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.
Following the 1988 Spitak Earthquake, thousands of people were left homeless in the city of Gyumri. Many of these families took refuge in the overseas shipping containers (domiks) that were shipped into Armenia loaded with humanitarian relief supplies. Although more than a quarter century has passed since the earthquake, this depressive reality still remains. Currently, more than 1,800 families still live in domiks scattered throughout Gyumri in extreme poverty. Many of them are unable to provide for their familys’ needs including warm clothes, nutritious food, heat and electricity for their homes and other basic necessities.
During his visit to Armenia two summers ago Dustin Hochmuth, one of the SERVICE Armenia 2017 participants, and several of his peers, witnessed these horrible conditions and decided to assemble packets for 10 families in dire need of everyday necessities and non-perishable food items. This effort was led by one of the SERVICE Armenia 2017 coordinators, Stephanie Nersesyan. Following the success of that effort, Dustin decided to return to Armenia the following year on the SERVICE Armenia 2018 trip and spearhead his own project providing similar packets of necessities to 100 families in desperate need. Dustin helped raise the funds needed and with his SERVICE Armenia 2018 peers spent several days purchasing, assembling and distributing the packets of food to family in Gyumri.
Dustin has decided to take on this effort again this year. His goal is to raise enough funds to help 50 families this summer. Each packet will cost $30 and will include basic staples including personal hygiene products, non-perishable food items such as rice, flour, sugar, salt, oil, and pasta. The packets will also include fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy products and canned meats. Once in Armenia, Dustin will again lead the group throughout the implementations of the project starting with shopping for the items, assembling the packets and distributing the packets themselves to families in need. Donations in any amount will help this important cause.
Region
Shirak
City / Village
Gyumri
Start Date
June 2019
End Date
July 2019
The Need
In the short term, 50 families will receive packets filled with basic staples including personal hygiene products, non-perishable food items and fresh food items.
Short Term Impact
As funding becomes available, homes with the greatest need for repairs will be addressed in a priority manner. Reconstruction materials will be purchased locally and the work will be completed with local labor crews.
Long Term Impact
In long term, the Armenian diaspora will be exposed to the harsh living conditions in Gyumri through this important project.
Sponsors Benefits
All project sponsors will be recognized on all relevant press regarding this project and on The Paros Foundation’s website. The Paros Foundation can arrange a visit to Gyumri when you are in Armenia.
SERVICE Armenia 2019, joined by Dustin Hochmuth, volunteers and guests, began the process of assembling 50 food packs.
June 28, 2019
SERVICE Armenia 2019, Dustin Hochmuth, Paros staff and a few volunteers and guests arrived in Gyumri to complete assembling the food packs. Tomorrow, they will be joined by Med-Aid ARMENIA 2019 participants and will spend the day in Gyumri along with the Shirak Center NGO distributing the food packs to families in need.
June 29, 2019
SERVICE Armenia 2019, Dustin Hochmuth, Med-Aid ARMENIA 2019 participants, Paros staff and Shirak Center NGO staff spent the day visiting families living in “domiks” to distribute food packets. They got the chance to meet and get to know some of the families. Another successful distribution!
More than 1,200 children live in Armenia’s 15 orphanages. These facilities provide for the children’s basic needs, but their limited budgets do not allow these children to participate in visits to popular historical sites, an amusement park or concert, or attend a cultural event.
Armenia’s orphan children should have the opportunity to experience popular cultural events, exhibits, and excursions in Armenia, or simply have a fun afternoon or activity that they normally would not be able to experience. Many different activities and excursions can be organized for these children. The extent of the activity or trip is directly related to the sponsorship amount. For sponsorships amounts between $250 -$750 approximately 20 children and an appropriate number of chaperons will be able participate in a memorable activity. Please consider supporting multiple excursions for these children.
The Paros Foundation staff and volunteers will organize and oversee the excursion/activity. Opportunities to sponsor excursions for orphanages serving both disabled and non-disabled children exist. Whenever possible, our staff will work with the destination for the excursion to secure group pricing and/or discounts.
Armenia’s orphanages generally are able to provide for their children’s basic care, but limited funding does not allow these children to visit museums, historical sites and popular cultural events. Allowing a child a few hours of recreation and/or entertainment as a regular child greatly enhances his/her outlook on life and reduces the emotional complexes of being an orphan.
Short Term Impact
The short-term impact of this project will be the immediate employment of a bus driver, money being spent in Armenia’s local economy and most important the education and social benefits for orphan children.
