For Immediate Release
August 31, 2010

ARMENIA FUND DONATES $7,000 IN SCHOOL SUPPLIES TO 3 SCHOOLS IN ARMENIA

NEW YORK, New York — In keeping with its tradition of providing vital support to educational institutions throughout Armenia’s regions, the Armenia Fund’s Great Britain affiliate implemented its latest assistance project this month, just as classes resume for the fall.

During August 24-26, Mrs. Anahid Ghazarian, a representative of the Great Britain affiliate, delivered school supplies to three educational institutions: the Children’s Art School in the city of Talin, Aragatsotn Region and the community schools of the villages of Artsni and Dzoramut in the Lori Region. Worth approximately $7,000 USD, the in-demand supplies will benefit a total of 180 students.

In the past decade, the school-assistance program of the Fund’s Great Britain affiliate, chaired by Ms. Armineh Carapeti, has benefited more than 1,800 students in the regions of Shirak, Lori, Tavush, Vayots Dzor, and Aragatsotn.

This month, as Mrs. Ghazarian delivered the donated school supplies, she was met with community celebrations at each of the campuses she visited. “In addition to sponsoring major infrastructure projects in Armenia, the Armenia Fund’s Great Britain affiliate is proud to continue implementing school-assistance projects in various regions of the Republic,” Mrs. Ghazarian said during one of her speeches. “As the new academic year approaches, I hope that initiatives such as these will help ease the financial burden that parents face simply to send their children to school.” At the ceremony in Dzoramut, Mrs. Aghavni Chapanyan, a mother of three schoolchildren, mentioned sadly that often students in her community avoid attending school because they lack the most essential of school supplies.

“Even the slightest bit of assistance provided to the residents of these remote communities is of great importance to them and goes a long way,” said Mariam Zenjirjyan, who oversees the program of support to educational institutions across Armenia’s regions.

Throughout Mrs. Ghazarian’s visits, parents, teachers, principals, and community leaders delivered remarks and conveyed their thanks to the Fund’s British affiliate. Students, too, participated in the celebrations and expressed their gratitude by performing songs and recitations as well as presenting to Mrs. Ghazarian numerous handmade gifts. After being praised for her paintings, nine-year-old Sona, a student at the Children’s Art School in Talin, said with a bashful smile, “I would love to become a famous painter.”

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.