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DO WE REALLY CARE OR IS IT ALL FOR SHOW?
By Berge Minasian
http://www.armenianlife.com/2012/07/11/do-we-really-care-or-is-it-all-for-show/
July 11, 2012
The more things change, the more they stay the same. Armenia is a
dichotomy. Inner city Yerevan is truly impressive and compares quite
well with most European Union countries what with its high rise condos
and high end boutiques. But one only needs to travel a short distance
outside the city limits before the tragic reality of the country sets
in. The rest of Armenia is basically in shambles.
On January 6, 2011 Nanore Barsoumian posted a piece on the internet
that would make any patriotic Armenian cringe in shame. Her article
was entitled UNICEF Report on Poverty in Armenia. Most of the
data she reported about conditions throughout the countryside was
not new. In essence her report highlighted the fact that in spite
of Yerevan's impressive evolution with all its glitz and glamour,
half the population of Armenia lives in poverty. That's a terrible
statistic but I can understand it because I realize Armenia is evolving
and it will take time to rid itself of the Soviet era mentality which
nurtured a sense of detachment from each other.
Helping or caring for others was not part of the lifestyle in
Communist Armenia.
But what I can't accept is the unnecessarily high rate of child poverty
in Armenia. They come from the 2 or three percent of families living
in extreme poverty in Domigs (metal shipping containers). Barsoumian
reports that according to official UNICEF statistics, extreme poverty
could be eradicated in Armenia for the unbelievably low cost of 6.9
million dollars. I had to read it twice to make sure that I had it
right, and yes, that's right, a measly 6.9 million dollars would be
all that is required to eradicate extreme poverty in Armenia.
On April 02, 2012, I read a piece in the Armenian Observer
newspaper which chronicled a report from the Republic of Armenia
State Statistical Service. It was more of the same but with some
statistics about the extreme poverty in Gyumri. The ugly truth is
that some 6,500 families in Gyumri still live in temporary shelters
such as domigs. They went on to say that due to the high poverty and
under-employment rates, many families with small children are forced
to live in squalid conditions.
We are intimately familiar with the conditions in Vanadzor. Although
the number is not as high as in Gyumri, the number of families still
in domigs exceeds 1,000. Many of these families send their small
children to live in the orphanage our family founded there in 1996.
Some of these families receive a monthly stipend from our foundation
each month because of the generosity of sponsors we have here in the
United States.
If the cost of eradicating extreme poverty in Armenia is true,
and I have no reason to doubt its accuracy, what does it say about
us as a people? For sure a lack of available funding cannot be the
reason we still have those horrific conditions; hundreds of millions
of dollars are pumped into the country annually. Can it be a lack
of awareness by our Diaspora organizations, or our Apostolic Church
leadership or the Armenian Parliament? I doubt it! So what does it
mean? Does it mean that we Armenians are allowing another generation
of Armenian children to grow up malnourished and heartbroken because
no one cares? What a horrible thought!
I think the time is long overdue for Diaspora Armenians to insist that
our Apostolic Church leadership and other benevolent organizations
take immediate steps to pressure those in charge to eradicate extreme
poverty in Armenia. Let's each and every one of us commit to rescuing
those innocent children living in those sub human conditions. If
enough of us focus on this urgent need, who knows, maybe we can raise
the collective consciousness of our entire nation. It's worth a try
isn't it?
If you would like to partner up with us to make this happen, call
or email and we will get in touch with you. I don't think you can
in good conscience just sit back and allow another generation of
Armenian kids to suffer any longer.
If you would be interested in sponsoring a family through the
Humanitarian Outreach foundation for $1.00 per day we can help you
with that as well. Our foundation has a 501 c (3) status and we have
implemented a squeaky clean method of getting the funds to our selected
families. Our families are issued a debit card on our behalf from
Ineco Bank in Vanadzor. We then wire transfer funds each month to
the Bank and the cards are funded according to our instructions once
a month. The funds are never touched by anyone except the family
member when they go to the local ATM machine.
I know times are uncertain and some of you may even be disillusioned
about how the social situation has evolved in Armenia to date. But be
that as it may, there are ways for each of us to help those poorest
of the poor one family at a time. Make a decision now to take some
action to help at least one family. If you don't, who will?
