PRESS OFFICE
Department of Communications
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Media Relations Specialist
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 160; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: jakeg@armeniandiocese.org
Website:

March 28, 2007
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NEWLY ELECTED TO INTERNATIONAL BOARD, ARCHBISHOP AYKAZIAN SEEKS TO HELP POOR

Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, legate and ecumenical officer of the Diocese of
the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), attended the Habitat for Humanity
International board meeting March 1 to 4, 2007, in Guatemala City.

It was his first meeting since being elected to the 18-member board during a
2006 Habitat for Humanity International meeting in the Philippines. During
the meeting, the board members heard about the scope of Habitat for
Humanity’s global program. The organization operates in 96 countries and
builds a home somewhere in the world every 23 minutes.

"I think it is amazing that volunteers can be so important in building these
homes to make a better life for other people," Archbishop Aykazian said.
"In Armenia Habitat for Humanity International has been very active and has
helped many families. But it is important that we help all people, not just
Armenians. So I am proud to serve on the board of Habitat for Humanity
International."

Archbishop Aykazian has long been active in Habitat for Humanity, helping
bring together the organization and His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme
Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians. The result of that effort was
the "His Holiness Karekin II Building Project," which last year began work
on 37 homes in Armenia symbolizing the 36 Armenian Church dioceses worldwide
and Holy Etchmiadzin. The "His Holiness Karekin II Building Project" will
begin again in April and run through September.

Habitat’s ultimate goal, Archbishop Aykazian said, is to build up to 500
homes in Armenia in an effort to provide quality, permanent shelter to
individuals still dealing with the aftermath of the 1988 earthquake and the
continuing economic turmoil in the region.

President-elect of the National Council of Churches (NCC), Archbishop
Aykazian will also lead that organization in directing volunteers to Habitat
for Humanity projects in Armenia and elsewhere.

"Giving a family a new home is a way to give them a new life, with safety
and stability," Archbishop Aykazian said. "We need Habitat for Humanity
International not only for our brothers and sisters in Armenia, but for
everyone no matter where they live."

— 3/28/07