PRESS RELEASE
“Orran” benevolent NGO
6 Yekmalian Street
Yerevan 375009, Armenia
Tel: (+374 – 1) 58.31.60
E-mail: orran@netsys.am
Website:
May 28, 2004
ORRAN CHILDREN’S CENTER IN ARMENIA
Yerevan — On May 25, Orran officially opened the doors of its
newly-constructed center in the heart of the capital city’s downtown.
The four-floor building, which includes five classrooms, a library,
a computer room, a social activity area, a dental office, and a
well-appointed garden, will serve more than 65 vagrant children and
35 needy elderly.
Joining in the festivities were Constitutional Court Justice Vladimir
Hovhannisian, Minister of Social Welfare Aghvan Vardanian, and other
government officials; US Ambassador John Ordway, Italian Ambassador
Marco Clemente, German Ambassador Hans-Wulf Bartels, Greek Ambassador
Antonios Vlavianos, and other representatives of the diplomatic
corps; General Arkadiy Ter-Tadevosian and other leaders of public and
non-governmental organizations; and noted intellectuals, academicians,
and people of the arts.
The 300 guests were greeted by Orran founders Armine and Raffi
K. Hovannisian and by Orran board members Susan Klein, Arshavir
Kapoudjian, Aram Harutiunian, and Nick Gilmour. Orran benefactors
Krikor and Anna Krikorian of the United Kingdom were on hand for
the occasion.
The red ribbon, symbolizing the threshold of the new home, was cut by
the youngest and oldest members of the Orran family, Mariam Andrikian,
age 5, and Tsoghik Sevoyan, 86. After prayers offered by Father Shahe
Hairapetian and Father Dajad Davidian, the children performed together
with their good friend, star singer Arthur Ispirian. Krik Krikorian
thanked the many people who had made the grand opening possible,
recalling the living legacy of his own parents which he was fulfilling
on this day. The program concluded with a beautiful song rendition
and dance performance by the young children of Orran.
“We have come a long way from the day we were founded four years ago in
a small two-room apartment that accommodated 16 children. But thanks
to the wonderful friends of Orran–Gerard and Cleo Cafesjian, Carolyn
Mugar, Krikor and Anna Krikorian, the Hovannisian and Kotcholosian
families, and so many others–we were able to build this comfortable
haven for the children and the elderly. The new facilities will permit
us to provide better education and services for the children,” Armine
Hovannisian said.
Orran was founded in 2000 with the mission of assisting children
who have resorted to street life out of poverty, eliminating street
begging by children, helping families in spiritual crisis and economic
distress, and uplifting the lonely elderly.
For more information on Orran, visit
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress