Description
The town of Stepanavan is located in Armenia’s northern portion of the Lori Region. More than 10,000 people live in this ancient town. Stepanavan can trace it earliest settlements to the 4th century. Stepanavan was devastated by the 1988 earthquake including losing one of its primary schools. The Western Diocese of the Armenian Church raised the funds to build a new school for the children in Stepanavan. Vartkes Barsam, a philanthropist and active member of the Armenian community of Los Angeles served as project manager and oversaw the construction. The school was opened on 2003 and has served more than 525 children per year since. While the school has been well maintained, it is time to address some of the larger needs of the school starting with the heating system, school windows, bathrooms and to create a kitchen and dining hall. Following these important capital improvements, the balance of the school will receive a cosmetic renovation including new lighting and a fresh coat of paint.
A new boiler room will be built adjacent to the school and two large capacity boilers will be installed to heat new radiators throughout the school (which also have to be installed.) New windows throughout the school will also be installed to improve the efficiency of the overall heating of the school. This phase of work will cost the following:
$6,000 Construction of a new boiler room.
$95,000 Installation of two new boilers, pipes and radiators throughout the three floors of the school.
$44,000 Installation of 540 square meters of new double pain windows throughout the school.
Gallery Images
The Need
School #2 in Stepanavan serves more than 525 children. The school needs a new heating system and new windows to help provide a safe and comfortable environment for the children in which to learn.
Short Term Impact
In the near term, more than 525 children and the school’s staff will enjoy a safer and more comfortable learning environment. The local economy will benefit with locals labor and materials utilized whenever possible.
Long Term Impact
In the long term, thousands of children and staff will benefit from the renovations completed at the school. Because of better heating, the school will better accommodate a variety of after school programming for the children in the colder winter months.
Sponsors Benefits
All sponsors of this project will be recognized on The Paros Foundation website, on a plaque at the Stepanavan St. Gregory The Illuminator School #2, and in appropriate press related to this important project. Visits can be arranged to Stepanavan for sponsors during their visits to Armenia.
Our Donors (27)
- Mr. Pompeyo Cepeda $26,647 Dec 20, 2024
- Mr. Pompeyo Cepeda $26,647 Dec 20, 2024
- Mr. Pompeyo Cepeda $26,647 Dec 20, 2024
- Ms. Diane Barsam $40,000 Sep 6, 2023
- Ms. Diane Barsam $48,900 Apr 24, 2023
- Ms. Mary Kanian $500 In Memory of Vartkes Barsam Apr 18, 2023
- Mrs. Sheila Papayans $1,000 Apr 10, 2023
- The Shirvanian Family Foundation $1,000 Apr 4, 2023
- Mr. Dickran Barsam $1,000 Mar 29, 2023
- The Dickranian Foundation $1,000 Mar 20, 2023
- Drs. Bryan & Katrina Vanesian $2,000 In Memory of Vartkes Barsam Mar 13, 2023
- Ms. Diane Barsam $25,925 Nov 18, 2021
Updates: Images & Information
Work on all of the exterior window replacement is complete and minor temporary repairs were made to the walls around the new windows until such time that funding is available for the school’s interior remodel. The next effort will be to replace the school’s heating system.
With enough funding available to replace all of the exterior windows, work began on removing and replacing all of the windows.
Diane Barsam visited the school with Paros Project Manager, Gegham Minasyan to discuss the school’s needs and to formalize plans for future assistance.