The Paros Foundation underwrites all administrative and overhead costs allowing 100% of all donor contributions to godirectly towards projects and supported organizations.
Donations to The Paros Foundation Projects for Prosperity are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. To sponsor a project through The Paros Foundation, a 501 (c) 3 organization (Tax ID 20-5094630), or learn more about specific projects in need of funding, please contact us using the information below.
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.
Razmik 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 five members including three children. They live in a dangerous area as their home is exposed to Azeri sniper fire. They currently have a barn, and have requested three cows for their agribusiness. As a part of this effort Razmik A. 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 new venture.
Due to the remote and dangerous areas in which these villages are situated, residents are unable to travel for work, or establish many other economical opportunities so that they can financially provide for their families. 50% of their fertile land is unusable because of frequent sniper attacks. Helping these families better establish their agribusinesses will allow them to be self-sufficient, care for their families and improve their villages economy.
Short Term Impact
In the short term the sponsored family will receive the animals, materials and/or tools they need to construct and run the proper space needed for their new agribusiness. In addition, directions and training on how to construct or run their new venture will also be given.
Long Term Impact
In the long term, families will have an established a form of income and will likely have the ability to expand their work. The village economy will also improve, as more jobs will be created for the residents. This will help deter emigration from the village.
Sponsors Benefits
All sponsors will be recognized on all relevant press regarding this project and on The Paros Foundation website. Visits to the families can be arranged for sponsors visiting Armenia.
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April 6, 2017
Razmik and his family received three new cows to complete their agribusiness grant. Two of the cows will soon have a calf, and help Razmik’s business grow
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. Currently home to 286 households and 955 people, the village of Baghanis was established in the fifth century. This village shares a 2 km-long border with Republic of Azerbaijan. Today, the residents make a living by farming and tending to their livestock. The village is actively working to improve the quality of life for its residents. To help reduce harvesting costs, the village is in need of farming equipment.
The harvesting of hay and feed for animals is time sensitive. If the feed and grass is cut and gets wet, livestock will not eat it. Additionally, farmers currently struggle to pay the market rate to have hay baled for the winter. A tractor and baler maintained by the village would be able to provide baling and other agriculture services to the village farmers at a below market rate, thus helping improve economic conditions for all farmers. Sponsorship of this project will help the village obtain this equipment necessary to provide needy villagers with the opportunity to care for their families and to help improve the village’s economy.
Region
Tavush
City / Village
Baghanis
Start Date
Immediately
End Date
Two months from start date
The Need
Currently farmers in border villages are barely making ends meet. In Baghanis most farmers do not own their own farming equipment. This project will purchase a tractor and baler for this village to improve efficiency in harvesting.
Short Term Impact
In the short term the village will obtain a tractor and a hay baler in excellent condition and will be able to use them immediately for farming and municipal projects. Furthermore, one villager will be hired to operate and maintain this equipment.
Long Term Impact
In the long term, farmers will pay a lower amount for harvesting and related agricultural services, hence improving their lives and increasing their income. This will help deter emigration from the village.
Sponsors Benefits
All sponsors will be recognized on all relevant press regarding this project and on The Paros Foundation website. Visits to the families can be arranged for sponsors visiting Armenia.
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April 3, 2018
Today the Mayor of Baghanis and a mechanic made the trip to Lake Sevan to inspect and purchase the tractor. Paros Staff has already ordered the bailer and we are waiting for delivery.
August 22, 2018
This season, the tractor and bailer bailed more than 8,000 bails of hay and straw at a discounted price for the village of Baghanis. This project greatly benefited the villagers and will for hopefully years to come.
The Paros Foundation established the Debi Arach Children’s Center in Gyumri, Armenia on April 15, 2015. The center, which provides 120 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.
In 2016, Debi Arach launched their vocational training program at the center in order to provide young adults with a set of skills and tools they will need to secure gainful employment and help break their family’s cycle of poverty. Students participate in their choice of several programs including computer programing classes using a curriculum developed by the Union of Information Technology Enterprises, 3D printing and related software and programming, and computer repairs – both hardware and software. In 2017, we plan to add additional hands-on training programs such as welding, cosmetology and culinary classes.
