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PRESS RELEASE
Fund for Armenian Relief
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Edina N. Bobelian
Tel: (212) 889-5150; Fax: (212) 889-4849
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.farusa.org
July 28, 2006
____________________
FAR'S MATHEVOSIAN SCHOLARS UNITE TO GIVE BACK
Volunteerism Alive in Armenia's Youth
Young Armenians, who are pursuing their higher education in Yerevan's top
universities thanks to the generosity of New York benefactor Ms. Anoosh
Mathevosian, are giving back.
These outstanding students from disadvantaged families received scholarships
that will cover the tuition costs for the full five-year term of their
curriculum through the Fund for Armenian Relief's (FAR's) Mathevosian
Scholarship Program.
They formed the Anoosh Mathevosian Friends Union to organize their efforts
to network within the Mathevosian Scholar family and plan volunteer
activities to help others in Armenia who are less fortunate than them.
As recipients of goodwill, they understand the impact of giving. Thanks to
Ms. Mathevosian, they have renewed hope for the future and believe in the
kindness and integrity of people.
On the gray morning of April 23, 2006, the day before the 91st Commemoration
of the Armenian Genocide, 32 members of the Friend Union set out from
Yerevan on a bus to volunteer their time and energies at another FAR
project, the Old Age Home located in Vanadzor. By the time they arrived in
the Lori Province, the sun was shining and everyone was ready to begin.
After a warm welcome from nearly 60 elderly who live at the Home, the
Mathevosian Scholars spent the day cleaning, gardening and performing
various repair works. During their breaks, they bonded with the seniors,
who shared stories of their youth in Yerevan, and organized backgammon and
chess tournaments that lasted well into the evening.
Second-year Yerevan State University student Artyom Levonyan, a journalism
major, spoke fondly of Grandma Siranoosh. `She was a well-known doctor and
her husband was a Minister. After he passed away, life changed for Grandma
Siranoosh. Her children didn't want to care for her, took her to the
Vanadzor Old Age Home and left her,' he said.
`The people living at the Home are not unhappy,' he continued. `They are
well taken care of. But their eyes are constantly looking out to the
horizon in search of their children. For one day, we fulfilled the role of
their children.'
For each of the young Armenians, it was difficult to leave the seniors at
the Old Age Home with whom they established new friendships. Before the
Mathevosian Scholars returned to Yerevan, they promised to return.
The trip to Vanadzor was the Anoosh Mathevosian Friends Union's first act of
volunteerism. The scholars were energized by the experience and have been
thinking of not only a second visit to the Home but also to other FAR
projects.
Volunteerism is alive in Armenia's youth. FAR is helping foster the
environment to create such opportunities for its own beneficiaries to give
back to the Homeland.
ABOUT FAR
Since its founding in response to the 1988 earthquake, FAR has served
millions of people through more than 220 relief and development programs in
Armenia and Karabagh. It has channeled more than $265 million in
humanitarian assistance by implementing a wide range of projects including
emergency relief, construction, education, medical aid, and economic
development.
FAR, one of the preeminent relief and development organization operating
there, is dedicated to realizing the dream of a free, democratic,
prosperous, and culturally rich Armenia. It works towards a brighter future
by partnering with donors to make life a little better for our people. By
offering hope and more promising prospects in Armenia, Karabagh, and
Javakhk, FAR binds the Diaspora and the Armenian family together around the
globe.
For more information about FAR, to organize a visit to FAR projects, or to
send donations, contact the Fund for Armenian Relief at 630 Second Avenue,
New York, NY 10016; telephone (212) 889-5150; fax (212) 889-4849; web
www.farusa.org; e-mail [email protected]
-- 07/28/06
E-mail photos available upon request.
PHOTO CAPTION1:  Traveling from Yerevan to Vanadzor, 32 Mathevosian Scholars
volunteered at FAR's Old Age Home, cleaning, gardening and performing
various repair works.
PHOTO CAPTION2:  From disadvantaged families, these university students want
to give back to others in Armenia less fortunate than them because they
understand the impact of giving thanks to the FAR Mathevosian Scholarship
Program.
PHOTO CAPTION3:  During their breaks, the Mathevosian Scholars bonded with
the seniors, who shared stories of their youth and asked about Yerevan
today.
PHOTO CAPTION4: They also organized backgammon and chess tournaments that
lasted well into the evening.
