VIVACELL-MTS GENERAL MANAGER NAMED ‘MAN OF THE YEAR 2008
ArmInfo
2009-07-27 14:17:00
ArmInfo. Today, a special ceremony of honoring VivaCell-MTS General
Manager Ralph Yirikian was held in the Institute of Art in Gyumri,
where he was named "Man of the Year 2008" of the city.
Earlier this year a group of Gyumri citizens applied to an NGO ‘Man
of Year of Gyumri" with a request to consider granting VivaCell-MTS
General Manager Ralph Yirikian the title "Man of the Year 2008". The
board of the organization comprising prominent figures in the sphere
of art, science and education, decided to name Ralph Yirikian "Man
of the Year 2008" of Gyumri, VivaCell-MTS told ArmInfo.
"For the activity that helped improve the moral-psychological state
of the city of Gyumri, namely, for the donation of 20 apartments to
homeless people on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Spitak
Earthquake", – reads the statement of the Board. Ralph Yirikian
received tokens of appreciation from other people who received the
"Men of Year" title in the past – maestro Loris Tchgnavoryan and
other prominent people who have contributed to Gyumri. The official
ceremony was followed by classical music performed by a Gyumri-born
piano virtuoso. Hamlet Gevorgyan, a famous Armenian folk singer,
sang a Shirak region song. Other songs on local flavor sang by the
young talents of Gymri displayed the feeling, inspiration and pain
of the people of their city. The certificate of the title was handed
to Ralph Yirikian by one of the mothers who got keys of a new house
from VivaCell-MTS on December 7 of the last year Narine Kharajyan.
Year 2008 was marked by a very tragic anniversary – the 20th
anniversary of 1988 Earthquake, a devastating event that left behind
sad memories and changed the lives of thousands people that lost
everything – family, friends, employment and homes… However, not
so much the tragic memories of the past themselves, but 20 years of
broken hopes and awful living conditions in metal containers, where
many families were suffering from merciless summer heat and unbearable
cold in the wintertime, have left people in complete disappointment.
On the 20th Anniversary of the 1988 earthquake, VivaCell-MTS made
the dreams of 20 homeless families in Gyumri come true. The good will
of an Armenian Company, which felt that something should be done to
establish people’s belief in better future, extend helping hands to
20 needy families who now live in their simple, decent and affordable
apartments. Now they are raising their children in safe and decent
conditions. After spending many years in poverty these people didn’t
dare to believe in magic. This day marked a new beginning for these
families – getting keys of their new houses is a miracle that becomes
a reality thanks to VivaCell-MTS.