The Paros Foundation underwrites all administrative and overhead costs allowing 100% of all donor contributions to go directly 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.
The villages of Jajur, Keti and Marmarashen do not have functioning kindergartens for their children. Â Not only does this place these children at a disadvantage when they start school, but it also makes it more difficult for parents who wish to use kindergarten time to work and earn money to help their families. Â
The local consolidated community has completed the renovations necessary to launch the operation of these three kindergartens. Â Once open, these villages will also benefit from added job opportunities for cooks, teachers and aids. Â The kindergartens are each in need of their kitchens being installed and their appliances and supplies being purchased. The Paros Foundation will raise the funds necessary through this project to equip these kindergarten kitchens and allow them to begin operations. Â
The villages of Jajur, Keti and Marmarashen  do not have functioning kindergartens.  While the local consolidated communities have renovated suitable facilities in each village, they are in need of having their kitchens completed and furnished to launch operations.
Short Term Impact
In the short term, the kitchens in each of the three village kindergartens will be completed, furnished and equipped. The purchase of local materials and the employment of local labor whenever possible will create a modest benefit for the village economy. Â This will allow more than 60 children to attend kindergarten and gain the benefits of early education.Â
Long Term Impact
In the long term, 60 children in the villages will benefit from early education. Â The communities themselves will benefit from additional employment opportunities for at least 14 people at these facilities.
Sponsors Benefits
All sponsors of this important project will be listed on The Paros Foundation’s website and in all press related to this project. Visits to these communities can be arranged for sponsors visiting Armenia.
Appliances and kitchen supplies were purchased and delivered to both the Keti and Jajur Kindergartens. Â
April 1, 2022
Renovations on the Jajur Village Kindergarten are complete! A ribbon cutting was held where the community celebrated the improvements made to the kindergarten.
May 4, 2023
The Marmarashen Village Kindergarten renovations are finished! Today a ribbon cutting ceremony was held.Â
The village of Aygedzor is located within the Berd Consolidated Community of Armenia’s Tavush Region. Â The village is home to more than 2,000 residents. Â The community operates two kindergartens to serve the children in the village, however one of them is located in a building in terrible condition. Â The Berd Consolidated Community has asked The Paros Foundation to renovate and expand this kindergarten for the Aygedzor Village. Once completed, two groups of kindergartens will be able to benefit from this work. Â
The municipality of Yerevan is providing approximately $12,200 towards this important project. Â
The second kindergarten in the Aygedzor village is both overcrowded and needs to be completely rebuilt to provide safe and sanitary conditions for the children to begin their early education. Â
Short Term Impact
In the short term, the complete building housing Aygedzor’s second kindergarten will be rebuilt. The purchase of local materials and the employment of local labor whenever possible will create a modest benefit for the village economy.
Long Term Impact
In the long term, children in the village will benefit from early education. Â The community itself will benefit from additional employment opportunities at the expanded kindergarten.
Sponsors Benefits
All sponsors of this important project will be listed on The Paros Foundation’s website and in all press related to this project. Visits to these communities can be arranged for sponsors visiting Armenia.
After several months of hard work, our crew celebrated the ribbon cutting of the completely remodeled and furnished kindergarten. Â Guests included representatives of the Yerevan Municipality, the Governor’s office and the Berd Municipality. Â Our partners at FOCN joined us for this joyous celebration as well. Â
Choratan is a village of 900 residents located in the Berd Consolidated Community within Armenia’s Tavush Region. Â Choratan is located in an isolated section along the Armenian border with Azerbaijan. Â
Through the support of FAR, a new heating system was installed throughout the school including new boilers, pipes and radiators, however the main gas connection to the school was not installed. Â The Paros Foundation received a request from the Governor’s office in Tavush to help fund the installation of the gas pipeline to the school in Choratan. Â
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Once funded, the gas company will install a new gas connection to this remote village school to enable the heating system to operate. Â In addition, this will allow the school to stop burning wood to keep the classrooms heated. Â It is expected that it will take one month from the time of funding to complete the work.
The Choratan village school has a new heating system installed in the school, but is not operational because of the large expense to connect it to the village’s gas system. Â The school is forced currently to continue to burn wood to try and heat the classrooms.Â
Short Term Impact
In the short term, the gas company will connect the school’s system to the village’s gas infrastructure.  This will allow the school’s heating system to operate much more efficiently and save money while creating a much more comfortable environment for student and staff.Â
Long Term Impact
In the long term, students and staff will benefit from healthier school conditions and cost savings from the new heating system.Â
Sponsors Benefits
All sponsors of this important project will be listed on The Paros Foundation’s website and in all press related to this project. Visits to these communities can be arranged for sponsors visiting Armenia.