The center operates Monday- Saturday and classes are offered on a rotating basis. 50 young adults will be enrolled per year and attend the training class of their choice. Once the training courses are completed, the Debi Arach staff will work with the students on job placement. Sponsorship towards this project will help run the vocational center for one year, including staff wages and supplies. 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.
Young adults living in extreme poverty in Gyumri, who are not interested or able to continue their higher education, have very bleak prospects for a successful future. To combat this reality, the Debi Arach Vocation Center provides job skills and aid in job placement in order to help these young adults change their lives towards a successful future by gaining real skills and securing real employment.
Short Term Impact
In the short term, 50 students, both current and new, will participate in one of several training programs offered for the duration of a year. Four trainers will be employed and facilitated classes.
Long Term Impact
In the long term, the cycle of poverty will be broken for the newer generations in Gyumri. The new skills these young adults will gain through vocational courses will help secure great jobs and provide opportunities to change their lives. In addition, Gyumri’s economy will also benefit from additional skills being introduced to the job market.
Sponsors Benefits
Your donation to sponsor the Debi Arach Vocational Center will be recognized on a plaque, on The Paros Foundation website and in appropriate press related to this important project. The Paros Foundation will happily arrange a visit to the vocational center when you are in Armenia.
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December 10, 2017
Today our first group of 14 young men, who had completed their military service, graduated from our six month web programming courses. Most are engaged in their internships and some have already started working.
February 7, 2018
Two new web programming courses were launched this month. First a second, more in-depth training course was launched to give our first graduates more knowledge on programming languages, and a second group of young people began our six month web programming set of courses.
According to historical sources the village of Baghanis, currently home to 286 households and 955 people, was is 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. Like many of the villages in this area, the village of Baghanis has also endured danger and suffering due to the war followed by frequent cease fire violations by Azerbaijan. Following the cease-fire, eight village residents have been killed, while six others wounded. The village is actively trying to improve the quality of life for its residents and is in need of aid.
Baghanis has a village school with 110 children in attendance, but the existing kindergarten in Baghanis is unusable because of its proximity to the border. 20 children await a functioning kindergarten and municipality is prepared to fund the operation, once a new building is constructed. The construction of a kindergarten will accommodate more than 20 children in the village that currently have no early education available. The village has allocated a plot of land near the school and medical center for this important construction project. The municipality is prepared to assume ongoing expenses of the facility’s operation. The municipality will also help prepare the paperwork necessary for construction. Sponsorship of this project will help fund the construction of a 100 sq. meter building along with furniture and a fence.
Region
Tavush
City / Village
Baghanis
Start Date
September 2017
End Date
July 2020
The Need
Studies show that attending kindergarten is important to students’ success in higher education, as well as for their future success. Constructing a kindergarten for the village of Baghanis will give 20 young children annually the opportunity to attend and provide them with safe and warm environment in which to begin their education.
Short Term Impact
The short-term impact of this project will be to construct a kindergarten along with furniture and a fence for 20 children. Jobs will be created for additional staff and teachers. All materials will be purchased in Armenia, thus providing a boost to the local economy. In addition, local villagers will be hired to complete the construction work, thus providing them with temporary jobs.
Long Term Impact
In the long term, the success of this project will provide a proper facility for current and future young children in the village of Baghanis to attend and start their educational journeys. Furthermore, the creation of the kindergarten will help create and maintain employment opportunities for the villagers.The village economy will also improve, as more jobs will be created for the residents. This will help deter emigration from the village.
Sponsors Benefits
Sponsorship of the kindergarten construction in the village of Baghanis will be recognized on a plaque in the Kindergarten, on The Paros Foundation website and in appropriate press related to this important project. The Paros Foundation will happily arrange a visit to the kindergarten in the village of Baghanis when you are in Armenia.
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July 15, 2020
A video shows the protests in Baku calling on a resumption of war with Armenia.
July 16, 2020
The kindergarten in the village of Aygepar was hit by Azeri artillery this morning. We had finished the complete renovation of this kindergarten in 2018 and will assess the damage and rebuild again as soon as possible! We build, they destroy!
July 21, 2020
Members of The Paros Foundation team joined Tavush Governor Hayk Chobanyan, Berd Consolidated Communities head Harutyun Manucharyan, representatives of the Prime Minister’s office, and local village representatives to visit the Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur, Aygepar and Chinari communities to assess the damage and to strategize and coordinate the next steps forward.
