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ARAKELIAN FAMILY RENOVATES GETAP VILLAGE SCHOOL IN SHIRAK
http://www.reporter.am/go/article/2011-11-28-arakelian-family-renovates-getap-village-school-in-shirak-
Published: Monday November 28, 2011
Getapi school students and staff in front of the renovated school.
Los Angeles - The Arakelian family led by Mr. Ron Arakelian Jr. has
sponsored the renovation of the Getapi village school in the Shirak
region of Armenia. The Arakelians donated $75,000 to underwrite the
renovation as part of the Armenian Educational Foundation's 60th
Anniversary celebration which took place in November 2010.
This major renovation was done in memory of Jack Arakelian who was
born in the village of Getapi on March 3, 1913 and later emigrated to
the United States. Jack Arakelian was a long-time member of the AEF,
serving as President from 1968 to 1979. The renovation was completed
through the guidance and the management of AEF.
The village of Getap (also known as Getapi and previously named
Ghasm-Ali) lies in the foothills of the Aragats mountain range. The
village was founded in 1827-1828 by immigrants from Kars, Alashkert,
Manazkert and Moush forming 40 households. In the mid 20th century
its population reached 1100 and the current count is 830. Getapi is
18.6 miles from Gyumri and 62.2 miles from Yerevan.
The Getapi school building was originally built in 1950 and in 1994
it became a high school producing its first graduates in 1996. The
school currently has 95 students, yet in the past that number reached
160. It has 21 teachers and 5 staff members.
Prior to the renovation, the school was in a deplorable condition.
During the renovation the windows were replaced with new metal/vinyl
type windows, the floors were replaced and painted, the walls were
all repaired and painted, the doors were replaced, new gutters
were installed outside the building, and new concrete walkways were
installed along all sides of the building. The Arakelian's donation
also helped furnish the school with student desks, teacher tables,
filing cabinets, teacher chairs, and blackboards.
The administrator of the village, Mr. Sanosyan, stated that the school
renovation has had an enormous impact for the village. "The school
was very humid and the overall sanitary conditions were very poor
which potentially could have caused disease and other health hazards.
However, after the renovations all these issues have been resolved."
Mr. Sanosyan also said "this program has been very important and
has become a source of inspiration for the villagers. They feel that
their compatriots in America are with them and if necessary can help
financially and morally. Our deepest gratitude to you. The people of
the village are appreciative and grateful to the AEF and the Arakelian
family for their generosity."
The villages of Armenia have great significance for the nation and
for the Armenian people. These villages hold the key to Armenian
traditions and customs; hence, their preservation is imperative.
Today's global circumstances put more pressure on Armenian villages
by threatening their mere existence. Therefore, it is important to
keep the Armenians strongly connected with their land. Recognizing
the importance of the village, AEF focused its renovation program to
village schools in Armenia, Artsakh and Javakhk.
For 60 years AEF has been providing financial assistance to students
and educational institutions, including, allocation of funds for
student scholarships, school grants and renovation of over 180 village
schools. This could not have been possible without the generous
support of benefactors such as the Arakelian family.
http://www.reporter.am/go/article/2011-11-28-arakelian-family-renovates-getap-village-school-in-shirak-
Published: Monday November 28, 2011
Getapi school students and staff in front of the renovated school.
Los Angeles - The Arakelian family led by Mr. Ron Arakelian Jr. has
sponsored the renovation of the Getapi village school in the Shirak
region of Armenia. The Arakelians donated $75,000 to underwrite the
renovation as part of the Armenian Educational Foundation's 60th
Anniversary celebration which took place in November 2010.
This major renovation was done in memory of Jack Arakelian who was
born in the village of Getapi on March 3, 1913 and later emigrated to
the United States. Jack Arakelian was a long-time member of the AEF,
serving as President from 1968 to 1979. The renovation was completed
through the guidance and the management of AEF.
The village of Getap (also known as Getapi and previously named
Ghasm-Ali) lies in the foothills of the Aragats mountain range. The
village was founded in 1827-1828 by immigrants from Kars, Alashkert,
Manazkert and Moush forming 40 households. In the mid 20th century
its population reached 1100 and the current count is 830. Getapi is
18.6 miles from Gyumri and 62.2 miles from Yerevan.
The Getapi school building was originally built in 1950 and in 1994
it became a high school producing its first graduates in 1996. The
school currently has 95 students, yet in the past that number reached
160. It has 21 teachers and 5 staff members.
Prior to the renovation, the school was in a deplorable condition.
During the renovation the windows were replaced with new metal/vinyl
type windows, the floors were replaced and painted, the walls were
all repaired and painted, the doors were replaced, new gutters
were installed outside the building, and new concrete walkways were
installed along all sides of the building. The Arakelian's donation
also helped furnish the school with student desks, teacher tables,
filing cabinets, teacher chairs, and blackboards.
The administrator of the village, Mr. Sanosyan, stated that the school
renovation has had an enormous impact for the village. "The school
was very humid and the overall sanitary conditions were very poor
which potentially could have caused disease and other health hazards.
However, after the renovations all these issues have been resolved."
Mr. Sanosyan also said "this program has been very important and
has become a source of inspiration for the villagers. They feel that
their compatriots in America are with them and if necessary can help
financially and morally. Our deepest gratitude to you. The people of
the village are appreciative and grateful to the AEF and the Arakelian
family for their generosity."
The villages of Armenia have great significance for the nation and
for the Armenian people. These villages hold the key to Armenian
traditions and customs; hence, their preservation is imperative.
Today's global circumstances put more pressure on Armenian villages
by threatening their mere existence. Therefore, it is important to
keep the Armenians strongly connected with their land. Recognizing
the importance of the village, AEF focused its renovation program to
village schools in Armenia, Artsakh and Javakhk.
For 60 years AEF has been providing financial assistance to students
and educational institutions, including, allocation of funds for
student scholarships, school grants and renovation of over 180 village
schools. This could not have been possible without the generous
support of benefactors such as the Arakelian family.