NKA School Remodel – Phase 1

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Description

Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur (NKA) is a border village with a population of 1,380 residents in the Bert area of Armenia’s Tavush Region. This community, whose territory connects with Azerbaijan, lives and works under a constant risk of sniper fire and renewed armed conflict every day. Along with the economy these difficult and dangerous times have also had a negative impact on educational advancement and school attendance. The primary school in the village is in need of complete remodel in order to provide elementary and high school aged children the opportunity to learn in a clean, new and safe environment. This school, which has 180 children in attendance, is housed in three buildings of which currently two are in use.
The gym has been renovated through local sponsorship from the village, but the classrooms are in still in poor condition.

As part of the Paros Foundation’s ongoing efforts to rebuild the infrastructure of this large village, Michael and Patricia Starzer of Lakewood, Colorado have agreed to underwrite the complete renovation of an entire floor of the elementary school. Their sponsorship will enable us to rebuild five classrooms on the first floor. The remodel will include the hallways, the boys and girls bathrooms, updates to the heating system, new lighting, new paint and new flooring. Once phase 1 is completed we will fundraise for phase 2 renovations, which will include other classrooms, the library, a science lab, and the cafeteria.

The Paros Foundation, with the help of generous donors Jean-Marie and Lori Atamian of New York, has already successfully renovated the Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur medical center and kindergarten, and provided five families with their own agribusiness for their economic development. These projects have had a huge impact on the community. It is of strategic importance to support these villages in their daily lives so that they may remain inhabitants of this village, mere footsteps from Azerbaijan.

Region

Tavush

City / Village

Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur

Start Date

August 2015

End Date

October 2015

Gallery Images

Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur School.



Window damage from Azeri sniper bullets.



The classrooms at the NKA school are in need of renovations.



The floors are uneven and unstable and allow cold air to seep into the classrooms.

The Need

Students attending the primary school in the village of Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur are in need of new, clean, and warm classrooms so they can attend and concentrate on their studies. A normal functioning school that is safe and functional is important for this community.

Short Term Impact

In the short term materials five classrooms on the first floor will be remodeled including, the hallways, the boys and girls bathrooms, updates to the heating system, new lighting, new paint and new flooring. Supplies will be purchased locally and locally labor will be used whenever possible.

Long Term Impact

Once phase 1 is completed, phase 2 renovations will begin, which will include other classrooms, the library, a science lab, and the cafeteria. For years to come, children in this village will be able to attend school in a safe and functional environment and progress towards successful futures.

Sponsors Benefits

Your donation to sponsor this project will be recognized with a plaque at the school and in their printed materials. Sponsors will also be recognized on all relevant press regarding this project and on the Paros Foundation website. Visits to the school can be arranged for sponsors visiting Armenia.
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August 6, 2015

A local crew was hired and work at the NKA school has begun. In the coming months the crew will renovate five classrooms, two restrooms and the hallway including new doors, some windows, upgrades to the heating system, paint, electrical and new furniture.

 August 9, 2015

Work began in the two restrooms. One restroom is for males and the other for females.

 September 10, 2015

The renovation work has been completed at the NKA school. Five classrooms, two restrooms and the hallway are all renovated with new furniture. This completes the first phase of work at this school.

 September 21, 2015

Today a window at the school was damaged due to Azeri sniper fire. The window is being replaced.

 October 8, 2015

Paros staff, NKA mayor and school staff and administration gathered together with the students and their families to hold a ribbon cutting and official opening celebration.

Agribusiness on the Border 8: Armen A. Family

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Description

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.

Armen 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. Armen works as a contract soldier stationed on the border. They currently do not barn, but have requested materials to built one along with pigs and chickens for their agribusiness. As a part of this effort Armen 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.

Region

Tavush

City / Village

Baghanis

Start Date

April 2016

End Date

Apri 2017

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 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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October 18, 2016

Armen A. has been successfully working on building a barn for his family. He has some more work left to finalize the roof.

 January 24, 2017

The barn construction is now complete and Armen A. and his family are now searching for the pigs and chickens they have requested.

