Group Home For Orphans with Disabilities

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Description

Warm Hearth was started to provide an alternative to the psychiatric institutions. We are the first long-term group home in Armenia and the only one to serve orphans with disabilities or mental illnesses.

“Warm Hearth is not a project; it’s a home,” says founder, “that’s sustained by the faces of our residents and the harsh fate that awaited them if something was not done.” We serve Armenian orphans with disabilities who were destined for the psychiatric institutions. We believe they deserve basic human rights and this means a loving home and a life of dignity. Our group homes are long-term and address the challenge of having a disability and being orphaned in Armenia.

We operate a safe & loving group home for thirteen residents with disabilities, which reduces instances of human rights abuses in psychiatric institutions and increases our residents’ rights through integration. Our staff provides care that encourages residents toward independence, offers rehabilitation and is holistic.

The Warm Hearth center has an immediate need for funding to provide transportation to enable their residents to able to attend vocational training.  Classes will include tailoring, jewelry making and carpet weaving. The ability to attend these vocational courses will provide the residents with theraputic benefits and the chance to acquire new skills with the hope of employment. 

Region

Yerevan

City / Village

Yerevan

Start Date

January 2014

End Date

June 2014

Gallery Images

A home damaged by shelling in Aygepar. Photo credit: Hetq



The interior of a home in Aygepar hit by a mortar. Photo credit: Civilnet



The interior of a home hit by sniper fire in Aygepar. Photo credit: Hetq



A villager works to cover his damaged roof in Aygepar before the rains. Photo credit: Hetq



The remnants of a mortar from the bombing along the border. Photo credit: Hetq

The Need

Orphans with disabilities in Armenia are one of the most forgotten and vulnerable groups of people due to the stigmas associated with having a disability and the lack of resources and programs to care for them. Orphans who are over the age of 18 and have outgrown the orphanages are in even greater need due to the fact that there is no infrastructure in place to meet their needs. The only option available to these individuals is the former Soviet psychiatric institutions that do not focus on rehabilitation or holistic care.

Short Term Impact

The project provides a home-life for 13 residents, allowing them to live outside institutions. It’s a model for community-based care and a pilot project for moving away from institutionalization. In the short term, funds from this project will allow for residents to be transported into community settings.

Long Term Impact

The longer term impact of this project will be the expanded capacity at which Warm Hearth operates that will benefit future residents, allowing them to continue living in this family environment as their physical and/or developmental conditions change. This group home model will continue to serve as a example of non-institutional living for people with disabilities.

Sponsors Benefits

All sponsors will be listed both on the Warm Hearth and Paros Foundation websites. Visits to the Warm Hearth group home will be arranged for sponsors visiting Armenia.

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April 9, 2014

Residents are now taken on regular trips to both historic sites and other public venues.

The Nork Orphanage Play Area – Ari’s Playground

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Description

The Nork Orphanage houses approximately 80 infants and toddlers, from newborns to six years of age. The facility is located in the Nork area of Yerevan approximately 15 minutes from the city center. The orphanage is in need of an appropriate play area for the children that can provide them with a safe environment in which they can play and interact with one another, with staff, and with perspective adoptive parents.

A 25 x 25 meter (approximately 7,000 square feet) outdoor space is prime for the addition of a small wading pool, water feature, flower garden and seating area. This area would give the children need summer relief during the hot weather and create a very nice space for the children, the staff and perspective adoptive parents to spend time.

The scope of work in this space includes constructing a water feature (sprinkling type), a small wading pool (about 140 square feet) with filtration system, the addition of benches, flowerbeds, walkways, outdoor lighting and landscape.

Region

Yerevan

City / Village

Nork Marash

Start Date

April 2012

Gallery Images

The future site of Ari’s Playground.



Paros staff surveying the future site of Ari’s Playground.



A great view of the future site of Ari’s Playground.

The Need

Children need a safe and secure environment in which to play and interact with one another. The Nork Orphanage is generally in good repair, but lacks an outdoor space that can provide a safe play space and relief from the hot summers.