Long Term Impact
This project has considerable long-term emotion, education and psychological benefits for the children, as they will be able to participate in activities that are above and beyond basic existence in an orphanage.
Sponsors Benefits
Your support of this project will be recognized on the Ghoghanj Children’s Center’s website, your name listed as a sponsor on The Paros Foundation website and in appropriate press related to this important project. The Paros Foundation stands ready to help you arrange a visit to the center when you are in Armenia.
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July 15, 2019
Our 2019 SERVICE Armenia participants spent a terrific day with 85 at-risk children from the Ghoghanj Children’s Center. The day started out with a tour of the Zvartnots Cathedral, followed by several hours of fun at the Ashtarak Gorge recreational area playing games and having lunch.
Warm Hearth Foundation (Jermik Ankyun) provides long-term community-based and holistic care in a small group home setting to adults with severe mental disabilities or illnesses who have graduated from special state institutions. At Warm Hearth residents have access to food, medicine, basic necessities, holistic care that they deserve, rehabilitation opportunities, love, support and safety. The hope is that they will be able to re-enter mainstream community life slowly but surely. In the course of its activities, Warm Hearth provides psycho-medical assistance to its residents, which requires daily intake of medication and psychological therapies. This support is deemed medically necessary to sustain mental and emotional stability and the physical well-being of their residents. Warm Hearth spends almost 10% of its annual operating budget on helping its residents with medical care and therapy.
Sponsorship of this project will help Warm Hearth with expenses related to food and hygiene and to help their residents receive the required psychological and medical interventions that are crucial to ensure their well-being. Due to various mental, physical and developmental disorders the residents receive psycho medical assistance to prevent further deterioration of heath related conditions. This proposed project includes the following items:
• First aid medicine • Individually prescribed medication based on the needs of each resident • Psychotropic medication based on a doctor’s prescription • Individual psychological therapy with a specialized psychiatrist
Furthermore, including caregiver’s time spent in the kitchen, Warm Hearth spends $36,000/year for 30 residents (between three locations) on food and hygiene. That is about $1200/year per resident, $100/month per resident, or $25/week.
Given the residents’ permanent disability status, they receive the majority of their medical care from the government. However, the Armenian government only provides specific medications that they have on hand (they do not provide money to purchase necessary medications). The medications that they have on hand are not always therapeutic for the residents. If a resident needs a medication or procedure outside the provisions of the Armenian government, Warm Hearth is responsible for that payment. Furthermore, the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs will no longer support Warm Hearth financially for food & hygiene expenses, as a majority of their funds will be used for refugee support and post-war costs.
Short Term Impact
In the short term, residents will regularly be able to receive the medical support they need, food and hygienic supplies. Warm Hearth will better be able to meet the needs of all of its program areas through this important financial support.
Long Term Impact
The proposed project will support the health, nutrition and well being of the Warm Hearth residents so that they are capable of living a full, meaningful and pain-free life as much as possible. All the aforementioned medications and psychological therapies improve the quality life of residents and treat their respective diagnoses. The proposed project has a holistic and complex approach through providing the required main components of health care at Warm Hearth. As a result of the complex approach the health conditions and wellbeing of the residents will become manageable and improved.
Sponsors Benefits
All sponsors of this project will be listed on The Paros Foundation and the Warm Hearth websites, on the Warm Heath Facebook on a quarterly basis and in the quarterly newsletter to the international donor base, and in any press related to this important project. Visits to the home can be arranged for sponsors and their families during visits to Armenia.
Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur (NKA) 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. NKA was the single most damaged Armenian village following the Azeri conflict in the 1990’s. The economy of the village and the livelihood of many of its residents have suffered due to these difficult and dangerous times. Furthermore, 70% of their fertile land is unusable because of frequent sniper attacks. Many homes have been damaged and worn out over the years and are in need of partial renovations and repairs, including, indoor plumbing, new windows, doors and floors, roof repairs, new heating systems, and even room additions. The village is economically strained and families are in need of additional aid to care for their families, homes and livelihood.
Sponsorship of this project will help provide 7 families with materials, technical expertise and/or the necessary labor in order to complete specific renovation projects to their homes. 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.
Due to the remote and dangerous area in which this village is situated, residents are unable to travel for work, or establish many other economical opportunities so that they can financially provide for their families and repair their homes. Helping these families renovate and repair their homes will help improve the quality of life for their families.