Agribusiness on the Border 10: Andranik S. Family

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Description

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.

Andranik S. 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 six members including three children. They live in a dangerous area as their home is exposed to Azeri sniper fire. Andranik works as a contract soldier stationed on the border. They currently have a barn, and have requested cows for their agribusiness. As a part of this effort Andranik S. 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.

Region

Tavush

City / Village

Baghanis

Start Date

April 2016

End Date

April 2017

Gallery Images

Andranik’s father showing our staff their barn.

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 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 25, 2016

Andranik and his family received the cows they requested for their agribusiness along with animal feed.

Homeland Handicrafts Artisan

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Description

Homeland Handicrafts(HH) was founded in order to create jobs- jobs for mostly women – in the regions of Armenia. HH develops market-oriented products that are based on techniques the women know and materials they have. We actively market these items through fairs and shops in Yerevan as well as through export. We still have a lot to do both on the product development and marketing sides in order to reach our goal of creating dozens of jobs for women in the regions of Armenia.

Prototype Fund: As women in villages generally do not have a capital base, it is necessary for HH to purchase the materials need to make the initial prototypes of products. Several prototypes are often necessary to make. The artisan contributes her work to this effort.

Workshop Participation: Product development is a time and work intensive task, and even more so when the artisans in the villages do not have the exposure to the market, not in Yerevan, and not abroad. This requires frequent visits to the villages where the artisans live and work in order to follow up on product concepts- making sure they understand the design and quality requirements, price calculations, labeling, packaging, etc. This means that the volunteers in HH must make frequent trips to each project that we cooperate with. This is very demanding on time and expenses, but is part of the job creation task we have taken up ourselves.

Promotion Fairs: It is important to participate in numerous fairs during the year for several reasons: 1) to sell products, 2) to introduce the artisans to the market, getting feedback on design, price, presentation, etc., 3) identifying potential wholesale customers and contacts for developing more long term business and export relationships.

Marketing Tools: To create jobs, HH must have an active marketing profile. Banners, brochures and flyers are needed to use/distribute at fairs and in other public forums. The www.homelandhandicrafts.org website is another strong marketing tool that will be kept up to date from showcasing the HH effort.

Homeland Handicrafts (HH) travels extensively throughout the regions of Armenia to identify, cultivate and follow up artisans, so that they might make products that can be sold and thus create a sustainable livelihood for them. We keep the expenses down as far as possible by sleeping on couches and eating cheap. Still, we need to buy bus tickets or pay for gas in order to get to these places. This comes out of our private pockets. We would appreciate support to be able to do our voluntary work to create jobs in the regions of Armenia. Funds are needed to underwrite transportation costs to help HH visit and work with these artisans.

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Region

Syunik, Vayats Dzor, Geghardkounik, Tavush

City / Village

Meghri, Kapan, Goris, Vayk, Yeghegnadzor, Sevan, Dilijan, Berd, Noyemberian

Start Date

2011

End Date

2011

Gallery Images

Some of the different handicrafts being made and sold by women participating in the Homeland Handicrafts program.

The Need

Armenia has lost an estimated 40% of its population since independence. In 2010 alone, some 83.000 Armenians left Armenia permanently- the equivalent of about 40 entire villages. They did this because they could not find jobs. Unemployment is still a severe challenge to many Armenians, with some 20% of the population living below the poverty line. Women in particular are impacted by both the emigration and unemployment issues. Most emigrants are men. The women are left alone in Armenia with responsibility for the children. Many of these live in the regions of the country. Thus, job creation in the regions for women should come as a high priority.

Short Term Impact

HH already works with several dozen artisans in Meghri, Kapan, and Goris in Syunik marz, Vayk and Yeghegnadzor in Vayots Dzor marz, Sevan in Geghardkounik marz, and Dilijan, Berd and Noyemberian in Tavoush marz. In 2011, HH intends to intensify the work with these groups.