Short Term Impact

The short-term impact of this project will be the employment of a construction team to build the outdoor space and the immediate benefit for the local economy.

Long Term Impact

The long-term benefit of creating this outdoor play space will be realized through the increased happiness of the children, staff and perspective adoptive parents, who will have an environmentally friendly, safe and beautiful space to enjoy during the non-winter months. Additional benefits will be realized through the cultivation of a vegetable garden, which will provide the children fresh vegetables and will augment the orphanage’s food budget.

Sponsors Benefits

Your sponsorship of the Nork Orphanage Play Area will be recognized with a commemorative plaque installed at the Play Area, 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 and tour the Orphanage when you are in Armenia.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34vRxWwL5gEhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Jjk99zPH1whttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STMIkBCYW9Ihttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MVtYH1GoI8https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1w27ZDsIsMYhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPfQuIlsCxc
April 5, 2012

Today we broke ground on Ari’s Playground with a group of volunteers from the College Prep School in Oakland, California!

 April 20, 2012

Work began today on the grading and work is continuing on stuccoing the block walls.

 September 9, 2012

The Side by Side mentoring program from the Ghoghanj Children’s Center in Yerevan spent the day today working to prepare the flower beds for plantings. Thank you!

 October 9, 2012

Ari’s Playground is a complete!

 July 25, 2019

The Paros Foundation is sad to have learned of the untimely passing of Mr. Vasken Laurancian, and we extend our condolences to his family and friends. Vasken’s family has decided to support the ongoing maintenance and upkeep of Ari’s Playground in his memory. His funeral will be held on Friday, July 26th at 12 noon at St. Peter Armenian Church in Van Nuys, California.

Debi Arach Children’s Center- Gyumri

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Description

The residents of Gyumri, Armenia’s second largest city have endured very devastating realities. The tragic 1988 Spitak Earthquake claimed the lives of 25,000 people and left more than 100,000 residents homeless, and plagued with unemployment and rampant poverty for years to come. In turn, the fate of children in Gyurmi 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 and the financial resources for them to excel in school and have a successful future. Families struggling with these extreme conditions must often place their children in one of several orphanages to try to have their daily needs met.

The Debi Arach Children’s Center, which in Armenian means “moving forward,” will help these socially vulnerable children by providing them with the support and guidance they need to succeed in life. Through sponsorship of this important project The Paros Foundation, will establish a children’s center providing the necessary academic, psychological, social and humanitarian support to ensure that the children mature to well adjusted, successful, young adults.

The new center will provide 100 students with opportunities to receive counseling, homework help and tutoring along with English, Math, Art/Design, and Computer classes. Additionally, a well-balanced and nutritious meal will be provided daily. The Center, which will be open six days a week, will be able to serve two groups of 50 students for three days each per week.

In order to address another very important need for children in Gyumri, supervised bathing facilities will be available for the children’s use. Each child attending the center will be able to use the showers twice a week should they desire. Strict supervision will be assigned in order to ensure the privacy and safety of the children.

Furthermore, the municipality of Gyumri has agreed to partner with us on this important project and provide us with long term and rent-free space to house this new program. The current program budget reflects only the one-time startup and annual operational costs.

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Region

Shirak

City / Village

Gyumri

Start Date

April 2015

End Date

March 2016

Gallery Images

Students at Debi Arach participate in academic, art and computer classes.



Students in Debi Arach’s computer classes learn about basic use of computers, the internet, Microsoft office suite and even
photoshop!



Student are fed a nutritious meal each day.



Weather permitting, students engage in outdoor classes and physical activity. The backyard at Debi Arach has been cleared and planted with grass and a garden.



Children at Debi Arach participate in regularly schedule excursions to cultural and educational sites.

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 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 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 have 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 providing the children in attendance with supervised new bathing facilities.

