaberd is located in a particularly remote and isolated part of Tavush.  Artsvabert has a population of almost 2,600 people living in 500 homes.  Most of these homes only receive water once every three days for one hour.  The lack of enough clean water has resulted in the absence of basic household conveniences, thus making life in Artsvabert difficult for its population.  The implementation of the Artsvabert Water Pipe & Reservoir Renovation program will provide daily water to the majority of the households in Artsvabert.

Region

Tavush Տավուշ

City / Village

Artsvabert Արծվաբերդ

Start Date

Immediately

End Date

Two months

Gallery Images

The reservoir in the town of Artsvaberd cannot provide the town with an appropriate amount of water because it is leaking and needs to be renovated.



Water meters in the town of Artsvaberd need to be installed to provide villagers with daily water.



Water leakage has created a crises for the residents in the town of Artsvaberd.



Artsvaberd’s water reservoir needs to be renovated.



Artsvaberd relies on this old reservoir for water for 350 households in the village.



Artsvaberd’s reservior is located in a secure area above the town.

The Need

The 2,600 residents in Artsvabert struggle on a daily basis because of a lack of water. The implementation of this project will ease this suffering for the town’s 500 households. $12,750 is needed to completely renovate the reservoir and $6,750 is needed to install water meters in the 500 households in Artsvabert.

Short Term Impact

In the short term, about 2,600 people in Artsvabert will benefit from receiving daily water into their homes. In addition, the local economy will receive a bit of a boost with local materials and labor begin secured to complete the planned work.

Long Term Impact

In the long run, the addition of a steady flow of water to the town’s households will contribute to overall better health and welfare for the town and help its continued development.

Sponsors Benefits

Sponsors of this project will be recognized on The Paros Foundation website, any press related to this important project, and on a plaque in the town of Artsvaberd. A visit can be arranged to Artsvabert for sponsors visiting Armenia.
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Video Update

June 29, 2019

Work on the reservoir in the town of Artsvabert began this week. The concrete panels covering the reservoir were removed and the water pipers were diverted until the relining can be completed.

 August 1, 2019

Repairs to the reservoir have been completed and the results are fabulous! The reservoir now has an abundance of water.

 September 12, 2019

Our team determined that an additional, unforeseen repair should be made to the main pumping station for the village. Our specialist from Yerevan installed an automatic float for the reservoir and automated the filling system to ensure a steady flow of water for the village.

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Recycling on the Border

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Description

Recycling in border villages in the Tavush region is currently extremely limited; as a result, plastic and other trash often goes uncollected and liters the communities. When it is collected, the waste is often put into landfills or it is burned.

The Paros Foundation seeks to partner with the Innovative Solutions for Sustainable Development of Communities NGO, or ‘ISSD’ to implement a small scale recycling initiative in ten border villages in the Tavush region, with the hopes of eventual expansion. The proposed project involves going to several schools and providing specially marked recycling bins for paper and plastic. The children will then be educated on the benefits of recycling and why it is important. In order to provide incentive, the school whom collects the most recycling will receive a prize of their choice up to a certain cash value. Schools will be given approximately 2 months to collect the recycling, when it will then be picked up and transferred to the proper recycling facilities.

The project’s ultimate goal is to educate communities on recycling, and give them the opportunity to try it themselves. The project and related school trainings will be conducted in two trips.

If after the two month contest period the project is considered successful, Paros will seek to expand into more schools in the Tavush region.

Region

Tavush

City / Village

Ten Tavush border villages

Start Date

January 2020

End Date

February 2020

Gallery Images

Custom Recycling bins will be placed in each of ten schools along border communities surrounding Berd.



Classroom instruction on the benefits of recycling will take place by trained instructors from the Solutions for Sustainable Development of Communities, NGO

The Need

Recycling in border villages in the Tavush region is currently extremely limited; as a result, plastic and other trash often goes uncollected and liters these communities.

Short Term Impact

In the short term, a two month recycling contest will be launched to build excitement about the project in ten border schools in Tavush. The schoolchildren will learn about the benefits of recycling and start making it a regular practice in both their schools and households. A modest economic benefit will be realized through this project through the employment of a driver and trainers.

Long Term Impact

In the long term, communities will be more informed about modern waste and waste management, and, hopefully develop the practices as a normal part of their culture. The project will involve more than 1,800 children.