Short Term Impact
In the short term the sponsored family will receive the materials, technical expertise and/or the necessary labor they need to partially renovate and repair their homes. In addition, some short-term local employment will be created benefitting the village economy.
Long Term Impact
In the long term, two families will have improved their overall living conditions through warmer, dryer, safer and cleaner homes. 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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March 9, 2019
The Lalayan family home received new windows today as the start of the renovation to their home has begun!
April 1, 2020
Both the Sharyan and Lalayan homes are complete. The work took a bit longer than anticipated as both men work as soldiers and were away from home more than anticipated.
May 1, 2020
Work on replacing Urik’s windows and his partial roof is complete.
May 2021
Nareg, a soldier that was seriously injured in the 2020 war needed work done to his home including the renovation of his room, the kitchen and bath. This work was completed as Nareg was doing his therapy at the rehab center in Yerevan.
December 2, 2021
Ghughas had purchased a half built home for his family that needed to have the construction completed. This work was finished in late 2021.
May, 3 2022
Armen A. and Samvel S. both wanted their homes expanded by rebuilding their balconies and incorporating this space into their homes. This work was completed on both homes in the spring of 2022.
The Ministry of Emergency Situations is Armenia’s 911 rapid responders. This Ministry operates units throughout Armenia. The brave rapid responders in these units respond to a variety of calls including intruders, fires and health issues. In Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur, the unit is comprised of 24 people, who work around the clock. In addition to traditional requests, these rapid responders in this border village also organize village patrols and coordinate volunteers at the time of increased border skirmishes.
The Ministry of Emergency Situations is located in a two story building near the village administrative building. Through local support, the upper floor of the building has been renovated. Support is needed to install a proper heating system throughout the building and to renovate the lower level including a changing room and fitness room. The scope of work will include installing new subflooring, tile flooring, new windows and doors, electrical and paint. In addition, the heating system will be comprised of a new boiler, and radiators throughout the building. The Ministry is prepared to help bring a gas line to the building as their local contribution.
Armenia’s 911 rapid responders work throughout Armenia responding to both emergencies and helping provide village security. Safe and comfortable accommodations are needed to support the staff of the responders in the border village of Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur. Proper heating, a locker room and fitness area will benefit the overall health of these village heroes.
Short Term Impact
In the short term, renovations will be made to the building employing local labor and local materials whenever possible. Once completed, rapid responders will have a safe and comfortable environment in which to work.
Long Term Impact
In the long term, a safer and more appropriate headquarters in the village of Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur for rapid responders will encourage a stronger work ethic and overall improve the safety of the village and its residents.
Sponsors Benefits
All sponsors to this project will be listed on The Paros Foundation website and on a plaque at the building in NKA. Visits to NKA will be arranged for visitors to Armenia.
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February 15, 2019
March 12, 2019
April 12, 2019
July 22, 2019
October 1, 2019
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February 15, 2019
Work has began on both the heating system and the first floor renovation. The large first floor windows are being blocked smaller for added security from the potential of sniper fire.
March 12, 2019
With the work on the walls and ceiling completed, the crew starts the work on installing the new tile flooring.
April 12, 2019
Work on the entire inside is completed. The first floor is ready for the new gym equipment.
July 22, 2019
An awning is being installed along with a cement walkway along the front of the building.
October 1, 2019
Brand new gym equipment and fitness supplies were purchased and delivered today.
Following the 1988 Spitak Earthquake, tens of thousands of people were left homeless in the City of Gyumri. Many of these families took refuge in the overseas shipping containers (domiks) that were shipped into Armenia loaded with humanitarian relief supplies, or in condemned buildings. An entire generation of children has grown up in deplorable conditions, often times with no running water and little or no heat. The Armenian government has provided most of the families that lost their homes in the Earthquake with new housing units.
As people moved out of those makeshift housing units, others moved in. The 2,500 families that remain are Gyumri’s desolate families, who are not in line to receive a government provided apartment. Many of these families are comprised of single mothers, multiple children and/or the disabled. This is a sustainable model in that families that have been moved into permanent housing in the past have had a high degree of success maintaining their families and their new homes.
Aghonik Galoyan is a single mother. She lives in a tiny domik with her mother and her son, Nareg. Nareg has attended The Paros Foundation operated Debi Arach Children’s Center since it was opened in 2015. He is a good student. Aghonik earns extra money seasonally by planting and picking potatoes. The Galoyan family will dramatically benefit from a new home.