The Bosnoyan Family has generously decided to give back to Armenia while memorializing their beloved husband, father, brother and uncle, Levon Bosnoyan. In lieu of flowers, they have decided to adopt a very special classroom in Vanadzor (Kirovakan), Levon’s birthplace. One of Levon’s favorite pastimes was playing chess. It is the family’s hope that by renovating a chess classroom in Levon’s name, they will help give children the opportunity to appreciate the game, just as he did.Â
Sponsorship of this project will help raise the funding needed to renovate a chess classroom in a school in Vanadzor.Â
Region
Lori
City / Village
Vanadzor
Start Date
June 2022
End Date
The Need
Many school’s throughout Armenia are in need of renovations. This project will specifically help renovate a classroom dedicated to chess in a school in Vanadzor, Armenia.Â
Short Term Impact
As funding becomes available, a classroom dedicated to teaching chess will be renovated. Renovations will include new paint and flooring if necessary, new furniture and equipment needed to facilitate chess classes.Â
Long Term Impact
In the long term, children will have the opportunity to expand their educational experience through chess classes in a new and fully equipped chess classroom. Â
Sponsors Benefits
All sponsors of this important project will be listed on The Paros Foundation’s website and in all press related to this project. Visits to these communities can be arranged for sponsors visiting Armenia.
Construction on The Levon Bosnoyan Chess Room begins by removing the old flooring.
July 11, 2022
Renovations on The Levon Bosnoyan Chess Room are finished! Shortly, chess desks will be added to the classroom for students to learn and play with.Â
August 2, 2022
Chess desks are added to the classroom.
September 19, 2023
The Levon Bosnoyan Chess Room in Vanadzor was renovated in memory of Levon and his love for chess. Today, the Bosnoyan Family visited the chess room and saw his legacy live on as a new generation learns to play chess. Thank you to the Bosoyan Family for making this project possible.
September 4, 2024
In honor of Levon’s birthday, new flooring was recently installed further revitalizing The Levon Bosnoyan Chess Room. Many thanks to the Bosnoyan Family for keeping his memory alive in this meaningful way.
The National Agrarian University is a joint partner in this project. The greenhouse will be essential for the full training of the students during the course of the academic year. Further, the forestry professors and graduate students will conduct various research on part of the surface. The rest of the surface will be tended by our workers to grow various seedlings aimed for our reforestation projects.
We will build a 3,300 square foot greenhouse on the grounds of the National Agrarian University in Vanadzor. The greenhouse will have an automatic irrigation system. In addition, we will build 30 metal tables to support 1500 boxes for plant containers and develop our own design for a seedling container. Each table will support 3,000 containers containing one seedling each. The total capacity of the greenhouse is 90,000 seedlings. If the budget is fully raised, we would like to have two sets of 90.000 containers in order to allow two shifts per year.
The greenhouse will enable us to have a greater variety of forest tree seedlings including some rare and endangered species. This is very important in order to increase bio-diversity in the forests. It will also improve the success ratio of the plants in the afforestation areas as the saplings will go in the ground with soil around their roots.
The Greenhouse budget includes the construction of the actual greenhouse, the installation of an irrigation system, tables, containers and the required shading nets. Details are available upon request.
To help our reforestation projects in Armenia, we need many different species of good quality seedlings. At the same time, the proper schooling of forestry graduates and future reforestation experts requires that they gain practical instruction. A greenhouse is essential to complete their education and to help reforestation. Indeed some forest tree species are difficult to grow in open-air nurseries. Within the controlled environment of a greenhouse the success rate of rare species and productivity of the seedlings will be increased.
Short Term Impact
Short term impact: 5 workers will be hired to work in the greenhouse and many students will profit from this unique learning tool.
Long Term Impact
The long-term impact of the project is to support reforestaton projects in Armenia in order to increase the forest coverage and improve the nature of this attractive mountainous country. It will also help the training of future forestry specialists.
Sponsors Benefits
All sponsors to this project will be listed on the Paros website, as well as on the website of My Forest Armenia. One major donor may name the greenhouse. A plaque with all donors will hang inside the greenhouse. For each $1,000 donation a donor may name one table. Donors who visit Armenia can have a guided visit to the greenhouse and the reforestation sites.
