AMERICAN VOLUNTEERS AND EMBASSY STAFF LEND A HAND IN VOSKEVAZ

armradio.am
18.10.2008 13:30

A team of US embassy staffers came together with the volunteers of
Global Builders’ Program of Fuller Center for Housing Armenia (FCHA)
in Voskevaz village, Aragatsotn region, to help construct a house
for a local family. Lilit Asatryan, President of the Armenian Young
Women’s Association, Country Director of Armenian Assembly of America
also participated in the activity at the building site.

The volunteers joined hands to help the Manukyans – a family with 3
sons. In 2005, their dream to own a house seemed to be so close when
they were able to purchase a piece of land. But after getting married
in 1996, Vardan Manukyan and his family had to move into his parents’
home where his brother’s family was also living. Only love and respect
made it possible for everyone to get along in the overcrowded, 60
square meter house with no bathroom.

The family saved hard from Vardan’s income from wood-cutting and
family’s profit from selling strawberries and grapes in order to buy
a piece of land. Vardan started to build his house with the help of
his brothers and worked with such zeal that they would have finished
in two months had they not run out of funds after putting on the roof.

They did not want to delay their move, however, and decided to live
in the unfinished house20with bare walls, undone floor, no bathroom
and kitchen, hopeful that they could complete the house little by
little. But despite their best efforts, progress was slow and very
many years would have been required to finish the work.

Thanks to the assistance of Fuller Centre for Housing Armenia,
generous donors and volunteers the Manukyans and their three sons
will greet the New Year in a safe, healthy house. The volunteers
participated in the project to highlight their strong commitment and
attention to issues confronting the Armenian nation and to provide
a model of volunteerism. They hope to demonstrate a new way of for
Armenian and American people to cooperate and show their friendship
while encouraging more volunteers to join the organization and mission.