Once the move is complete, the make shift housing unit will be destroyed to prevent its future occupancy.
2,500 families live in the city of Gyumri in temporary, make shift housing. These units are neither safe nor sanitary. These families and their children need a normal apartment in which to live.
Short Term Impact
Upon this project getting funded, an apartment will be purchased for this family. The make shift housing unit which they currently occupy will be dismantled.
Long Term Impact
In addition to this family and their improved mental state changing through the fact that they will be living in a normal housing situation, the city of Gyumri itself will improve with the removal of these make shift housing units.
Sponsors Benefits
All sponsors will be recognized on all relevant press regarding this project and on The Paros Foundation website.
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March 27, 2019
The Galoyan Family moved into their new home today. We wish them much success on their new start.
Following the 1988 Spitak Earthquake, tens of thousands of people were left homeless in the City of Gyumri. Many of these families took refuge in the overseas shipping containers (domiks) that were shipped into Armenia loaded with humanitarian relief supplies, or in condemned buildings. An entire generation of children has grown up in deplorable conditions, often times with no running water and little or no heat. The Armenian government has provided most of the families that lost their homes in the Earthquake with new housing units.
As people moved out of those makeshift housing units, others moved in. The 2,500 families that remain are Gyumri’s desolate families, who are not in line to receive a government provided apartment. Many of these families are comprised of single mothers, multiple children and/or the disabled. This is a sustainable model in that families that have been moved into permanent housing in the past have had a high degree of success maintaining their families and their new homes.
Anna Boghosian is a single mother. Her husband abandoned the family just before their youngest child was born. Because of the difficult conditions in their domik, the girls have attended boarding school for the last several years. Anna’s father also lives with them. He is a war hero from the Artsakh war and was a tank gunner. He spent the last year in Russia working to try and earn some money to make improvements to the families domik. The Boghosyan family will dramatically benefit from a new home.
Once the move is complete, the make shift housing unit will be destroyed to prevent its future occupancy.
2,500 families live in the city of Gyumri in temporary, make shift housing. These units are neither safe nor sanitary. These families and their children need a normal apartment in which to live.
Short Term Impact
Upon this project getting funded, an apartment will be purchased for this family. The make shift housing unit which they currently occupy will be dismantled. Anna intends on no longer sending the girls to boarding school if they receive a new apartment.
Long Term Impact
In addition to this family and their improved mental state changing through the fact that they will be living in a normal housing situation, the city of Gyumri itself will improve with the removal of these make shift housing units.
Sponsors Benefits
All sponsors will be recognized on all relevant press regarding this project and on The Paros Foundation website.
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February 8, 2019
Today we visited the Boghosyan family and told them they would be soon receiving a new apartment. They were overwhelmed with joy!
March 5, 2019
Today Anna, her father and three daughters were moved into their new apartment!
The Kharpert Home for Special Children is an orphanage located in the village of Nor Kharpert, and serves more than 250 children with varying degrees of developmental disabilities. The orphanage is a state run facility that receives governmental support to provide these vulnerable children with their basic care and education.
Excursions for these children to amusement parks and/or other appropriate venues provide these them with both valuable community experience and needed recreation. Children with disabilities in Armenia are generally kept sheltered from society. These children do not attend school, but rather attend classes at the orphanage. It is important for both these children and society for these children to experience community life.
For each donation of $250, approximately 20 children and an appropriate number of care provides will be able to go on an excursion to Yerevan at Victory Park, or another appropriate venue for a morning or afternoon of activities including transportation, admission and snacks. Please consider supporting multiple excursions for these children.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHV2EpQRb40
Region
Ararat / Արարատ
City / Village
Nor Kharpert / Նոր Խարբերդ
Start Date
September 2020
End Date
September 2020
The Need
Approximately 1,200 children live in Armenia’s 15 orphanages. While these facilities provide basic care for these children, their limited funding does not permit them regular visits and participate in various social and cultural activities. A child with a disability has very few opportunities to visit the city and experience life outside of the grounds of the Kharpert orphanage.
Short Term Impact
The short-term impact of this project will be the employment of a bus driver, money being spent in Armenia’s local economy and most important the education and social benefits for 20 children with developmental disabilities.
Long Term Impact
This project has considerable long-term benefits for both the children and for society. Society’s attitudes towards people with disabilities will slowly begin to change as witness these children regularly and realize that society can indeed accommodate them as part of their community.
