ARMENIAN VILLAGE OPERATION (AVO) AND MDF-KAMURJ IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DIASPORA DONATION MICRO FINANCED 25 FARMERS IN LORI REGION

AZG Armenian Daily
09/06/2006

Armenia Village Operation (AVO) is a non-governmental organization,
founded by Hilda Grigorian, a Diaspora residence of Glendale,
California. AVO’s mission is to contribute to the livelihood of civil
society in the most vulnerable areas in Armenia, the overall vision
is to put an end to extreme poverty in Armenia.

Ever since it’s establishment, AVO in partnership with UNDP and
other private donors has successfully completed numerous community
development projects in rural areas of Armenia. AVO has recently
signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Eurasia Foundation to
implement youth and women development projects in the country.

Microfinance Development Fund Kamurj (MDF-Kamurj) is a mature and
internationally well recognized Armenian microfinance organization
(), founded by Save the Children and CRS and financed
by a number of international donors. The organization has been in micro
finance industry since 2000, currently is serving 9,300 economically
active vulnerable families in urban and rural Armenia with over 3.8
million Dollars of microfinance loans outstanding.

A coalition was established between AVO, MDF-Kamurj and an Armenian
Diaspora, Mr. Johnny Sahagian, to implement a microfinance project
in the Gargar village of Lori Region. With generous contribution of Mr.

Sahagian, disbursement of micro loans was made to 25 farmers to
purchase seed, farming materials and tools to expand their farming
operation and generate income and employment in Gargar village.

Mr. Johnny Sahagian is a business entrepreneur with an ambition
to contribute funds to this particular village where his great
grandparents were born and raised. Mr. Sahagian traveled to Armenia
and expressed his deep concern of the poor condition of the villages,
his son Khoren spent months in Armenia working on humanitarian
projects. Mr. Sahagian said “it’s important for our community to
understand the importance of employment and income generation in the
rural areas, to contribute to community development of our villages
and avoid high migration, let’s teach people how to fish so they can
feed themselves for life”.

For more information about Armenia Village Operation, please visit

Pic 1. Hilda Grigorian, MDF Kamurj staff and Gargar Community Leaders.

Pic 2. MDF Kamurj staff disbursing funds to community.