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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.
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.