Sponsors Benefits
Your donation to the Kharpert Home for Special Children will be recognized at the Center and your name listed as a sponsor on The Paros Foundation website and in appropriate press related to this important project. The Paros Foundation stands ready to help you arrange a visit to the Kharpert Home for Special Children when you are in Armenia.
Residents of the Kharpert Home for Special Children went on an excursion to a Lake Sevan camp. They had a fun week of swimming and lakeside activities.
Following the 1988 Spitak Earthquake, tens of thousands of people were left homeless in the City of Gyumri. Many of these families took refuge in the overseas shipping containers (domiks) that were shipped into Armenia loaded with humanitarian relief supplies, or in condemned buildings. An entire generation of children has grown up in deplorable conditions, often times with no running water and little or no heat. The Armenian government has provided most of the families that lost their homes in the Earthquake with new housing units.
As people moved out of those makeshift housing units, others moved in. The 2,500 or so families that remain are Gyumri’s desolate families, who are not in line to receive a government provided apartment. Many of these families are comprised of single mothers, multiple children and/or the disabled. This is a sustainable model in that families that have been moved into permanent housing in the past have had a high degree of success maintaining their families and their new homes.
The Matevosyan family has been identified as a family in need of a new home. Marina, her husband Gevorg and their three children have lived in this domik since Marina and Gevorg purchased it for $1,200 nine years ago. Gevorg works as a contract soldier and is currently stationed at the border with Azerbaijan. The family has no running water and their domik is infested with rats. Once the move is complete, the make shift housing unit will be dismantled to prevent its future occupancy.
2,500 families live in the city of Gyumri in temporary, make shift housing. These units are neither safe nor sanitary. These families and their children need a normal apartment in which to live.
Short Term Impact
Immediately, a new apartment will be sought out and purchased for the Matevosyan family. The make shift housing unit which they currently occupy will be dismantled as soon as the family has been moved into their new home.
Long Term Impact
In addition to this family and their improved mental state changing through the fact that they will be living in a normal housing situation, the city of Gyumri itself will improve with the removal of these make shift housing units.
Sponsors Benefits
All sponsors will be recognized on all relevant press regarding this project and on The Paros Foundation website.
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February 8, 2019
March 29, 2019
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Video Update
February 8, 2019
Today the Paros team along with our friend, Vahan Tumasyan from the Shirak Center told the Matevosyan family the good news that they were selected to receive a new home. Marina called her husband, Gevorg and gave him the good news. Gevorg is stationed at a post on the Azeri border and is due home from his shift in twelve days.
March 29, 2019
Today The Matevosyan Family became home owners! They signed the purchase contract at the Notary and the gifting agreement with the Paros team.
April 3, 2019
Moving day! The Matevosyan family said good bye to their old domik and opened a new chapter to their lives. Congratulations!
The Paros Foundation launched the Debi Arach Children’s Center in Gyumri, Armenia on April 15, 2015 with the help of generous donors. The center, which provides 170 children each week the necessary academic, psychological, social and humanitarian support, has since been a source of positivity in this city. The residents of Gyumri, Armenia’s second largest city have endured very devastating realities since the tragic 1988 Spitak Earthquake. More than 100,000 residents were left homeless, and plagued with unemployment and rampant poverty for years to come. In turn, the fate of children in Gyumri has also been affected. Dealing with the difficulty of finding means to feed and care for their families, many parents are unable to provide their children with the proper guidance, supervision, educational aid and the financial resources for them to excel in school and have successful futures. The Debi Arach Children’s Center, which in Armenian means “moving forward,” helps these socially vulnerable children through a holistic approach providing them with both humanitarian and educational support. The center provides counseling and group therapy with a psychologist on staff, homework help and tutoring for almost every subject the children learn in school including English, Math, Art/Design, and Computer classes. Additionally, they are served a nutritious meal everyday, helping them receive the calories and/or nutrients they would otherwise not have. Furthermore, the Center addresses a very important hygienic need by providing the children in attendance with supervised bathing facilities. The goal is to help hundreds of children develop a vision for a successful future, and to give them the skills they need to reach these goals. This project is impacting the lives of hundreds of socially vulnerable children by helping them gain the guidance and support they need in order to create greater future opportunities, and become successful individuals and good citizens.
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 four 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. $77,000 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.