If you would like more information about how to help, please give a
call at 858-481-8904 or e-mail us at [email protected]
From: A. Papazian
By Berge Minasian
http://www.armenianlife.com/2012/07/11/do-we-really-care-or-is-it-all-for-show/
July 11, 2012
The more things change, the more they stay the same. Armenia is a
dichotomy. Inner city Yerevan is truly impressive and compares quite
well with most European Union countries what with its high rise condos
and high end boutiques. But one only needs to travel a short distance
outside the city limits before the tragic reality of the country sets
in. The rest of Armenia is basically in shambles.
On January 6, 2011 Nanore Barsoumian posted a piece on the internet
that would make any patriotic Armenian cringe in shame. Her article
was entitled UNICEF Report on Poverty in Armenia. Most of the
data she reported about conditions throughout the countryside was
not new. In essence her report highlighted the fact that in spite
of Yerevan's impressive evolution with all its glitz and glamour,
half the population of Armenia lives in poverty. That's a terrible
statistic but I can understand it because I realize Armenia is evolving
and it will take time to rid itself of the Soviet era mentality which
nurtured a sense of detachment from each other.
Helping or caring for others was not part of the lifestyle in
Communist Armenia.
But what I can't accept is the unnecessarily high rate of child poverty
in Armenia. They come from the 2 or three percent of families living
in extreme poverty in Domigs (metal shipping containers). Barsoumian
reports that according to official UNICEF statistics, extreme poverty
could be eradicated in Armenia for the unbelievably low cost of 6.9
million dollars. I had to read it twice to make sure that I had it
right, and yes, that's right, a measly 6.9 million dollars would be
all that is required to eradicate extreme poverty in Armenia.
On April 02, 2012, I read a piece in the Armenian Observer
newspaper which chronicled a report from the Republic of Armenia
State Statistical Service. It was more of the same but with some
statistics about the extreme poverty in Gyumri. The ugly truth is
that some 6,500 families in Gyumri still live in temporary shelters
such as domigs. They went on to say that due to the high poverty and
under-employment rates, many families with small children are forced
to live in squalid conditions.
We are intimately familiar with the conditions in Vanadzor. Although
the number is not as high as in Gyumri, the number of families still
in domigs exceeds 1,000. Many of these families send their small
children to live in the orphanage our family founded there in 1996.
Some of these families receive a monthly stipend from our foundation
each month because of the generosity of sponsors we have here in the
United States.
If the cost of eradicating extreme poverty in Armenia is true,
and I have no reason to doubt its accuracy, what does it say about
us as a people? For sure a lack of available funding cannot be the
reason we still have those horrific conditions; hundreds of millions
of dollars are pumped into the country annually. Can it be a lack
of awareness by our Diaspora organizations, or our Apostolic Church
leadership or the Armenian Parliament? I doubt it! So what does it
mean? Does it mean that we Armenians are allowing another generation
of Armenian children to grow up malnourished and heartbroken because
no one cares? What a horrible thought!
I think the time is long overdue for Diaspora Armenians to insist that
our Apostolic Church leadership and other benevolent organizations
take immediate steps to pressure those in charge to eradicate extreme
poverty in Armenia. Let's each and every one of us commit to rescuing
those innocent children living in those sub human conditions. If
enough of us focus on this urgent need, who knows, maybe we can raise
the collective consciousness of our entire nation. It's worth a try
isn't it?
If you would like to partner up with us to make this happen, call
or email and we will get in touch with you. I don't think you can
in good conscience just sit back and allow another generation of
Armenian kids to suffer any longer.
If you would be interested in sponsoring a family through the
Humanitarian Outreach foundation for $1.00 per day we can help you
with that as well. Our foundation has a 501 c (3) status and we have
implemented a squeaky clean method of getting the funds to our selected
families. Our families are issued a debit card on our behalf from
Ineco Bank in Vanadzor. We then wire transfer funds each month to
the Bank and the cards are funded according to our instructions once
a month. The funds are never touched by anyone except the family
member when they go to the local ATM machine.
I know times are uncertain and some of you may even be disillusioned
about how the social situation has evolved in Armenia to date. But be
that as it may, there are ways for each of us to help those poorest
of the poor one family at a time. Make a decision now to take some
action to help at least one family. If you don't, who will?
If you would like more information about how to help, please give a
call at 858-481-8904 or e-mail us at [email protected]
From: A. Papazian