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Duane Bates Dominique Schärer Gohar Palyan
HFHI in the United States HFHI in Europe/Central Asia HFH Armenia =09
1-229-924-6935, ext. 3079 +361-411-2170 +374 10 55 6114
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
www.habitat.org/newsroom =09
Habitat for Humanity's 'Catholicos Karekin II Work Project' begins
Volunteers to help eradicate poverty housing in Armenia
YEREVAN, Armenia (April 10, 2007) - Paint brushes, trowels and hammers
will swing into action this week, as Habitat for Humanity begins to lift
37 families from poverty housing in Armenia.
The second annual Habitat for Humanity "Catholicos Karekin II Work
Project" kicks off in Armenia today. Volunteers from around the globe
will descend upon Armenia to build homes side by side with homeowner
families, local sponsors, volunteers, dignitaries and monks from the
Armenian Apostolic Church.
"The Armenian Apostolic Church is delighted to launch this event once
again with Habitat for Humanity. It's not only a celebration of people
coming together to help families in need, but it's also an important
step toward removing the blight of poverty housing in Armenia," says
Archbishop Vicken Aykazian of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
During building events around the country from April through October, 37
homes built in partnership with families in need will be completed in
Armenia, symbolizing 36 worldwide dioceses, plus the Holy See. His
Holiness, Karekin II, Catholicos of all Armenians, is expected to bless
the event's official opening at the Etchmiadzin Gevorgyan seminary on
April 10.
Churches and individuals are challenged to fully sponsor or to
contribute to a home. The Catholicos Project Family Sponsorship Cost
(FSC) for 2007 will be $7,360, which is an average for the cost of
renovations, half-build homes and new construction.
The first building event kicks off with a volunteer team coming from the
United States. The Habitat volunteers will be completing homes that
were abandoned and left unfinished after the economic collapse in the
early 1990s in Armenia where nearly half of the country still lives in
poverty conditions.
The Haroyan family of the Khor Virap village is the first selected among
the 37 families. Sahak, 43, and his wife Piruza, 36, are vegetable
farmers currently residing in a neighbor's basement with their three
children, ages 18, 16 and 14. Economic strife forced the family to live
in the basement for seven years, as they have been unable to raise
enough funds to complete their own home. Piruza suffers rheumatism in
her legs due to the humidity. "If you help us, we will finish and move
to our new house by the next winter," Piruza said to a visiting Habitat
team.
The Armenian Church signed a historic partnership with Habitat for
Humanity in April 2006, aimed to combat poverty housing in Armenia and
worldwide. The first "Catholicos Karekin II Work Project" was held in
Gavar, Armenia, where a building was renovated in partnership with 24
families, with an additional 13 homes built around the country.
In Michigan in 2005, the Catholicos participated in Habitat's annual
home blitz build, the Jimmy Carter Work Project, where he met with
President Carter. Following that, the Catholicos gave his blessing for
a home-building event to be created and held in Armenia.
Armenia is a country of 3 million nestled in the southern Caucasus.
Over the past decade, a devastating earthquake, conflict, the Soviet
Union's collapse and a newfound independence have led to economic
crisis. Thousands still live in metal "domiks," iron containers used
for temporary earthquake relief, which act like refrigerators in the
winter and boilers in the summer. Habitat for Humanity Armenia has been
working with families in need since 2000 and provided homes in
partnership with more than 1,000 people.
For more information about Habitat for Humanity in Armenia, visit:
www.hfharmenia.org.
About Habitat for Humanity International
Habitat for Humanity International is an ecumenical Christian ministry
that welcomes to its work all people dedicated to the cause of
eliminating poverty housing. Since its founding in Americus, Ga., in
1976, Habitat has built more than 225,000 houses in nearly 100
countries, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than
1 million people. For more information, visit www.habitat.org
<http://www.habitat.org/> .
--30--
Duane Bates Dominique Schärer Gohar Palyan
HFHI in the United States HFHI in Europe/Central Asia HFH Armenia =09
1-229-924-6935, ext. 3079 +361-411-2170 +374 10 55 6114
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
www.habitat.org/newsroom =09
Habitat for Humanity's 'Catholicos Karekin II Work Project' begins
Volunteers to help eradicate poverty housing in Armenia
YEREVAN, Armenia (April 10, 2007) - Paint brushes, trowels and hammers
will swing into action this week, as Habitat for Humanity begins to lift
37 families from poverty housing in Armenia.
The second annual Habitat for Humanity "Catholicos Karekin II Work
Project" kicks off in Armenia today. Volunteers from around the globe
will descend upon Armenia to build homes side by side with homeowner
families, local sponsors, volunteers, dignitaries and monks from the
Armenian Apostolic Church.
"The Armenian Apostolic Church is delighted to launch this event once
again with Habitat for Humanity. It's not only a celebration of people
coming together to help families in need, but it's also an important
step toward removing the blight of poverty housing in Armenia," says
Archbishop Vicken Aykazian of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
During building events around the country from April through October, 37
homes built in partnership with families in need will be completed in
Armenia, symbolizing 36 worldwide dioceses, plus the Holy See. His
Holiness, Karekin II, Catholicos of all Armenians, is expected to bless
the event's official opening at the Etchmiadzin Gevorgyan seminary on
April 10.
Churches and individuals are challenged to fully sponsor or to
contribute to a home. The Catholicos Project Family Sponsorship Cost
(FSC) for 2007 will be $7,360, which is an average for the cost of
renovations, half-build homes and new construction.
The first building event kicks off with a volunteer team coming from the
United States. The Habitat volunteers will be completing homes that
were abandoned and left unfinished after the economic collapse in the
early 1990s in Armenia where nearly half of the country still lives in
poverty conditions.
The Haroyan family of the Khor Virap village is the first selected among
the 37 families. Sahak, 43, and his wife Piruza, 36, are vegetable
farmers currently residing in a neighbor's basement with their three
children, ages 18, 16 and 14. Economic strife forced the family to live
in the basement for seven years, as they have been unable to raise
enough funds to complete their own home. Piruza suffers rheumatism in
her legs due to the humidity. "If you help us, we will finish and move
to our new house by the next winter," Piruza said to a visiting Habitat
team.
The Armenian Church signed a historic partnership with Habitat for
Humanity in April 2006, aimed to combat poverty housing in Armenia and
worldwide. The first "Catholicos Karekin II Work Project" was held in
Gavar, Armenia, where a building was renovated in partnership with 24
families, with an additional 13 homes built around the country.
In Michigan in 2005, the Catholicos participated in Habitat's annual
home blitz build, the Jimmy Carter Work Project, where he met with
President Carter. Following that, the Catholicos gave his blessing for
a home-building event to be created and held in Armenia.
Armenia is a country of 3 million nestled in the southern Caucasus.
Over the past decade, a devastating earthquake, conflict, the Soviet
Union's collapse and a newfound independence have led to economic
crisis. Thousands still live in metal "domiks," iron containers used
for temporary earthquake relief, which act like refrigerators in the
winter and boilers in the summer. Habitat for Humanity Armenia has been
working with families in need since 2000 and provided homes in
partnership with more than 1,000 people.
For more information about Habitat for Humanity in Armenia, visit:
www.hfharmenia.org.
About Habitat for Humanity International
Habitat for Humanity International is an ecumenical Christian ministry
that welcomes to its work all people dedicated to the cause of
eliminating poverty housing. Since its founding in Americus, Ga., in
1976, Habitat has built more than 225,000 houses in nearly 100
countries, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than
1 million people. For more information, visit www.habitat.org
<http://www.habitat.org/> .
--30--