Short Term Impact

The short-term 100 children will receive immediate support and gudacne to help them succeed. The new Center will offer nutritious meals, counseling opportunities, homework aid and tutoring and core classes including English, Computer, Art/Design, and Math. Additionally, new bathing facilities will be constructed and ready for use by the children. An entire staff of 11 individuals including an administrative staff and instructors will be immediately employed to help instruct and oversee these courses. Additional employment opportunities will be created for the residents of Gyurmri for both the start-up and operational phases of the program.

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. This project has the potential of 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. Through the ongoing employment opportunities created, several families will receive a fair wage.

Sponsors Benefits

Your donation to sponsor the establishment 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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July 15, 2020

A video shows the protests in Baku calling on a resumption of war with Armenia.

July 16, 2020

The kindergarten in the village of Aygepar was hit by Azeri artillery this morning. We had finished the complete renovation of this kindergarten in 2018 and will assess the damage and rebuild again as soon as possible! We build, they destroy!

 July 21, 2020

Members of The Paros Foundation team joined Tavush Governor Hayk Chobanyan, Berd Consolidated Communities head Harutyun Manucharyan, representatives of the Prime Minister’s office, and local village representatives to visit the Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur, Aygepar and Chinari communities to assess the damage and to strategize and coordinate the next steps forward.

Share-a-Pair

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Description

Share-A-Pair, a project to get shoes to Armenia’s children, needs your help!
Launched in the Los Angeles area by Kristen and Bridget Abajian, and Sophia Dilsizian, this effort’s goal is to provide 1,000 quality pairs of shoes to Armenia’s needy children.

“When we lived in Armenia, and in later visits, we saw the difficult conditions orphan and extremely poor children live in. We decided to dedicate our time and effort to helping Armenia’s children by trying to fill the important need for shoes. While having one extra pair of shoes for us here in the U.S. doesn’t mean much, a pair of new shoes for an orphan or a very poor child in Armenia is very valued. Please consider helping us help these children.” Said Kristen Abajian in her fundraising appeal.

The goal of raising $10,000, which will provide more than 1,000 quality shoes for children, will hopefully be reached with the help of friends and supporters around the country. We hope to reach the goal and deliver the first batch of shoes to both children in the orphanages and other children in need in the summer of 2011.

Share-a-pair is able to purchase one quality pair of shoes for $10. Donations are welcomed in any amount. 100% of the proceeds will be spent buying new shoes and putting them on the feet of children in need. Donations of new practical shoes in all sizes are also appreciated and welcomed. Donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.
Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions and be sure to visit us on facebook. Thank you!

Region

All

City / Village

All

Start Date

2011

End Date

2012

Gallery Images

Example of the horrible conditions of shoes children have in some of Armenia’s impoverished areas.












Kristen Abajian, Sofia Dilsizian & Bridget Abajian founded Share-A-Pair in December of 2010 in order to help bring new shoes to children in need throughout Armenia.

The Need

Armenia is a developing country that is struggling economically. More than 1,200 Orphans live in 15 orphanages throughout Armenia. While these facilities provide for the children’s basic needs, they cannot keep up with the ongoing needs for shoes for all the children. In addition, several orphanages house children with disabilities, who walk with difficulty and wear through shoes very quickly. Families in need find it extremely difficult to provide their children with basic necessities such as shoes for school and warm winter shoes.

Short Term Impact

Share-a-pair will positively impact 1,000 children by providing them with a pair of shoes or warm winter boots.

Long Term Impact

Because some shoes will be purchased in Armenia, the local economy will also benefit through the infusion of capital.

Sponsors Benefits

Your donation to share-a-pair will be recognized on their webpage and in appropriate printed materials, 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 a shoe distribution location site when you are in Armenia.
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December 25, 2010

The Share-a-Pair project is officially launched. Co-Founders, Bridget and Kristen Abajian and their friend, Sofia Dilsizian begin raising needed funds from their families and friends.

