PRESS RELEASE
February 14, 2007
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY ARMENIA
Contact person:
Zara Tonapetyan
+(37410)556114
Aygestan 8th street, bld 5,
Yerevan, Armenia
[email protected]
hfharmenia@hfharmenia. org
Habitat for Humanity Armenia and the Armenian Holy Apostolic Church announce
that His Holiness Karekin II Work Project commences for the year of 2007
from April to October in communities of Khor Virab, Marmarashen, Norabats
Khachik, Shatin, Margahovit and Shahumyan, Republic of Armenia with the
goal to help 37 Armenian families to solve their housing problems through
viable partnerships with parishes and dioceses of the Armenian Church.
In April 2006, Habitat for Humanity and Armenian Apostolic Church signed an
agreement for long term cooperation. Under this agreement, His Holiness
Karekin II Work Project 2006 started. In September 2006, HFH Armenia hosted
an inaugural event when more than 300 volunteers from Europe, US, Armenia
and other countries came together in Gavar to help accomplish construction
of 24 unit condominium building. The events of 2006 took place with the
personal involvement of Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians,
His Holiness Karekin II, Spiritual leaders of different churches and members
of the National Council of Churches of North America, representatives of
different foreign missions in Armenia and many concerned individuals from
Armenia and Diaspora came all together to build a decent home for those in
need.
HFH Armenia believes that in Armenia, where 40,000 people are still living
in housing poverty, this kind of projects provide important support as well
as voice the problems of homelessness to wide public.
His Holiness Karekin II extended His pontifical blessing to the project:
"With Our heart filled with love We offer Our prayers to Lord for such an
initiative, which is aimed in improving human lives, alleviating conditions
of the needy and bringing them happiness and smiles to their homes and
souls. This kind of enterprise is not only a blessing for individual
families but they also bring together the nation, fortifying Armenian people
and strengthening the spirit of love and brotherhood."
The Maremkoyan Family of 5 people is one of beneficiary families from Gavar
that moved into their newly build home in fall 2006 after living with their
extended family in a crowded apartment for 13 years. Gurgen, the father
earns $75 a month working as a taxi driver. Armine, the mother, is a
housewife. Two sons: Sevak, 12 years old and Samvel, 10 years old are
attending the school and Anna, is the youngest in family is just one year
old. Their relatives, family and volunteers helped a lot to complete the
apartment. "We will always remember the volunteers who shoulder to shoulder
worked on our house: Don, Gary and others", refers Armine, "for a mother it
is very important to see how their children will grow up in a healthy and
safe house".
We are sure that together, Armenian Apostolic Church and Habitat for
Humanity Armenia can replace substandard housing with simple, decent,
affordable homes.
We invite Armenian churches around the world to join us and to make a
positive difference in the lives of other 37 families surviving in
substandard conditions.
The dates for volunteer trips in 2007 are:
April 6-15 (opening);
July 1-9 (youth build);
August 12-21 (dedication);
Request your preferred two weeks within the April-
October building season.
Habitat for Humanity is a nondenominational Christian, non profit, non
governmental organization dedicated to eliminating poverty housing. Habitat
for Humanity Armenia (HFH Armenia) was established on 22 March 2000 and to
date has built 275 homes and housed more than 1400 people in simple, decent
and affordable homes. The organization operates through 3 affiliates in 9
regions of Armenia: Yerevan, Ararat, Armavir, Aragatsotn, Kotayk,
Gegharkunik, Lori, Tavoush and Vayots Dzor. The mission of the Armenian
church is to serve the poor. Wherever there is need, the Armenian Apostolic
Church seeks to alleviate it. HFH Armenia and the Armenian church share the
commitment to eradicate poverty housing in Armenia through empowering people
created in God’s image.
The End
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