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 several 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. Our goal is to implement 20 agribusiness projects in this village ($2,000 per family). 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. Families will be screened and chosen and provided with the support they need to launch their business. Families can choose animals, materials for barn construction or repair, seeds and/or support for their orchards and even beehives. 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.
Region
Tavush
City / Village
Baghanis
Start Date
Immediately
End Date
One year from start date
The Need
Due to the remote and dangerous areas in which these villages are situated, residents are unable to travel for work, or establish many other economical opportunities so that they can financially provide for their families. 50% of their fertile land in Baghanis is unusable because of frequent sniper attacks. Helping these families better establish their agribusinesses will allow them to be self-sufficient, care for their families and improve their village’s economy.
Short Term Impact
In the short term the sponsored family will receive the animals, materials and/or tools they need to construct and run the space needed for their new agribusiness. In addition, directions and training on how to construct or run their new venture will also be given.
Long Term Impact
In the long term, families will have established a form of income and will likely have the ability to expand their work. The village economy will also improve, as more jobs will be created for the residents. This will help deter emigration from the village.
Sponsors Benefits
All sponsors will be recognized on all relevant press regarding this project and on The Paros Foundation website. Visits to the families can be arranged for sponsors visiting Armenia.
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GOALS was founded in 2014 after Peace Corps volunteer, Zach Theiler, was inspired by author, soccer coach and Harvard Hall of Fame athlete Andrea Montalbano’s visit to Armenia to promote women’s football. Andrea spoke about the importance of sport and youth development, specifically in empowering young women in the United States. Afterward, Zach Theiler teamed up with co-founder Victoria Dokken and gathered a team of Armenians and fellow Peace Corps Volunteers to create GOALS, with the aim of empowering young women throughout Armenia using soccer as a vehicle for change. We hope to give young women the chance to play soccer through GOALS Leagues, Summer Camps and After-school Clubs. Through their sport for social impact games, which are used in all programming, GOALS strives to improve critical thinking, empathy and create spaces for difficult conversations around gender equality, diversity, etc. Finally, GOALS trains coaches in use of sport for social impact curriculum so that its impact can be spread throughout the country.
We rely on donations for most of our work in Armenia. In 2017 we are expanding our reach and opening three new leagues in the north, in addition to the current league in southern Armenia. With your help, we can create new opportunities for an additional 300 girls! Furthermore, we are moving toward a co-ed program, which focuses more on dialogue using sport for social impact curriculum to bridge the stark gender divide between youths throughout the country.
You can decide how to support us! Choose between a league, a camp, a team, an after-school club, or any combination of them. A small donation really goes a long way!
Sponsor a League Our football leagues are designed to give young women the chance to play soccer, build confidence and teamwork skills, as well as change public perception of women’s sports. Leagues consist of a minimum of four teams with nine players on each team aged 12-17. Each team is headed by an Armenian coach, who signs a contract committing to one-year of training their team a minimum once per week of the season (March – May; September – November) for one hour per session. Teams travel and play one competitive game per week. Sponsoring a league provides all travel costs, referees, nurses, venue space, and all the soccer equipment needed in order to hold trainings; jerseys, socks, footballs, cones, and pennies for an entire league. – $3,000
Sponsor a Camp GOALS summer camps are designed to create an atmosphere of excitement and new opportunities for girls in the community. We implement summer camps in new areas where GOALS hopes to operate on a longer-term basis, in order to excite the community and motivate the girls to continue playing soccer. Our summer camps are five days, running from 9am to approximately 3pm. Each day consists of sport for social impact games which use sport to talk about gender equity, tolerance, diversity, human rights, etc. These games are followed by technical drills, lunch, and a leadership seminar comprised of strong, local guest speakers and/or leadership curriculum. – $1,500
Sponsor a Team Teams are designed to help girls build new friendships, learn how to work in a team, and play competitive football in a competitive atmosphere. Using Coaches Across Continents curriculum our girls also have the opportunity to discuss social, gender, and tolerance issues in their communities. GOALS currently has 27 active teams throughout four different leagues. Each team needs coaches, equipment and travel. Sponsoring a team supports these needs for two full seasons/one year. – $500
Sponsor a Player Sponsoring a player is an easy way to make a big impact through a small donation. This donation will pay for one girls uniform, socks, and travel to competitive games – $50
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, Summer Camps and After-school Clubs.
