ARMENIA TECHNOLOGY GROUP DISPLACING HUNGER WITH HOPE
By Warren Armstrong
ABC30.com, CA
Feb 8 2007
02/07/2007 – A Fresno based organization is responsible for replacing
hunger and despair with hope. Their efforts may have touched as many
as $1M lives in Armenia.
That’s more than 2,7000 tons of wheat grain being unloaded. From the
heartland of America, to the middle of a frigid rail yard in Armenia.
A Fresno-based non-profit organization, the Armenian Technology Group,
or ATG, is responsible for this shipment of surplus US wheat.
Der Simonian says, "The whole intent is to definitely put bread on
the table."
Der Simonian is the Executive Director of the Armenian Technology
Group. Fresno native, the late Art Hazarabedian, founded ATG
seventeen years ago. His goal, guiding the Armenian people to Food
and Agricultural self-sufficiency. That’s not as easy as it sounds.
Der Simonian says, "In this region you see here — is mainly your
food basket of Armenia."
But the basket was nearly empty by the late 1980’s. War, earthquakes,
and the collapse of the Soviet Union destroyed most Armenian farm
land. A short growing season in high altitude and rocky terrain
didn’t help.
"Now, all of sudden .. here’s a country of almost four million people
with nothing to eat, " says Der Simonian.
Hunger and unemployment spread across the country.
The Fresno group stepped in to help, but not with hand outs. First,
they helped bring life back to the barren fields. Then, ATG taught
Armenian farmers ag skills they could use to make a living — and
pass on.
Der Simonian says, "The idea was to empower them to feed their own
families."
ATG showed them how to become self reliant through several projects,
from growing American wheat seed to resurrecting the Armenian wine
industry using thousands of plants from Visalia.
Bernard Guekguezian of Pilgrim Armenian Church says, "This system
created a lot of responsible people toward their own."
Those results have this Fresno minister and his congregation putting
their financial backing and blessing behind the ATG projects in
Armenia. Guekguezian says, "We had nothing and God blessed us here
and therefore we have to do our share for our people."
On a bike trip last summer through Armenia, ATG members witnessed
their accomplishments in the fields, businesses, and homes.A few of
the hundreds of thousands of people they helped shared something
special with them. They ate bread made from flour milled from the
wheat grain and drank wine from new vineyards full of fruit.
Grants, a bike-a-thon, and donations from individuals and private
foundations fund the efforts of the Armenian Technology Group.
Their next projects in Armenia, include establishing a diagnostic lab
for infectious disease and building a cold storage packing facility,
like you’d find here in the Valley.
You can find out more by visiting their website: atgusa.org