Long Term Impact

The longer-term impact of the work is Homeland Handicraft will be women in several regions of Armenia successfully providing for their families through the manufacturing and sales of handicrafts. Added benefits will be the increased visibility of handicrafts “made in Armenia”, and the local economic support provided by the purchase of local materials used to manufacture the handicrafts.

Sponsors Benefits

Your donation to sponsor the Homeland Handicrafts NGO will be recognized on their website, and your name 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 any of the centers or artisans when you are in Armenia.
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Debi Arach Happy Birthday Fund

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Description

Paros Foundation established 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. The children as a whole have gained several pounds since they have started attending, demonstrating their need for nutritious and consistent meals. Additionally, three children have been taken out of boarding schools and brought to our center and now live back at home with their families. 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.

To support the psychological development of the children and underscore their sense of self worth, developing positive childhood memories is important. To this end, each month, all of the children having birthdays will be celebrated following lunch with a cake. Both groups of attendees will celebrate the children monthly.

Region

Shirak

City / Village

Gyumri

Start Date

January 2016

End Date

December 2018

Gallery Images

Celebrating monthly birthdays help make a child feel special.



Monthly birthday celebrations for all the children attending the Debi Arach Children’s Center

The Need

Thousands of children in Gyumri are living in extreme poverty, with little 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. An important component of normal psychological developments are developing normal childhood memories. Celebrating important occasions such as a birthday with a group of their friends and peers significantly contribute to a child’s proper psychological development.

Short Term Impact

Sponsoring the Birthday Cake Fund will allow the Debi Arach Children’s Center to celebrate all of the children’s birthdays, with a monthly cake for each group. In addition to the benefit to the children, the local economy will gain a modest benefit from the sale of two larger cakes per month.

Long Term Impact

In the long term, children at the center will develop a sense of confidence and well being because of the well rounded and normal set of childhood memories they have developed as part of their attendance. This will contribute to the overall goal of helping these children gain the skills they need to become productive adults.

Sponsors Benefits

All sponsors will be listed on both the Paros Foundation and the Debi Arach Children’s Center websites. In addition, donors will be acknowledged at the Children’s Center and in any relevant press regarding this project.
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December 4, 2018

Birthdays are very important for the children at Debi Arach. We will continue to celebrate monthly and have incorporated all costs into the operating budget of the center.

Debi Arach Vocational Center 2016/2017

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Description

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.

The center hopes to expand Debi Arach with the establishment of a vocational center 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. Currently, at Debi Arach children expressing an interest at attending college receive free tutoring to help them gain admission. Those who do not plan to continue their formal education will be enrolled in several vocational training programs offered at no charge. In addition, young adult who do not currently attend the Debi Arach Children’s Center will also be invited to enroll and participate in the programs. Training classes such as computer programing, hardware repair, welding, culinary and cosmetology – – all of which are in demand in the Gyumri job market – – will be offered.

The center will operate Monday- Saturday and classes will be 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 complete modest renovations, employ qualified staff and run the vocational center for one year. 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.

Region

Shirak

City / Village

Gyumri

Start Date

September 2016

End Date

August 2017

Gallery Images

Students will have the opportunity to recieve training in different fields including robotics and computer sciences.



Debi Arach students eager to learn during their vocational training sessions.

The Need

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 Children’s Center has decided to launch a vocational program to provide 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

The short-term modest renovations will take place to the current Debi Arach facility to establish the vocation center. Staff will be hired to oversee the center and facilitate training classes for 50 young adults.

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 Vocationsl 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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February 1, 2017

Today the “Armath” engineering lab at our Vocational Center is now open and in session. Students aged 10-16 are taking courses in engineering, programming, 3D printing and robotics through training courses developed by the Union of Information Technology Enterprises (UITE). A very special thank you to the Assarian Family Foundation (MI-USA) who funded the establishment of this excellent center and their continued support.

 May 10, 2017

Dr. & Mrs. Gary & Linda Assarian visited the Debi Arach Children’s Center today. They were able to spend some time with the students of the newly launched program offering web programming courses for Armenia’s young veterans.