Short Term Impact
Last year GOALS impacted 305 girls through our leagues and camps. We witnessed an increase in these girls confidence, recorded an increase of parents who approve of their daughters playing soccer, and a spike in the belief that girls can be leaders. This year GOALS is planning to double the number of youth affected by adding additional leagues and camps as well as an after-school program.
Long Term Impact
In the long term, public awareness and opinions surrounding girls soccer will begin to change, making participation both feasible and desirable.
Sponsors Benefits
Sponsors of this project will be recognized on the Paros Foundation and GOALS websites, at the camps and in all press related to this project. The GOALS organization will also begin sending updates through their newsletter in which they will also thank and recognize sponsors.
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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.
To date, the center has already had several important successes. Three children have been taken out of boarding schools and brought to 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. 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.
Currently in its second year, the center is working on funding year three 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 vocational training opportunities. $65,000 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.
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 150 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
Your donation to sponsor the operating cost for 2017 of the Debi Arach Children’s Center in Gyumri will be recognized with a plaque at the Center and on the Center’s website and in their printed materials. Your name will also be listed as a sponsor on the Paros Foundation website and in appropriate press related to this important project. The Paros Foundation will proudly arrange a visit to the new Center when you are in Armenia.
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May 26, 2017
Students at Debi Arach are slowly making strides in learning new skills and making new things with the 3D printer in our Vocational Training Center.
June 7, 2017
Amazing news! Heghush is 18 years old and graduated from high school last week. Today, Heghush was accepted to college! She plans on attending Gyumri State Pedagogical Institute and majoring in Elementary Education. She’s been at Debi Arach since our opening two years ago. We wish her all the success in the world, congratulations Heghush!
July 3, 2017
The Mobile Dental Clinic will be at Debi Arach this month. They have been providing free of charge dental care to students and staff. Many of the students have never been to a dentist before, so it can be an intimidating moment for them, but Dr. Simonyan and Dr. Kuyumjyan – extra care and kindness – have made the idea of dental health fun.
July 7, 2017
Very grateful for the Sustainable Energy Development Fund, UITE, Phillip Morris Armenia LLC, and Arpi Solar for making it possible for Debi Arach to go solar! Now the center will be able to provide hot water for children to shower and to help heat the center in the winter months with renewable and clean energy.
July 22, 2017
Today SERVICE Armenia 2017 spent the day at the center to distribute backpacks and school supplies to each of our students through the Packs on Backs project.
September 21, 2017
Everyone at Debi Arach was so excited to have Congresswoman Jackie Speier and Congresswoman Anna Eshoo visit the center today. They were accompanied by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to the United States of America, Grigor Hovhannissian, as well as the Chairman of The Paros Foundation, Roger Strauch. Thank you Mr. Josh Connolly, Chief of Staff, for planning and executing this visit.
September 25, 2017
Today, teachers began a six part training on how to properly use technology in the classroom with the help of Debi Arach computer teacher, Marina. This is an important step to help integrate new teaching techniques to help children learn.
December 10, 2017
Students at Debi Arach all received winter boots today with the help and sponsorship from Talar Nina.
February 8, 2018
Thanks to fundraising efforts and all donors and supporters, Debi Arach now has two SMARTBoards to help with new and innovative teaching methods!
Debi Arach is starting a bi-monthly career fair program for students 7-10th grade. The purpose of this program is to help students learn about possible career options, hear from professionals in those sectors, and learn the steps needed to become each profession.
Debi Arach is starting a bi-monthly career fair program for students 7-10th grade. The purpose of this program is to help students learn about possible career options, hear from professionals in those sectors, and learn the steps needed to become each profession.
Many of Armenia’s small villages, towns and communities have a low average annual income and high levels of unemployment. Often time villagers have a difficult time financially providing for their families due to the lack of work. The establishment of small commercial enterprises for families proved to be a model that has worked to increase household income and help develop the village’s economy.
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.
