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Grand Opening Of Paros Lighthouse Foundation's Shelter/Women's Cente

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  • Grand Opening Of Paros Lighthouse Foundation's Shelter/Women's Cente

    GRAND OPENING OF PAROS LIGHTHOUSE FOUNDATION'S SHELTER/WOMEN'S CENTER

    www.nt.am
    Noyan Tapan
    01.09.2011 | 13:15

    Organisations

    Paros "Lighthouse" Charitable Foundation is proud to announce the
    Grand Opening of its 13,000 sq. ft. shelter/women's center in the
    village of Ptghounk in the Armavir region. This impressive facility
    is the first of its kind in Armenia.

    Special guests from around the world, Armenian government officials,
    and NGO representatives attended the opening ceremony on July 2, 2011.

    Very Reverend Fr. Barthev Gulumian blessed the altar in the prayer
    room as well as the staff and residents a few days following the
    event. The building is the achievement of California residents Zuhrab
    and Seta Ghazarian who have been inspired to serve their homeland by
    their humble wish to fulfill God's work.

    The Ghazarian's have constructed the center to assist pregnant girls,
    abused mothers and their babies, feed the elderly, offer Bible study
    classes for people in the surrounding community, and with local clergy
    perform the sacrament of Holy Baptism in the Armenian Church. Fifteen
    fully-appointed rooms safely house and feed neglected mothers with
    their babies as well as pregnant women. In addition, the complex
    accommodates the Foundation's administrative offices, medical exam
    rooms, dental office, restaurant-style kitchen, reception hall, and
    sewing and computer training centers. All services are provided free
    of charge.

    The shelter is currently home to three teenage mothers and their
    babies.Each of these young women relates a heart-rending story of
    abuse and tragedy.

    Seta shared, "On July 28th, God used us for His Glory again. We were
    blessed by saving another life. We welcomed our third teenage girl with
    her four-month old baby boy. She grew up in an orphanage and married
    very young. She had the baby, but her husband and mother-in-law kicked
    her out of the house with her infant son. After spending several
    days and nights in the streets, she decided to commit suicide. She
    put her baby safely on the ground and tried to throw herself from a
    bridge. But God sent an angel down to help her, and save both mother
    and child. When they reached our facility, they were examined by our
    in-house physician, and found to be undernourished, but otherwise
    healthy."

    On August 21st, Paros Lighthouse Charitable Foundation saw the birth
    of its first baby of the shelter. This happy event came after much
    tragedy for the new mother. She miscarried her first baby because of
    repeated beatings by her husband. When she turned to her father for
    safety, her stepmother sent her back to her husband. Soon, she was
    pregnant again. The husband started beating her and she again ran
    to her parents, who insisted that she get an abortion. However, her
    parents had no money, so they tried to force an abortion by starving
    and beating her. Determined not to lose another baby, the young woman
    phoned a hotline, which led her to the shelter.

    After spending the last four months of her pregnancy at the shelter,
    the young mother gave birth to a healthy, 6lb. 5 oz. baby girl named
    Irina. The pair will reside at the shelter until the child is ready
    to attend preschool. During her time at the shelter, the mother will
    receive childcare classes, regular health and wellness check-ups,
    dental exams, and on-site vocational training. Once the mother and
    child leave the center, the Foundation will continue to offer free
    daycare in its cheerful and well-equipped playroom.

    "Feeding the Elders" is a new program offered at the facility. Once
    a week, senior citizens from nearby villages are picked up by the
    Foundation's van and driven to the center where they receive a
    three-course, home-cooked meal in the dining room.

    Seta noted, "In the U.S., seniors receive Social Security and
    Medicare. Here in Armenia, they are often a forgotten sector of
    society, especially the ones who don't have grown children to care for
    them. Most stay hungry. We have compiled a list of needy elderly from
    five local villages in the Armavir region. In addition to providing a
    healthy meal, every week we supply them with basic living essentials."

    The money to pay for "Feeding the Elders" is received from donations
    of 0 per week as "madagh" or alms.

    Other programs include weekly "Bible Study," which boasts a rapidly
    growing attendance ranging in ages from 4-74, and "Group Christenings"
    with local priests who have baptized more than 30 adults and children
    since June. Since the Bible study class began three months ago, local
    residents have been flocking to the center to receive the Word of God
    as well as requesting to be baptized. An in-house gynecologist and
    therapist provide more vital services. The gynecologist works five
    days a week and gives free check-ups to women from the surrounding
    villages. Seta explained that "50% of the women have gynecological
    problems" that require hospital care. An in-house therapist is
    available to counsel the shelter residents and women from the nearby
    villages. These services and treatments, including hospital stays,
    are offered free of charge.

    The opening of the shelter/women's center has not detracted Zuhrab
    and Seta from the humanitarian outreach they began over ten years ago.

    Each month in small, poverty-stricken villages tucked away in Armenia
    and Artsakh, they distribute clothing, shoes, toys, blankets,
    kitchenware, wheelchairs, and foodstuffs. In May, they received
    their eleventh shipping container of donated items from the U.S.,
    which Zuhrab and Seta packed and loaded from a suite of warehouses
    they own in Long Beach, California.

    Paros Lighthouse Charitable Foundation collaborates with many
    local, regional, and international organizations in its benevolent
    work. Its partners include the U.S. Embassy, United States Agency for
    International Development, local women's rights groups with their hot
    lines, Tufenkian Foundation, Fund for Armenian Relief, Armenian Relief
    Society chapters, Fuller Center for Housing Armenia, and supporters
    from the United Arab Emirates. The Foundation also collaborates
    with seven different maternity hospitals. Recently it established a
    hot line, which is advertised on radio stations throughout Armenia,
    to give at-risk girls and young women the information they need to
    contact the center directly.

    Zuhrab and Seta Ghazarian have been providing assist ance to the
    poorest of the poor in Armenia since 2000. The idea of Paros (meaning
    "lighthouse" in Armenian) was established by friends and supporters of
    the Ghazarian family, and grew out of their concern for Armenian women
    and children as well as the integrity of the Armenian family. Paros
    Lighthouse Armenian Charitable Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit,
    public benefit corporation registered in the State of California and
    Republic of Armenia. â~@¨In addition to monetary donations to feed
    the elderly and the shelter's residents, the Foundation currently
    needs folding or stackable chairs, new computers, a podium, area
    rugs, and a piano. For more information and to donate, please visit
    www.parosfoundation.org.

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