PRESS RELEASE
Orran
Junior Achievement of Armenia
Anahit Manukyan, Program Coordinaor
Yerevan, Republic of Armenia
First Yekmalyan Street 6
Web:

Tel. (374 10) 53 51 67
Fax (374 10) 56 82 76
Contact Person: Sousanna Manoukyan
Tel: 094 43 08 69

April 19,2010

Orran is 10 years old

Today, Orran turns 10 years old. Throughout the month, as it
celebrates its decade of existence, it is proud to present a record of
helping thousands of destitute families in need. More than 700
children have been taken off the street or brought back from its brink
in the cities of Yerevan and Vanadzor. Over 450 elderly have found
comfort in having a hot meal every day under the roof of Orran.
Thousands have been helped with dental, medical, psychological and
social services. Families who have been left homeless have been
gifted with a home. . Parents have been helped with locating jobs.
Children, who could not imagine a higher education, have been tutored
for admission exams. Kids whose imagination was limited to the street
have been guests at cultural centers, historical monuments, theaters
and concerts. They have hosted famous artists, politicians,
humanitarians.

Founder Armine K. Hovannisian recalls how Orran was established `In
the evenings, as Raffi and I came out of the theater or a restaurant,
we would inevitably see a child’s extended hand, the ones with a bit
more pride would have a flower in their hand. We could not imagine
that in our independent homeland, we had children who were hungry and
had to resort to begging.’ And so, on April 19, 2000, the
Hovannisians established Orran with 16 children. But soon with the
assistance of many friends, family members and eventually the public
at large, Orran grew and today embraces 150 children and 60 elderly in
its two centers.

`Many people have been instrumental in Orran’s birth and development.
In our initial days, Gerard and Cleo Cafesjian, David and Linda
Hovannisian, Ralph and Janet Hovannisian, Carolyn Mugar and Dr. Garo
Armen were very generous with their support. A year later, an annual
commitment of $60,000 from Krikor and Anna Krikorian ensured the
sustainability of our growth. A generous annual commitment by
VivaCell-MTS, through General Manager Ralph Yirikian allowed us to
start thinking of our expansion into the city of Vanadzor. With a
matching grant, the Open Society Institute made sure that it happened
in the fall of 2009. The CISP of Rome found Orran and secured a grant
of 230,000 Euros from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Italy for the
construction of the Vanadzor center. Corporate donors joined the
individuals, Marriott Armenia Hotel, HSBC Bank, Byblos Bank. And
hundreds and hundreds of people helped throughout the world’ explains
Mrs. Hovannisian.

At the threshold of a new decade, Orran can proudly say that it has,
is and will continue carrying out its mission to:

Divert children from the streets and engage them in academic,
cultural, and extra-curricular activities Fight the concept of beggar
children as the principal breadwinners of their families Help families
in `crisis’ Assist the lonely and needy elderly Identify and develop
children’s interests and talents towards a working career Prevent the
spread of destitution and begging among Armenia’s children and elderly

If you would like more information on Orran, please visit