 June 15, 2011

Share-a-Pairs founders and volunteers begin distributing more than 500 pairs of shoes to Armenia’s orphanages in Vanadzor, Gavar and Nork. Upon their return to the US, the founders entered into a three year partnership with TOMs Shoes to supply shoes to Armenia.

 March 30, 2012

25,000 pairs of new TOMs Shoes arrived into Armenia today and are ready for distribution!

 June 4, 2012

Volunteers arrive into Armenia and join the Paros Staff to begin distributions of TOMs Shoes throughout needy communities in Armenia.

 November 21, 2012

25,000 pairs of shoes were successfully distributed to 11 orphanages, 8 boarding schools, 12 organizations and more than 14 town and more than 100 villages throughout Armenia.

Kharpert Home for Special Children Excursion 2

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Description

The Kharpert Home for Special Children is an orphanage located in the village of Nor Kharpert serving 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 children 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.

Watch Video

Region

Ararat

City / Village

Nor Kharpert

Start Date

February 2011

End Date

February 2011

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 these children 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.
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February 1, 2011

Representatives of the Swedish Armenian Association “Shirak” joined Paros Foundation staff for the implementation of the excursion at Victory Park they sponsored.

Gyumri Winter Operation

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Description

Winters in Gyumri, Armenia’s second largest city, are extreme. Unemployment and poverty is rampant. Following the devastating 1988 Spitak Earthquake, in which more than 25,000 people lost their lives and more than 100,000 people were left homeless, Gyumri’s residents did whatever they could to find temporary shelter. This included moving into the overseas shipping containers in which earthquake related humanitarian goods were shipped to Armenia. 24 years following the earthquake, more than 3,000 poverty stricken families remain in various forms of temporary housing.

The harsh winters and extreme poverty lead to these people picking through trash to find something that they can burn to keep warm and cook food for their families. Children do not have the proper clothing and boots to stay healthy and attend school.

This effort will ensure that 60 families living in deplorable conditions receive heating and cooking fuel and warm clothing for their children.

Region

Shirak

City / Village

Gyumri

Start Date

January 2013

End Date

January 2013

Gallery Images

Paros staff along with Shirak Center NGO volunteers distributing firewood to families living in domiks in Gyumri.



Winters in Gyumri are extremely cold and in need of firewood to stay warm and prepare food.



Families receive several bags of wood according to their size.

The Need

Freezing temperatures and extreme poverty have created a humanitarian crisis in Gyumri’s “Domik” neighborhoods. Toxic fumes bellow from smoke stacks as residents burn trash, plastic bottles and old shoes in an effort to stay warm and cook a simple meal for their families. The extreme cold, toxic fumes and improper clothing contributes to children become sick and not attending school.

Short Term Impact

60 families and their children will receive emergency winter support in the form of cooking and heating fuel and winter coats and boots respectively. All humanitarian materials will be purchased in Armenia, thus providing a boost to the local economy.

Long Term Impact

It is hopeful that press materials related to this project will lead to greater public awareness of this problem and thus a broad based approach to solving this crisis.

Sponsors Benefits

Project sponsors will be recognized on the Paros Foundation website and in all press materials related to this project.
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January 24, 2013

As a result of this effort, 350 received warm winter boots, 160 children received new winter coats and 60 families received firewood for heating and cooking to last them approximately one month.

Fuel Through Firewood: Gyumri Winter 2013-14

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Description

Gyumri is Armenia’s second largest city. Following the devastating 1988 Spitak Earthquake, in which more than 25,000 people lost their lives and more than 100,000 people were left homeless, Gyumri’s residents did whatever they could to find temporary shelter. This included moving into “domiks,” the overseas shipping containers in which earthquake related humanitarian goods were shipped to Armenia. 25 years following the earthquake, almost 4,000 poverty stricken families remain continue to live in unsafe and dilapidated buildings and the rusted remains of overseas shipping containers. In addition to inadequate housing, unemployment and rampant poverty, Gyumri’s people are faced with extreme winters.
The harsh winters and extreme poverty lead to people picking through trash to find something that they can burn to keep warm and cook food for their families. Due to the intense cold weather and toxic fumes, children often get sick and are unable to attend school.