Getahovit is a village just outside of Ijevan in Armenia’s Tavush Region. This community is home to more than 2,000 residents. Getahovit’s school is in terrible condition and needs a complete renovation.
The school was built in 1971 and serves 250 children in the first to twelfth grades. The community of Getahovit and the school’s leadership has tried to maintain the school the best they can given their extremely limited resources. However, crumbling plaster, lack of heating and non-functioning bathrooms make for a terrible environment for these children to learn. To properly renovate the school, this large project will be addressed in phases. Firstly, the school needs to have a functioning heating system prior to the start of winter. This effort, combined with the repair of the school’s roof, changing of the balance of old windows and the start of renovations one of the school’s wings including classrooms and bathrooms will serve as a huge source of inspiration for this community.
To kick off this important project, Hovhannes Mardirossian and his wife Anahit, whose mother taught at the school for 45 years, have announced a matching challenge grant for phase one renovations. For every dollar raised towards this effort, they will contribute a matching amount up to $25,000 for a total of $50,000 for phase one!
The village school in Getahovit is in very poor overall condition despite the fact that more than 250 children attend. The most immediate need is to replace broken heating system prior to the start of winter.
Short Term Impact
In the short term, the most immediate need is to replace the school’s boilers to provide heat for the school prior to winter. The 250 students will immediately benefit from the new heating system. As the renovations progress, workers’ salaries and material purchases will benefit the local economy.
Long Term Impact
In the longer term, the entire village of Getahovit will benefit from having a school that meets modern safety and comfort standards. The school’s environment will inspire students and staff for years to come.
Sponsors Benefits
Sponsors of this important project will be listed on The Paros Foundation website, in appropriate press, and on a plaque installed at school. Visits to the school can be arranged for donors visiting Armenia.
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November 24, 2021
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October 8, 2021
Work began today to build a new boiler room to house the new boilers for the school as the old boilers are no longer working and beyond repair, and winter will be here soon.Â
November 24, 2021
The new boilers have been successfully installed and tested. Â This will allow the school to be heated. Â A portion of the school’s radiators were changed as part of this emergency work. Â The rest of the school’s pipes and radiators will be changed as soon as funding is raised. Â
August 11, 2022The rest of the school has now been equipped with new piping and radiators for its heating system. September 8, 2022Work at school is going well with renovations now complete for the Chemistry Lab and the addition of new office space. September 12, 2022
Everyone at the Getahovit School was so excited to welcome Mr. & Mrs. Hovhannes & Anahit Mardirossian who visited the chemistry lab and toured the rest of the school. The work at the school was made possible through the generosity and match provided by the Mardirossians and their family & friends.
August 2, 2023
A 3rd boiler has been added to the school’s heating system to heat the additional wing of the school to keep the children warm during the winter.
October 19, 2023
Donors visit the school and see all the great work that has been done. We are grateful for all their support and without them this project would not have been possible.Â
The village of Hatsik is located about ten minutes from the city of Armavir in Armenia’s Armavir region about 60 kilometers from Yerevan. Hatsik is home to 2,560 residents. The village has one school with 260 children in attendance. In 2013, The Paros Foundation and its SERVICE Armenia program began the renovation of one of the two buildings on campus. Over the course of four years, renovations were made to three bathrooms, twelve classrooms, the hallways, gym and locker room. The facade of the building was also repaired. The school’s auditorium needs to be renovated to facilitate school gathers and performances. This renovation will include the replacement of the windows and doors, rebuilding of the stage, new electrical, new paint and new seating. The renovation will also include the cosmetic renovation of the hall immediately in front of the entrance to the auditorium.
Region
Armavir
City / Village
Hatsik
Start Date
February 2018
End Date
May 2018
The Need
260 children in the school at Hatsik do not have a proper auditorium to conduct plays, hold gatherings and performances. The school and its students have a vibrant and active schedule and would greatly benefit from this renovated facility.
Short Term Impact
In the short term, the school would immediately benefit from a renovated auditorium. Materials and labor would be purchased locally, which would benefit the local economy.
Long Term Impact
In the long term, both the school and the village would benefit from a new gathering and performance space. In addition to furthering the education of the children at the school, Armenia’s culture will be promoted via a new emphasis on performance and the fine arts.
Sponsors Benefits
All sponsors will be recognized on The Paros Foundation website, in appropriate press released to this project, and on a plaque installed in the Hatsik School Auditorium.
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February 11, 2018
April 10, 2018
May 15, 2018
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February 11, 2018
New windows arrived and are going to being installed. The rough electrical work has been completed.