Art Therapy for Kids with Cerebral Palsy

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Description

Armenian Mothers NGO, a charitable organization founded in 2012, supports children with cerebral palsy (CP) and their mothers. The organization’s major aim is to improve the quality of life for these children, integrate them into society, as well as provide psychological and informational support to their mothers. Through their hard work they hope to raise public awareness about this issue, and to promote the development and improvement of services within this field.

Recently, Armenian Mothers NGO has been working towards creating an art therapy room where these children can receive different forms of innovative and effective art therapy free of charge. They have already succeeded in obtaining funding and have completed the renovation of a one-room center. Furthermore, they also have a willing staff of professionals to carry out lessons. Sponsorship of this project will help the NGO complete the art therapy room with furniture including three high chairs, two special tables for sand therapy, one standard table, and four chairs.

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Region

Yerevan

City / Village

Yerevan

Start Date

October 2014

End Date

November 2014

Gallery Images

The empty room, which Armenian Mothers NGO will create The Art Therapy Room for kids with Cerebral Palsy.



Equipment ready to be set up in the Art Therapy Room.



Everyone at Armenian Mothers NGO working together to assemble the exercise equipment.



Installation of treadmill.



The exercise equipment will be used to help the children receive the physical therapy they need.



Physical therapy in session at the center.

The Need

Currently, Armenian Mothers NGO serves more than 150 children with cerebral palsy (CP) from low-income families that are not able to provide their children with a full range of possible therapies. With the proper physical and emotional therapy and activities these children will be able to lead more productive and independent lives.

Short Term Impact

150 children with cerebral palsy will immediately benefit from access to art therapy with paint and sand workshops in a newly renovated and furnished art therapy room free of charge.

Long Term Impact

Children with cerebral palsy will have the opportunity to develop their motor skills and improve their health through art therapy.

Sponsors Benefits

Your donation to sponsor the art therapy room will be recognized on the Armenian Mothers NGO website and in their printed materials, addition to a certificate acknowledging this generous donation. 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 art therapy room when you are in Armenia.
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Agribusiness on the Border 4: Samvel G. Family

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Description

Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur is an important border village with a population of 1,380 residents in the Bert area of Armenia’s Tavush Region. This community, whose territory connects with Azerbaijan, lives and works under a constant risk of sniper fire and renewed armed conflict each day. The economy of the village and the livelihood of many of its residents has suffered due to these difficult and dangerous times. It is of strategic importance to support these villagers in their daily lives so that they may remain inhabitants of this village, mere footsteps from Azerbaijan. With the help of Jean-Marie and Lori Atamian of New York, The Paros Foundation has already renovated their medical center and kindergarten successfully. These projects have had a huge impact on the community. 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.

Samvel G. and his family have been identified as one of the families who are in need of additional support in order to help their agribusiness grow. Their family consists of five members including Samvel, who is a contract soldier, his wife and their three children who are all under the age of 11. They live in a 1,076 sq. ft. apartment, which is in need of renovations that they will complete with the help of a small loan from Armenia’s leading mobile operator, Vivacell. They also have a newly constructed pigsty and a 377 sq. ft. barn (which is in need of renovations). Samvel will complete the barn renovations by his own means once we have provided the materials. They have also requested a few pigs, two sows and a few sheep.  As a part of this effort Samvel 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.

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Region

Tavush

City / Village

Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur

Start Date

May 2015

End Date

April 2016

Gallery Images

Samvel’s family home and barn are both in need of renovations.

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. 70% 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 the village 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 each option respectively. 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 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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May 18, 2015

Samvel’s family received the materials they needed for their barn renovation. They also received the animals they requested for their agribusiness.

Empowerment for Women

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Description

Currently in Armenia, border villages, such as those in the Tavush region of Armenia, are plagued with economic hardships and unemployment. These villagers have very few options for employment (agriculture, teaching and few municipal positions) and do not have the means to seek training for new professions. For this reason, many of the residents (mainly men) flee to Russia to find employment and stable income. This leaves many women alone in their communities, without a profession and dependent on their husbands/fathers/brothers to send them money from abroad.