The Karapetyan family has been identified as one of the families who are in need of additional support. Their family consists of six members including Hasmik, her husband who has become disabled due to a car accident, and their four children. They live in poverty as neither parent is able to work. In order to help this family get back on their feet, they will be set up with a small agribusiness. As a part of this effort the Karapetyan family will be provided training and/or business tips for the ensured success of their venture. Frequent visits will be made to the family to track their progress and determine the success of their new agribusiness.
Due to the high unemployment and inability to travel for work residents of many of Armenia’s small villages, towns and communities are unable to establish many economical opportunities so that they can financially provide for their families. Helping these families establish their own agribusinesses will allow them to be self-sufficient, care for their families and improve the village economy.
Short Term Impact
In the short term the Karapetyan family will receive the animals and feed they need to construct and run the proper agribusiness. In addition, directions and training on how to run their new venture will also be given.
Long Term Impact
In the long term, the Karapetyan will have an established form of income and will likely have the ability to expand their work.
Sponsors Benefits
All sponsors will be recognized on all relevant press regarding this project and on The Paros Foundation website. Visits to the families can be arranged for sponsors visiting Armenia.
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October 19, 2016
December 5, 2016
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October 19, 2016
Construction on the Karapetyan Family’s new chicken coop has begun.
December 5, 2016
The Karapetyan Family was given 30 chickens, three roosters and feed to run their small agribusiness. Our staff Armenia will be in touch with the family frequently and make sure they are aware of how to care for their new animals.
The Ghoghanj Children’s Center located in the Kentron of Yerevan provides afterschool and summer school programs for approximately 75 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 the Nor Nork neighborhood of Yerevan to provide support to 75 additional children annually. The new center provides students the same core classes (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.
Currently, The Paros Foundation is looking for donors who will help keep this important Center running in the 2017-2018 school year. Amount will include rent, utilities, teacher salaries, maintenance and additional improvements, and supplies.
Region
Yerevan
City / Village
Nor Nork
Start Date
September 2017
End Date
August 2018
The Need
Children living in the community of Nor Nork in Yerevan are in need of additional guidance through social, psychological and academic support. A second Center for these kids has been opened and will need additional financial assistance in order to cover operational costs for the following school year (2017-2018).
Short Term Impact
In the short term, sponsorship of this project will help continue to employ teachers, and provide 75 children in the Nor Nork neighborhood of Yerevan with their needed tutoring and guidance.
Long Term Impact
In the long term, this project has the potential of impacting the lives of 75-100 at-risk students by helping them gain the guidance and support they need in order to create greater future opportunities, and become successful individuals and good citizens.
Sponsors Benefits
Your donation to fund the operational costs for the 2017-2018 school year for Ghoghanj-Nor Nork will be recognized with a plaque at the Center and on the Center’s website and in their printed materials. Your name will also be listed as a sponsor on the Paros Foundation website and in appropriate press related to this important project. The Paros Foundation will happily arrange a visit to the new Center when you are in Armenia.
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October 1, 2017
Students from the Ghoghanj Children’s Center attended the Digitec Expo 2017 annual exhibition.
March 22, 2018
On International Day of Forests the Armenia Tree Project joined the Learning about Forests – LEAF Initiative and visited Ghoghanj for the last of nine environmental classes. The children summarized what they had learned about trees and biodiversity and also enjoyed recycling their own paper!
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 (16), 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 year Peter has successfully helped raise enough funding to place three libraries throughout Armenia. $2,025 ($675 each) is needed in order to complete three full libraries in three different locations throughout Armenia. Donations of books (in excellent condition) are welcomed alongside monetary support for this important project.
Students could really benefit from access to Western/English literature throughout Armenia. As the English language becomes more popular in Armenia, the need for language aids such as these books has become a necessity.
Short Term Impact
Three small libraries stocked with 50 books will be placed in three different schools in Armenia for children to read.
Long Term Impact
In the long term, children will benefit from these libraries as their proficiency in reading and writing in the English language will increase. In addition, mastering the English language will open the doors to more opportunities in their future.
Sponsors Benefits
Your donation to sponsor the Book in a Bag project will be recognized on The Paros Foundation website and in appropriate press related to this important project. There will be a small sign with donor name(s) on each library. The Paros Foundation will happily arrange a visit to your library when you are in Armenia.