April 10, 2018
Work in the Hatsik School is almost complete! Our construction crew Is working on both the tile flooring and the painting in the hallway and auditorium.
May 15, 2018
The Hatsik School Auditorium is now complete with a new stage and chairs, new interiors, tile, paint, new windows and electrical!
The site of the Terchoonian Home, located in Gyumri Armenia, holds great historical significance. It was an orphanage during the Armenian Genocide managed by the Near East Relief, a social and economic development organization established in 1915. It later became a military headquarters for the Soviet army. In 1988, the building was heavily damaged during the devastating Spitak Earthquake. Due to support by the Terchoonian Family, and the hard work and dedication of the late Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian and Romen Gozmoyan, the building was purchased and renovated. The Terchoonian Home Orphanage opened its doors again in 2003 through the generous donation by the Terchoonian Family honoring the late Vahan Terchoonian. The Terchoonian Family chose Gyumri as it was the city Terchoonian found refuge in after escaping from Turkey, before eventually immigrating to the United States.
Today, the orphanage houses 84 children and operates a school that serves a total of 115 children with 54 individuals on staff. This historic building, specifically its third floor, is in need of emergency repairs prior to another harsh Gyumri winter. Sponsorship of this project will help urgently complete renovations, which include repairs to fix several leaks in the roof, replacement of 32 windows on the third floor (several of which have been boarded up because there is no glass in them or they don’t close), new doors for the third floor corridor (at each staircase), balcony, bedrooms and classrooms, and new carpeting for the rooms with water damage where children stay. Furthermore, the exterior walls on the third floor are made of asbestos panels, which have been poorly installed, are not water tight and have caused the third floor carpeting in the rooms to become damp and foul over time. The asbestos panels will be replaced with a new exterior wall that will be weather/water tight. Additional repairs are also needed, such as repairs to water pipes and partial renovation of two bathrooms (including drain pipes and the addition of a shower stall), but will be addressed after the above urgent needs are met. These renovations to the orphanage are important to not only keep the children and staff safe, warm and protected from illnesses that may arise due to poor conditions, but also to help preserve a building that holds such significance for Armenian history in its walls.
The Terchoonian Home, which has several leaks, and damage to their building, is in need of emergency renovations in order to withstand another winter and keep its children, students and staff, safe and away from illness that may arise. Additionally, preserving this building is of high cultural importance due to its historical significance.Â
Short Term Impact
The short-term impact of this project will include repairs to several leaks in the roof, repairs to 32 windows on the third floor, installation of new doors for the third floor corridor, balcony, repairs to the bedrooms and classrooms, new carpeting for the children’s rooms and replacement of the asbestos panels on the third floor with a new exterior wall that will be weather/water tight. All materials will be purchased in Armenia, thus providing a boost to the local economy. In addition, local labor will be hired to complete the construction work whenever possible, thus providing locals with temporary jobs.Â
Long Term Impact
In the long term, additional repairs will be made such as repairs to water pipes and partial renovation of two bathrooms (including drain pipes and the addition of shower stall). The success of this project will provide a proper, safe and warm facility for current and future children attending or living in the Terchoonian Home. The amount of illnesses and colds will be decreased with the elimination of leaks and water damage. Furthermore, a building that holds great historical significance will continue to be preserved for years to come.Â
Sponsors Benefits
Your donation to sponsor the Terchoonian Home Restoration Project will be recognized on a plaque at the Home, on the Paros Foundation website and in appropriate press related to this important project. The Paros Foundation will gladly arrange a visit to the orphanage when you are in Armenia. [vp_give_donor_wall
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August 1, 2015
Work is completed on the living quarters at the Terchoonian Home. Roof repairs, new flooring, doors and windows, lighting and electrical, paint and new bathrooms including indoor bathing facilities dramatically improving the living conditions for the children.
In 2013, a Peace Crops volunteer first submitted the Zorakan village school as a potential Paros project. The school needs an extensive remodel. The school’s campus includes a large two story building which houses the While the Tavush regional government recently installed a new roof at the school, we need to complete the renovation. The scope of work includes installing a new heating system, new windows and doors in 14 classrooms, three new bathrooms (teachers, boys and girls), renovations throughout two hallways (upstairs and downstairs), new furniture, new flooring installation, paint and electrical work. The school will be renovated in two phases. Phase one will completely renovate the second floor and will include the installation of the heating system. The school campus also includes a second large building that use to house the gymnasium, but this building must be torn down and rebuilt due to structural problems. This project will focus only on the building which houses the classrooms.