This effort will ensure that 90 families in Gyumri will receive fuel for heating and cooking through firewood for month’s period. Our partner for this project, Shirak Center NGO, will help distribute the firewood to the families.

Watch Video

Region

Shirak

City / Village

Gyumri

Start Date

November 2013

End Date

January 2014

Gallery Images

Families received several bags of wood according to their size.



The firewood is a temporary solution to helping families stay warm during Gyumri’s cold winters.



The firewood is also used to cook food.

The Need

Freezing temperatures and extreme poverty have created a humanitarian crisis in Gyumri’s “Domik” neighborhoods. About 1800 families live in “domiks,” while about 2000 live in condemned buildings leaving them no choice but to burn anything they can for heat. Toxic fumes bellow from smoke stacks as residents burn trash, plastic bottles and old shoes in an effort to stay warm and cook a simple meal for their families. The extreme cold coupled with the toxic fumes contributes to children become sick and not attending school.

Short Term Impact

90 families will receive fuel in the form of firewood to help them get through the winter. The fuel from the firewood can be used for heating and cooking for a month. All humanitarian materials will be purchased in Armenia, thus providing a boost to the local economy. In addition, local workers will be hired to chop the wood and help distribute it.

Long Term Impact

By providing a less toxic and more reliable form of heating, it is hopeful there will be less illness among the communities. This will help children keep up with their studies and not have to miss school due to colds and sicknesses. Additionally Paros is hopeful that press materials related to this project will lead to greater public awareness of this problem and thus a broad based approach to solving this crisis.

Sponsors Benefits

Project sponsors will be recognized on the Paros Foundation website and in all press materials related to this project.
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November 16, 2013

Distributions of firewood began with the help of the Shirak Center NGO staff and volunteers.

 January 26, 2014

Three months of firewood distributions came to an end. 90 families received firewood to use as fuel to stay warm and prepare food.

Kharpert Home for Special Children Excursion 1

Read Updates

Description

The Kharpert Home for Special Children is an orphanage located in the village of Nor Kharpert serving 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 children 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

Yerevan

City / Village

Nor Kharpert

Start Date

July 2011

End Date

July 2011

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 these children 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.

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July 18, 2011

Paros staff and volunteers spend a wonderful day at Victory Park in Yerevan with 20 children from the Kharpert Home for Special Children.

Fuel Through Firewood: Gyumri Winter 2014-15

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Description

Gyumri is Armenia’s second largest city with the poorest population, including single mothers and the elderly. Following the devastating 1988 Spitak Earthquake, in which more than 25,000 people lost their lives and more than 100,000 people were left homeless, Gyumri’s residents did whatever they could to find temporary shelter. This included moving into “domiks,” the overseas shipping containers in which earthquake related humanitarian goods were shipped to Armenia. 24 years following the earthquake, about 4,000 poverty stricken families remain in various forms of temporary housing. In addition to inadequate housing, unemployment and rampant poverty, Gyumri’s people are also faced with extreme winters.
The harsh winters and extreme poverty lead to people picking through trash to find something that they can burn to keep warm and cook food for their families. Due to the intense cold weather and toxic fumes, children often get sick and are unable to attend school.

This effort will ensure that 90 families in Gyumri will receive fuel for heating and cooking through firewood for month’s period. Our partner for this project, Shirak Center NGO, will help distribute the firewood to the families.

Watch Video

Region

Shirak

City / Village

Gyumri

Start Date

November 2014

End Date

January 2015

Gallery Images

Shirak Center NGO staff & volunteers help distribute wood to families in Gyumri.



Staff and volunteers from the Shirak Center NGO distributing wood to families living in domiks in Gyumri.



Firewood is used to keep warm and prepare food.

