SYRIAN PRESIDENT MAKES SURPRISE VISIT TO ARS SHELTER IN ALEPPO
Asbarez Staff
Jul 21st, 2009
Lends his support to shelter and the higher education of orphans
On April 12, the Minister of Social Affairs and Employment of
the Syrian Arab Republic contacted ARS Regional Executive members
in Aleppo and informed them that "a high ranking official will be
visiting the ARS Orphanage on Easter", stressing that the visit will
be unofficial and requested that only orphans and 3 responsible be
at the orphanage. A few minutes before the official’s arrival the
Orphanage was informed that the guests were the President of Syria
Bashar Assad and the First Lady.
The President spent almost two hours at the orphanage in an intimate
atmosphere, talking individually with the orphans, getting acquainted
with their cases and asking to learn about the needs and future plans
of each and every one of them. Learning that three of the orphans will
be married soon and that the Orphanage’s Board of Trustees had already
taken care of their bridal expenses, he pledges to help them furnish
their houses and assist the various needs of the orphanage. Indeed,
three days after the visit, the Presidential palace invited the
ARS Regional to Damascus and presented them with a check from the
President for 500 thousand Syrian Pounds (almost $10,000).
During the visit, an orphan spoke about her wish to continue her 0D
studies in France. The President promised her, that in case she is
accepted by any French University, he will undertake her education
expenses. On July 19, 2009, a few days after being informed that
the orphan was accepted to a university in France, President Bashar
Assad sent a check with a enough funds to cover her education expenses
in France.
"We are grateful for the attention given by the President and the
First Lady to our orphanage", said Sossy Keledjian, ARS Chairperson
in Aleppo, underlining the special attention they showed to the cases
of every orphan.
The National Shelter of Aleppo operates under the supervision of
the ARS in Syria since 1935. During decades of operations, this
institution served the social needs of the Armenian community in
Syria, sheltering and educating the helpless and providing a warm,
secure home to almost 2000 children and young men and women.