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  • HFH Armenia to visit the U.S.

    PRESS RELEASE

    HABITAT FOR HUMANITY ARMENIA
    Aygestan 8th str, h5
    Yerevan-070
    Armenia
    Contact :

    Zaruhi Tonapetyan
    Resource Development Coordinator for HFH Armenia
    (374 10)556-114
    [email protected]


    ARMENIA SELECTED AS PARTNER TO JIMMY CARTER WORK PROJECT

    Armenian delegation visits U.S. to spread word of critical poverty
    housing issue;

    Head of Armenian Patriarchate, the Catholicos, to meet with Carter
    in Michigan

    YEREVAN, Armenia (May 16) - Forty percent of
    Armenia's population lives in substandard housing.
    __________________________________________________ __________________

    For the 22nd annual Jimmy Carter Work Project (JCWP), held in Benton
    Harbor, and Detroit, Michigan June 19-24, Armenia has been selected
    as a partner country, and will receive a portion of the tithe.

    "We are delighted and grateful to have been selected to partner with
    the JCWP this year," says Ashot Yeghizaryan, Executive Director of
    Habitat for Humanity Armenia. "There is a significant poverty housing
    issue in Armenia, and we hope to forge new partnerships in America
    to help us in our continuing efforts to fight this problem."

    President Carter, his wife Rosalynn will join 1000s of international
    volunteers to build homes alongside families in need in Michigan. This
    year, an Armenian delegation will join them - including the head
    of the Armenian church: The Catholicos and Supreme Patriarch of All
    Armenians His Holiness Karekin II.

    "This expression of good will by the Armenian Patriarch will become
    an excellent demonstration of the volunteer values within people from
    all walks of life, backgrounds and beliefs," says Ashot Yeghizaryan.

    Armenia, a country of 3 million nestled in the southern Caucasus,
    suffers rates at a 45% poverty level, according to the Council of
    Europe. Over the past decade, the country has suffered the aftermath
    of the devastating 1988 earthquake which left 500,000 homeless; the
    Azerbaijani war, which hampered the country's ability to rebuild;
    the collapse of the Soviet regime, and a newfound independence. All
    have led to economic crisis.

    Thousands of Armenians still live in metal "domiks", iron containers
    erected for temporary earthquake relief. In Armenia's harsh elements,
    these homes act like refrigerators in the winter; and like boilers
    in the summer.

    To share the story of the critical housing need, the Armenian
    delegation from Habitat for Humanity, Executive Director Ashot
    Yeghizaryan and Resource Development Coordinator Zaruhi Tonapetyan,
    will tour several states in the U.S. in June-July: Michigan, Wisconsin,
    Minnesota, California, and Florida, and will be available for meetings
    and interviews. After the JCWP week, the delegation will visit Armenian
    communities and churches in the U.S.

    "We're looking forward to being able to personally thank those who
    have so generously contributed to the work of HFH in Armenia," says
    Zara Tonapetyan.

    "We're also excited to share our future plans to fight poverty housing
    from Armenia."

    Concurrently with the events in Michigan, prominent Armenian officials
    will be building a home with a family in need in Detroit City.

    The tithe of all the raised funds within Armenia during these events
    will be sent to Indonesia, where HFH is rebuilding after the December
    26th tsunami.

    "While there is a dire need to eradicate poverty housing in Armenia, we
    also recognize the importance of helping those in need elsewhere," says
    Tonapetyan. "We have been praying for those affected by the tsunami,
    and we hope this tithe, in a small way, will help them build hope."

    Habitat for Humanity Armenia has been working with families in need
    since 2000, and provided homes for 600 people.

    About the Jimmy Carter Work Project
    ______________________________
    Since the first Jimmy Carter Work Project in New York City in 1984,
    President Carter has been drawn to Habitat for Humanity's efforts
    to bring hope to people and areas others have abandoned. The Carters
    have personally worked on Habitat homes that house more than 10,000
    people around the world.

    About Habitat for Humanity
    _____________________
    Habitat for Humanity is a nondenominational Christian organization
    dedicated to eliminating poverty housing. By the end of 2005, Habitat
    will have built its 200,000th house and more than one million people
    will be living in Habitat homes they helped build.

    Habitat for Humanity Armenia delegation U.S. travel schedule:
    ________________________________________________
    June 19-24 - Michigan (Detroit, Benton Harbor)
    June 25-28 - Wisconsin
    June 28 -July 2 - Minnesota
    July 3 - 10 - Northern California
    July 10 -16 - Southern California
    July 17-19 - Florida

    For more information, to schedule an interview, or a meeting, please
    contact:

    In Armenia:
    Zaruhi Tonapetyan, Habitat for Humanity Armenia
    Tel: + (374 10) 556-114; E-mail: [email protected]

    In the U.S.:
    Ned Kelly, Habitat for Humanity Headquarters
    Tel: (229) 924-6935, ext.2149; E-mail: [email protected]

    ~THE END~
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