The Need

Freezing temperatures and extreme poverty have created a humanitarian crisis in Gyumri’s “Domik” neighborhoods. About 1800 families live in “domiks,” while about 2000 live in condemned buildings leaving them no choice but to burn anything they can for heat. Toxic fumes bellow from smoke stacks as residents burn trash, plastic bottles and old shoes in an effort to stay warm and cook a simple meal for their families. The extreme cold coupled with the toxic fumes contributes to children become sick and not attending school.

Short Term Impact

90 families will receive fuel in the form of firewood to help them get through the winter. The fuel from the firewood can be used for heating and cooking for a month. All humanitarian materials will be purchased in Armenia, thus providing a boost to the local economy.

Long Term Impact

By providing a less toxic and more reliable form of heating, it is hopeful there will be less illness among the communities. This will help children keep up with their studies and not have to miss school due to colds and sicknesses. Additionally Paros is hopeful that press materials related to this project will lead to greater public awareness of this problem and thus a broad based approach to solving this crisis.

Sponsors Benefits

Project sponsors will be recognized on the Paros Foundation website and in all press materials related to this project.
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February 16, 2015

Distributions to families in need were completed by the Shirak Centre, NGO. Our sincere appreciation to the Shirak Centre staff and volunteers who made this project possible.

Share-a-Pair – Operation Winter Boots

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Description

Share-a-Pair, a project to get shoes to Armenia’s disadvantaged children needs your help!

Share-a-Pair was launched in Los Angeles by sisters, Kristen and Bridget Abajian. Soon thereafter Sophia Dilsizian joined in by leading the efforts in California’s South Bay community. A modest initial goal of raising enough funds to purchase, ship and distribute 1,000 pairs of shoes to Armenia’s needy children was quickly realized in 2011. Having contacted a major U.S. based shoe manufacturer, Share-a-Pair entered into a partnership to distribute a total of 75,000 pairs of new shoes in Armenia. These shoes were distributed to children in need, children with disabilities and children living in the most economically disadvantaged villages in Armenia. In total, Share-a-Pair has distributed shoes in more than 100 villages and 13 cities in Armenia. Witnessing first hand the difficult conditions in these villages, Share-a-Pair’s team identified the important need for warm winter boots and launched Operation Winter Boots.

Share-a-Pair is able to purchase one quality pair of winter boots for $20. Donations are welcomed in any amount. Donations of new winter boots in all sizes are also appreciated and welcomed. Donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions and be sure to visit us on facebook. Thank you!

Watch Video

Region

All

City / Village

All

Start Date

2012

End Date

2016

Gallery Images

Example of the horrible conditions of shoes children have in some of Armenia’s impoverished areas.












Kristen Abajian, Sofia Dilsizian & Bridget Abajian founded Share-A-Pair in December of 2010 in order to help bring new shoes to children in need throughout Armenia.

The Need

Armenia is a developing country that is struggling economically. Life in Armenia’s isolated regional communities is very difficult given the lack of economic opportunities. Families in need find it extremely difficult to provide their children with basic necessities such as shoes for school and warm winter shoes.

Short Term Impact

Share-a-Pair will positively impact 1,000 children by providing them with a pair of warm winter boots.

Long Term Impact

Because some boots will be purchased in Armenia, the local economy will also benefit through the infusion of capital.

Sponsors Benefits

Your donation to Share-a-Pair will be recognized on their webpage and in appropriate printed materials, 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 a shoe distribution location site when you are in Armenia.
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Updates: Images & Information

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December 24, 2012

Almost 80 pairs of winter boots were distributed today to the children living at the Yerevan Children’s Home.

 October 8, 2013

Answering the call for winter boots for children in Gyumri, our team delivered and distributed several hundred pairs of winter boots today.

 November 13, 2013

Children at kindergartens in Vahanknadzor and Jiliza received new winter boots today.

 July 12, 2016

Thanks to the effort of SERVICE Armenia participant, Catherine Conrow, children today at the school in Ljashen received new shoes.

 November 29, 2016

More than 150 children at our Debi Arach Children’s Center received new winter boots today.