Fund for Armenian Relief
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Edina N. Bobelian
Tel: (212) 889-5150; Fax: (212) 889-4849
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.farusa.org
July 28, 2006
____________________
FAR'S MATHEVOSIAN SCHOLARS UNITE TO GIVE BACK
Volunteerism Alive in Armenia's Youth
Young Armenians, who are pursuing their higher education in Yerevan's top
universities thanks to the generosity of New York benefactor Ms. Anoosh
Mathevosian, are giving back.
These outstanding students from disadvantaged families received scholarships
that will cover the tuition costs for the full five-year term of their
curriculum through the Fund for Armenian Relief's (FAR's) Mathevosian
Scholarship Program.
They formed the Anoosh Mathevosian Friends Union to organize their efforts
to network within the Mathevosian Scholar family and plan volunteer
activities to help others in Armenia who are less fortunate than them.
As recipients of goodwill, they understand the impact of giving. Thanks to
Ms. Mathevosian, they have renewed hope for the future and believe in the
kindness and integrity of people.
On the gray morning of April 23, 2006, the day before the 91st Commemoration
of the Armenian Genocide, 32 members of the Friend Union set out from
Yerevan on a bus to volunteer their time and energies at another FAR
project, the Old Age Home located in Vanadzor. By the time they arrived in
the Lori Province, the sun was shining and everyone was ready to begin.
After a warm welcome from nearly 60 elderly who live at the Home, the
Mathevosian Scholars spent the day cleaning, gardening and performing
various repair works. During their breaks, they bonded with the seniors,
who shared stories of their youth in Yerevan, and organized backgammon and
chess tournaments that lasted well into the evening.
Second-year Yerevan State University student Artyom Levonyan, a journalism
major, spoke fondly of Grandma Siranoosh. `She was a well-known doctor and
her husband was a Minister. After he passed away, life changed for Grandma
Siranoosh. Her children didn't want to care for her, took her to the
Vanadzor Old Age Home and left her,' he said.
`The people living at the Home are not unhappy,' he continued. `They are
well taken care of. But their eyes are constantly looking out to the
horizon in search of their children. For one day, we fulfilled the role of
their children.'
For each of the young Armenians, it was difficult to leave the seniors at
the Old Age Home with whom they established new friendships. Before the
Mathevosian Scholars returned to Yerevan, they promised to return.
The trip to Vanadzor was the Anoosh Mathevosian Friends Union's first act of
volunteerism. The scholars were energized by the experience and have been
thinking of not only a second visit to the Home but also to other FAR
projects.
Volunteerism is alive in Armenia's youth. FAR is helping foster the
environment to create such opportunities for its own beneficiaries to give
back to the Homeland.
ABOUT FAR
Since its founding in response to the 1988 earthquake, FAR has served
millions of people through more than 220 relief and development programs in
Armenia and Karabagh. It has channeled more than $265 million in
humanitarian assistance by implementing a wide range of projects including
emergency relief, construction, education, medical aid, and economic
development.
FAR, one of the preeminent relief and development organization operating
there, is dedicated to realizing the dream of a free, democratic,
prosperous, and culturally rich Armenia. It works towards a brighter future
by partnering with donors to make life a little better for our people. By
offering hope and more promising prospects in Armenia, Karabagh, and
Javakhk, FAR binds the Diaspora and the Armenian family together around the
globe.
For more information about FAR, to organize a visit to FAR projects, or to
send donations, contact the Fund for Armenian Relief at 630 Second Avenue,
New York, NY 10016; telephone (212) 889-5150; fax (212) 889-4849; web
www.farusa.org; e-mail [email protected]
-- 07/28/06
E-mail photos available upon request.
PHOTO CAPTION1:  Traveling from Yerevan to Vanadzor, 32 Mathevosian Scholars
volunteered at FAR's Old Age Home, cleaning, gardening and performing
various repair works.
PHOTO CAPTION2:  From disadvantaged families, these university students want
to give back to others in Armenia less fortunate than them because they
understand the impact of giving thanks to the FAR Mathevosian Scholarship
Program.
PHOTO CAPTION3:  During their breaks, the Mathevosian Scholars bonded with
the seniors, who shared stories of their youth and asked about Yerevan
today.
PHOTO CAPTION4: They also organized backgammon and chess tournaments that
lasted well into the evening.