This project aims to provide a viable employment solution to women from eight border villages in the Tavush region. Women from the villages of Berdavan, Koghb, Dovegh, Djudjevan, Barekamavan, Koti, Voskevan and Baghanis will have the opportunity to participate in an intensive three month training in the areas of hair-dressing and cosmetology. Sponsorship of this project will allow 10 women total (at least one from each village) to participate in the three-month training program. Trainings will be held Monday through Friday for two hours a day. Students will be trained at a local salon that is approximately equal distance from all villages. Tools and supplies will be provided along with some basic business management and marketing classes, and transportations stipends. After completion of the training, participants will receive the necessary equipment they need to work from their home or a salon. They will be encouraged to work from their home villages and provide services that many other villagers may go elsewhere for. These women will greatly benefit from the opportunity to participate in these occupational training courses, which would result in jobs, financial stability for their families and better the economy of their communities. In addition, their success will help empower them through a new sense of independence.

Region

Tavush

City / Village

Berdavan, Koghb, Dovegh, Djudjevan, Barekamavan, Koti, Voskevan and Baghanis

Start Date

One month after funds are raised

End Date

Three months from start date

Gallery Images

Hairdressing area of the salon.



Cosmetology section of the salon.



Some of the equipment and materials that will be used during the training.

The Need

Residents of border-region villages have very few options for employment (agriculture, teaching and few municipal positions) and do not have the means to seek training for new professions. For this reason, many of the residents (mainly men) travel abroad to find employment and a stable income. This leaves many women alone in their communities, without a profession and dependent on their husbands/fathers/brothers to send money from abroad.

Short Term Impact

In the short term, 10 women total from eight villages will participate in a three-month training seminar and obtain skills in hairdressing and cosmetology. They will also receive the proper tools needed to utilize their new skills in order to earn income.

Long Term Impact

Over time, this project has the potential to help these women establish their own salons and businesses, find financial stability for their families and better the economy of their communities. In addition, their success will help empower them through a new sense of independence and encourage them to one day help other women learn their set of skills.

Sponsors Benefits

All sponsors will be recognized on The Paros Foundation website. In addition, donors will be recognized on all relevant press regarding this project.
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January 9, 2017

Subsequent visits to the training facility and followup with the training participants has indicated that this program was a success. All of the participants are engaged in one way or another using their new skills. Some have opened salons in their villages, while others are working from their homes. All have indicated the desire to further their education and increase their skill set via future training opportunities.

Agribusiness on the Border 1: Razmik P. Family

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Description

Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur is an important border village with a population of 1,380 residents in the Bert area of Armenia’s Tavush Region. This community, whose territory connects with Azerbaijan, lives and works under a constant risk of sniper fire and renewed armed conflict each day. The economy of the village and the livelihood of many of its residents has suffered due to these difficult and dangerous times. It is of strategic importance to support these villagers in their daily lives so that they may remain inhabitants of this village, mere footsteps from Azerbaijan. With the help of Jean-Marie and Lori Atamian of New York, The Paros Foundation has already renovated their medical center and kindergarten successfully. These projects have had a huge impact on the community. 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 P. and his family have been identified as one of the families who are in need of additional support in order to help their agribusiness grow. Their family consists of five members including Razmik, who is a contract soldier, his wife and their three children who are all under the age of 14. Their barn (measuring 250 sq. ft.) is in need of roof repairs. Razmik will complete the repairs himself once we have provided the materials. They have also requested a cow and five sheep. As a part of this effort Razmik 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.

Region

Tavush

City / Village

Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur Village

Start Date

May 2015

End Date

April 2016

Gallery Images

Razmik lives in this house with his wife and three children.



Roof of the family’s barn in need of repairs.

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. 70% 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 the village 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 each option respectively. 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 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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Updates: Images & Information

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May 18, 2015

Razmik’s family received the materials they needed and have begun renovations on their barn. They also received the animals they requested for their agribusiness.

 February 15, 2016

The original five sheep Razmik received have each had one lamb.