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Fuller Center for Housing marks five years in Armenia

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  • Fuller Center for Housing marks five years in Armenia

    Fuller Center for Housing marks five years in Armenia

    http://www.reporter.am/go/article/2013-07-21-fuller-center-for-housing-marks-five-years-in-armenia
    Published: Sunday July 21, 2013


    YEREVAN - The Fuller Center for Housing Armenia (FCHA) celebrated its
    fifth anniversary at the Armenia Marriott Hotel Yerevan, which was the
    generous sponsor of the event.

    The June 28 event marked an important milestone not only for the
    Fuller Center for Housing, but also for the Republic of Armenia. Since
    its inception in 2008, FCHA has built or renovated hundreds of safe
    and decent homes for needy families in remote regions of Armenia.

    Commenting on the core values of Marriott International, J.W.
    Marriott, Jr. stated, "We believe our long-time commitment to a
    sustainable business sets us apart and our global reach gives us a
    unique opportunity to make a real difference in communities around the
    world."

    David Snell, the founder member and the president of the Fuller Center
    for Housing, inc. shared in his remarks: "I had the great privilege of
    visiting Armenia in 2008 when The Fuller Center Armenia was still a
    dream. Now, five years later, this program has risen to become the
    most productive organization in the world-wide Fuller Center family of
    covenant partners.

    This work wouldn't be possible without the support of those who share
    of their time and their financial resources. Special recognition is
    due to local donors/supporters for their gifts. Thanks are also due to
    the amazing Armenian diaspora community in the United States whose
    generosity is unbounded.

    Thank you for coming out to celebrate this great event. May the good
    Lord continue to shower His blessings on The Fuller Center for Housing
    Armenia and on our work around the world. Every child deserves to have
    a decent home to grow up in, and together we can make that happen. No
    more shacks! No more domiks"!

    Discussing the significance of the Fuller Center's 5th anniversary,
    Ashot Yeghiazaryan, president of the Fuller Center for Housing
    Armenia, stated:

    "Since 2000, our team has been working in Armenia to eliminate poverty
    housing, and so far we have reached out to over 650 families. Over 70%
    of these families were homeless, while some just needed home
    improvements. Every home we have built has been made possible thanks
    to the dedication of our supporters and volunteers as well as
    organizations both from Armenia and overseas.

    "However the housing need in Armenia is still high. There are over
    64,000 families (about 8% of population) who need to either build or
    renovate their homes. We have seen that helping one family at a time
    is making a difference for a lifetime, and impacting more than one
    generation. Our mission motivates us to share our love and dedication
    with these families.

    "As we look to the future, we would like to reach out to new
    communities. We encourage all Armenians and interested people to join
    this vital humanitarian work and help us change the lives of Armenian
    families in our homeland."

    The 5th anniversary celebration will follow joint builds with longtime
    and new partners: Armenia Marriott Hotel Yerevan, KPMG, U.S. Embassy,
    Future Leaders Exchange Program (FLEX), AGBU, International Research &
    Exchanges Board (IREX), Armenian Volunteer Corps (AVC), and others.
    FCHA will also commemorate the anniversary with the completion of its
    250th home. In summer 2013, this home, now the residence of the
    Margaryan family in the village of Ujan, will be dedicated and blessed
    by local clergy. Members of St. Gregory the Enlightener Armenian
    Church in White Plains, New York sponsored the construction of this
    house.

    FCHA also partners with Heifer International to provide many of the
    new homeowners with gifts of livestock and bees; this has allowed the
    homeowners to generate a stable income and enhance the economy of
    their local regions. This winning approach of building homes and
    gifting livestock means that FCHA's beneficiary families do not feel
    the need to seek a better standard of living outside of Armenia. FCHA
    provides safe shelter and a source of income that gives families
    everything they need to stay in Armenia.

    The anniversary coincided with the kick-off of FCHA's 6th summer
    volunteer season, called Global Builders. Currently two volunteer
    teams are in Armenia led by Cynthia Erickson (10 members) and Leo
    Manuelian (15 members). Both team leaders are from USA and both have
    joined this home building mission since 2003. "Congratulations to
    Fuller Center Armenia on this 5th anniversary. Of course I was present
    at your birth, so I feel like you are my child also. Best wishes for
    your continued success in the future and for the hard work to create
    this organization" shared Cynthia Erickson.

    "I want to congratulate Fuller Center on its 5th anniversary. In its
    short but wise term of existence the organization has helped over 250
    families giving families in need like us a shelter, warmth and faith
    for living. The words can't express the feelings that I have in my
    soul." shared Zorik Avetisyan from Aragatsotn region, the village of
    Ujan, whose house was built through FCHA program last year.

    The Fuller Center for Housing Armenia is a non-government, charitable
    organization that supports community development in the Republic of
    Armenia by assisting in building and renovating simple, decent and
    affordable homes, as well as advocating the right to decent shelter as
    a matter of conscience and action. FCHA provides long-term,
    interest-free loans to low-income families. The monthly repayments
    flow into a Revolving Fund, which is used to help more families,
    thereby providing a financial foundation for a sustainable community
    development effort.

    For more information, please visit www.fullercenterarmenia.org

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