The remote village of Zorakan located in Armenia’s Tavush region has a population of about 1,000 people. It was populated by Azeris until 1988 and had a different name, Verin Kerpilu. During an armed conflict, the Azeri population fled the village and Armenian refuges from Azerbaijan were placed in the village. At the time, the entire village population was refugees from Azerbaijan; they later changed the name to Zorakan in honor of two marshals from their home village Chardakhlu. There are approximately 270 households, most of the villagers cannot find work outside their homes and survive by making a living from their land, from their gardens and fruit trees. Some of the husbands (and single men) find work in Russia and are gone much of the year, leaving their wives to raise the families. There are 135 children who attend the secondary school along with 26 teachers and technical workers. Along with the school, the village has a mayor’s office, a post office, four small stores, a health post and a culture house.
The budget to renovate and furnish this two story building of the school is $125,000.
Phase one efforts will include renovations to the second floor classrooms hallway. Funding for phase one is $55,000. Second phase work will be determined based on the response from the government regarding their participation.
Children cannot achieve their greatest potential attending classes in substandard classrooms. A renovated, safe and warm environment will allow students to study in a clean, healthy and appropriate atmosphere.
Short Term Impact
Local villagers will be employed during the renovation project. In addition, the school will be able to provide a safe environment for the children.
Long Term Impact
A proper facility for students to learn in will help these village children reach their fullest potential. The growing student population at the school, their teachers and other school workers will take pride in the fact that people care about them and their school
Sponsors Benefits
All sponsors will be recognized with a plaque installed at the school. In addition, donors will be recognized on all relevant press regarding this project and on The Paros Foundation website. Visits to the Zorakan School will be arranged for sponsors visiting Armenia.
Following negotiations with the educational office of the Tavush regional governor, new windows for the second floor were delivered today as their contribution towards this important project, and the reconstruction of the second floor of the Zorakan School has begun.
July 1, 2018
The new boilers have been delivered and installed. Sassoun, our heating specialist has also installed the new heating pipes and radiators, and has pressured tested the entire system. Now the village administration will work with the gas company to move the gas pipes to the new location within the school as part of their contribution to this important project.
July 4, 2018
Our work crew is making excellent progress on installing the sub floors and continuing work on the electric and walls.
September 1, 2018
The first day of school welcomed students and staff into several of the renovated classrooms on the second floor. Everyone is excited! Thank you to all the donors thus far that helped make this phase one renovation possible.
October 26, 2018
As part of our Journey through Armenia trip, participants visited the school in Zorakan. They were so moved by the students and staff, and need to continue this renovation, that several in the group immediately committed to supporting the renovation of the boys and girls bathroom.
December 18, 2018
Work on the two bathrooms at the Zorakan school began now that funding is available!
March 1, 2019
Construction of the two bathrooms is complete.
May 31, 2019
With the school year complete, our construction crew began work on the first floor, entryways and stairwells.
July 15, 2019
Our SERVICE Armenia participants came to volunteer at the school and worked on several of the classrooms, stairwell and hallway.
December 25, 2019
Work on the inside of the Zorakan school is now completed. When the weather permits, our crew will do some repairs and pave the exterior entryway of the school.
May 20, 2020
Work has begun to pave the exterior of the school and repair the badly damaged stairs that lead to the village.
September 21, 2020
Zorakan Village School rennovations, including the exterior stairs of the school,  are complete! A ribbon cutting was held to celebrate the school’s opening.
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 180 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. 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
Region
Shirak / Õ‡Õ«Ö€Õ¡Õ¯
City / Village
Gyumri / Ô³ÕµÕ¸Ö‚Õ´Ö€Õ«
Start Date
April 2021
End Date
March 2022
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 180 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 2021 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.
Due to the pandemic, schools and children’s centers were closed throughout Armenia. Â Debi Arach reopened as soon as it was allowed to. Â Children are provided a fresh mask each day, food is served in individual containers and extra sanitary steps are taken to prevent the virus’ spread.Â
May 1, 2021
Debi Arach has won a small grant from the U.S. Embassy in Armenia. Â The grant is titled “American Summer” and is aimed at teaching students about American culture through food, music, sports and movies. Â This program will run throughout the summer months.
October 25, 2021
As part of our SERVICE Armenia Young Professional’s trip to Armenia, participants helped distribute warm winter boots and scarfs for the students at Debi Arach. This project is very valuable as winter boots are expensive and most of the children walk to Debi Arach after school (and Gyumri is very cold.)