Sponsors Benefits

Sponsors of this project will be listed on The Paros Foundation website, and in relevant press related to this important project.
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January 14, 2020

The Recycling Contest launched today with nine schools in the Berd area of Armenia’s Tavush Region. Schools will be collecting both paper and plastics and competing for a prize! The contest launch follows training and instruction on the value of recycling by the experts at the ISSD organization in Yerevan.

 February 18, 2020

Today the Paros Team visited the schools, registered and collected all the recyclables and determined the contests winners! The School in Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur collected the most plastic per student! The School in the village of Tavush collected the most paper per student! Congratulations to both schools! We look forward to expanding this project in the future.

Kindergarten Renovation for Movses Village

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Description

The border village of Movses is located in a remote and isolated part of the Tavush Region in the Berd administrative area. More than 1,500 residents live in Movses and its kindergarten currently serves 37 children.

The kindergarten has been partially renovated over the years, but these have only served as temporary fixes. The roof leaks, the heating system is not sufficient to heat the building properly and the bathrooms are a disaster.  The kindergarten will be completely renovated including the roof, heating system, doors and windows, bathrooms and kitchen.  In addition, the classrooms, sleep rooms and other interior spaces will receive a complete cosmetic renovation including new lighting, paint and flooring.  Additional furniture will also be provided as necessary.

Region

Tavush Տավուշ

City / Village

Movses Մովսես

Start Date

March 2019

End Date

August 2019

Gallery Images

The Movses Kindergarten is functioning, but the roof leaks and needs to be
replaced.



Overcrowding at the Movses Kindergarten will be solved once the renovation
is completed at the Movses Kindergarten.



Water seepage has damaged the floor and the walls and is creating mold at the kindergarten in Movses.



Water damage has created large areas of black mold at the kindergarten in Movses.



The floor boards in several places at the Movses Kindergarten have rotted and are dangerous.

The Need

The kindergarten in the border village of Movses currently serves 37 children and needs a complete renovation to provide these children with a warm and safe environment in which to start their early education.

Short Term Impact

In the short term, the kindergarten will be renovated with materials purchased in Armenia and local labor to help benefit the economy. 37 children and the kindergarten staff will receive the immediate benefit of a safe and warm environment in which to learn and work.

Long Term Impact

In the long term, hundreds of children will benefit from early education in Movses. In addition, the village as a whole will benefit from this significant infrastructure improvement.

Sponsors Benefits

All sponsors to this project will recognized on The Paros Foundation website, in appropriate press related to this important project and on a plaque at the Kindergarten. Visits for sponsors to the Movses Kindergarten can be arranged during their visits to Armenia.
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March 18, 2019

Work at the kindergarten in Movses began today!

 April 27, 2019

Work on the interior of the kindergarten is almost completed! Soon the crew will begin the exterior paint job!

 April 30, 2020

The crew has almost completed the exterior paint job at the kindergarten in Movses.

Support for Emergency Situations Ministry-NKA

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Description

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.

Region

Tavush Տավուշ

City / Village

Nerkin Karmiraghbyur Ներքին Կարմիրաղբյուր

Start Date

February 2019

End Date

April 2019

Gallery Images

The building that houses the Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur Emergency Situation Ministry needs the first floor renovated and a proper heating system installed
throughout.

The Need

Armenia’s 911 rapid responders work throughout Armenia responding to both emergencies and helping provide village security. Safe and comfortable accommodations are needed to support the staff of the responders in the border village of Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur. Proper heating, a locker room and fitness area will benefit the overall health of these village heroes.

Short Term Impact

In the short term, renovations will be made to the building employing local labor and local materials whenever possible. Once completed, rapid responders will have a safe and comfortable environment in which to work.

Long Term Impact

In the long term, a safer and more appropriate headquarters in the village of Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur for rapid responders will encourage a stronger work ethic and overall improve the safety of the village and its residents.

Sponsors Benefits

All sponsors to this project will be listed on The Paros Foundation website and on a plaque at the building in NKA. Visits to NKA will be arranged for visitors to Armenia.
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February 15, 2019

Work has began on both the heating system and the first floor renovation. The large first floor windows are being blocked smaller for added security from the potential of sniper fire.

 March 12, 2019

With the work on the walls and ceiling completed, the crew starts the work on installing the new tile flooring.

 April 12, 2019

Work on the entire inside is completed. The first floor is ready for the new gym equipment.

 July 22, 2019

An awning is being installed along with a cement walkway along the front of the building.

 October 1, 2019

Brand new gym equipment and fitness supplies were purchased and delivered today.