Watch Video
Region
Shirak Շիրակ
City / Village
Gyumri Գյումրի
Start Date
April 2019
End Date
March 2020
The Need
Thousands of children in Gyumri are living in extreme poverty, with no hope for a decent future. These socially vulnerable children are in need of a safe and enriching environment where they can receive additional guidance through social, psychological and academic support giving them a chance to break their cycle of poverty. The children’s center will continue to provide these children with the opportunity to attend afterschool and summer school programs providing them with the additional skills necessary for a successful future. Additionally, these children suffer from malnutrition and related illnesses due to a lack of well-balanced meals. The center will continue to provide each child with a nutritious meal everyday, helping them receive the calories and/or nutrients they need. Furthermore, many families were forced to take refuge in overseas shipping containers (domiks), or in condemned buildings after the devastating 1988 Spitak Earthquake or due to their poor socioeconomic status. An entire generation of children has grown up in deplorable conditions, often times with no running water and little or no heat to take showers. The Center will address this very important hygienic need by continuing to provide the children in attendance with supervised new bathing facilities.
Short Term Impact
The short-term 170 children will receive immediate support and guidance to help them succeed for the second year. The Center will continue offer nutritious meals, bathing facilities, counseling opportunities, homework aid and tutoring and core classes including English, Computer, Art/Design, and Math.
Long Term Impact
In the long term, with the success of the Center’s current offerings, additional classes and programs will be added and attendance will rise. The number of children growing up in poverty in the future will decrease as the number of children successfully graduating from our program and continuing onto college or successful vocations increases. The number of “social orphans” and children temporarily residing in boarding schools in Gyumri will be reduced as parents become increasingly able to keep their children at home given the humanitarian support they receive at the center. Through ongoing employment opportunities created, several families will continue to receive a fair wage, hence improving Gyumri’s economy.
Sponsors Benefits
Your donation to sponsor the operating cost for 2019 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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June 28, 2019
July 1, 2019
November 1, 2019
November 7, 2019
November 12, 2019
December 13, 2019
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June 28, 2019
The Paros Foundation’s Service Armenia 2019 group came to visit Debi Arach and implement the Packs on Backs Armenia: Debi Arach project, distributing backpacks full of school supplies to all of the students. The backpacks are important for students as they ensure that no student is left behind due to inadequate school supplies. The SERVICE 2019 group will return soon to spend one of their work days doing minor renovations and paint work at the center.
July 1, 2019
The Paros Foundation’s Mobile Dental Clinic arrived at Debi Arach to treat the students throughout the month of July with free dental care and treatment.
October 9, 2019Thanks to a generous second donation to underwrite the vocational training programs at the Debi Arach Children’s Center in Gyumri from the Dr. Gary and Linda Assarian Family Foundation, Debi Arach is proud to announce the re-naming of this program as the Assarian Vocational Training Program.
November 1, 2019
Today, Debi Arach had an amazing fall mini-excursion at a local park. Students split up into groups, some picking up trash and cleaning the park, some writing poetry, and some doing arts and crafts. It was a great day not only doing good for the community, but also appreciating nature.
November 7, 2019
Debi Arach now has a small library for students with over 100 books in Armenian, English, and Russian. Classes have been extended two days a week to allow for some independent reading time.
November 12, 2019
As a part of Debi Arach’s career fair program and focused on the profession of law, 20 students were given the rare opportunity to visit a court. The president of the Universal Court of the Shirak Marz, Gagik Hovhannisyan, spoke about the judicial process and how a court case works. Students received a full tour of the area and learned so much about what lawyers do.
December 13, 2019
Debi Arach had a special visit from the Armenian EyeCare Project. They performed 19 eye exams for students who exhibited sight problems, 12 of which will be fitted for glasses. Thank you Armenian EyeCare Project!
March 9, 2020
The Debi Arach Children’s Center and as well as the Assarian Vocational Training Program have temporarily closed due to Covid-19 following the order of the Prime Minister and until further notice. We are dedicated to providing consistent meals, psychological support, and structured in-home learning to the youth. Although the facility is currently closed, we are working hard to ensure the physical and emotional well-being of all students and staff. We have also committed to continue paying our staff during the closure. We are working closely with our on-staff psychologist, who is checking in with the kids each week to help them navigate their lives during this challenging time. We want to make sure the students still receive consistent, adequate nutrition so we are providing food packages for all families of Debi Arach with guidelines on safety protocols for receiving and cleaning the items.
