For Immediate Release
February 09, 2010

ARMENIA FUND BEGINS CONSTRUCTION OF AKNAGHBYUR COMMUNITY CENTER

NEW YORK, New York — Within the framework of its ongoing Rural Development Program, Armenia Fund recently began construction of a vitally needed community center in Aknaghbyur, a village in Armenia’s Tavush Region. The project is sponsored by the Fund’s French affiliate, with the financial support of the France-based Tavitian family.

Aknaghbyur is the site of several development initiatives that have already been implemented by Armenia Fund, including the community’s state-of-the-art natural-gas, potable-water, and irrigation networks, all of which have vastly improved the daily lives of the residents.

To date, construction crews have laid the community center’s foundations, erected the pillars and built the supporting walls. Work will resume following a short pause due to the harsh winter weather.

Ararat Khlghatyan, Hayastan All-Armenian Fund’s Deputy Director in charge of construction projects, said that the two-story building of the community center will house the mayor’s office, a clinic, a library, and a concert hall, thus becoming a vibrant hub for local governance, healthcare, culture, and the arts.

“The Armenia Fund projects carried out in Aknaghbyur are not only helping raise the community’s quality of life, but have inspired a renewed and very palpable sense of belonging among our residents,” said Karen Dolmazyan, Aknaghbyur Mayor. “Already in the past few months we have seen an increase in the number of births,” he added. “Moreover, four families have moved back to the village during that period. It is so wonderful that after so many years of hardship, the residents of Aknaghbyur once again believe in the future of their community.”

ABOUT ARMENIA FUND USA: founded in 1992, was one of the first of Hayastan All-Armenian Fund’s 18 international affiliates and serves constituents in all states east of the Mississippi. As a non-profit, non-governmental, nonsectarian organization, the Fund represents all Armenian constituents. Armenia Fund USA is the largest contributor among the 18 international affiliates – supporting strategic infrastructure projects in Armenia and Karabakh. The Fund has adopted a policy to go “Beyond Bricks and Mortar” to provide sustainability for projects it sponsors.

To learn more about Armenia Fund USA, please visit our website at
www.ArmeniaFundUSA.org or call us at 212-689-5307.