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Fund for Armenian Relief
Press Release
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Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR)
Press Office
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 889-5150; Fax: (212) 889-4849
email: press@farusa.org
web: www.farusa.org
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"The Best for Our Children" Event in Yerevan Supports FAR's Homeless Children's Center
Yerevan's Victory Park on June 2 was packed with business people, activists, politicians and big name celebrities, volunteers and hundreds of others all gathered in support of one common cause - child protection.
The event, called The Best for Our Children, which was held in honor of International Children's Day, raised proceeds to support the Fund for Armenian Relief's Homeless Children's Center (HCC).
It was only the second year, but participation skyrocketed. More than 15,000 people attended. The event was organized by a group of committed volunteers led by First Lady Rita Sargsyan and former First Lady Bella Kocharian, who is also the head of the HCC's Friends Advocacy Council.
Philanthropy is a relatively novel concept in Armenia, and to strengthen its significance organizers coordinated meetings between celebrities, businesses and artists for their support. By doing this HCC Director Dr. Mira Antonyan noted that the Center has also helped to establish and unify a broad charity culture in Armenia.
"Almost all stakeholders in Armenia - public celebrities, businessmen, art and show business representatives and specialists working with the children in difficult and risky conditions - gathered in one crossroad to promote child rights protection. I hope our benefactors from the Diaspora are going to be encouraged to see that their peers in Armenia are stepping up too, and will continue to support us - Armenia's children are in dire need," she said.
The day was indeed a testimony to the Armenian community's commitment to help its children. It was not only a rare event when a nation united in a grassroots effort, it was also a day when class boundaries were set aside. All Armenians - rich, poor and middle class - were united and engaged in a single vision of hope to improve the protection and education of their children.
Representatives from some of Armenia's largest companies, including Coca Cola, Grand Candy, Tamara and Noyan Juice, sold their products at the event, raising more than 1.3 million AMD ($4,000 USD) for the Center's programs. Just five companies donated their time and products in 2008. This year 11 took a stand to better the lives of their nation's children.
For some, like dairy producer Ashtarak-Kat, which has traditionally supported needy children in its own way, this was the first time the company had collaborated with others for this cause. This newfound partnership will make their impact even stronger.
Nearly 70 art and culture representatives, celebrities and government leaders also attended. So did national assembly members and representatives from Yerevan government. Specialists who work with at-risk children were also in attendance and media companies like Shoghakat TV, Ardzagank Radio and Radio Van helped to sponsor the event.
Celebrities, including singers Arsen Grigoryan, Alla Levonyan and Gayane Hovhannisyan participated, as did comedian Ashot Ghazaryan and actress Nazeni Hovhannisyan.
Through the HCC, FAR's work on child welfare and protection has been extensive, and groundbreaking, and all made possible through its supporters. The Center has provided homeless and abused children a safe haven since it opened in 2000. Initially started as a temporary shelter that offered crisis intervention and rehabilitation, the Center is now a full-service facility where abused and abandoned children can access shelter, counseling, outreach services, healthcare and legal assistance 24 hours a day. Since 2000, FAR has opened more branches of the Center to serve even more of Armenia's families. More than 4,500 have been helped through its services and the number of beneficiaries increases each year. In 2008, the Center served 924 children, the highest number ever.
Working in cooperation with the government and with local and international organizations, the HCC has also addressed the complex needs of at-risk children in other ways, including establishing the nation's foster care system. FAR's staff has also played an integral role in setting the national standard for childcare by assisting in writing child welfare legislation and greatly influencing the government's approach to child protection.
Yet, while FAR's work has expanded in the last few years, the need is still great and it has been compounded by the global economic crisis. Thousands of Armenian children still fall prey to abuse, neglect and abandonment every year. With more households stretched thin, more parents are leaving their children in the care of grossly under-resourced state institutions. There, opportunity to better one's life is slim. The number of institutionalized children in Armenia reached 12,000 in 2008 - a dramatic increase from roughly 15 years before when there were none. When they are forced to leave these orphanages, children are often left with no other option than to live on the streets surrounded by drugs, begging and prostitution.
The Best for our Children called together all facets of Armenian society to combat these circumstances. Together, they took a concentrated step forward in the development of their nation. And through the HCC, this support will help the entire Armenian community further ensure proper care of its children.
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About FAR
Since its founding in response to the 1988 earthquake, FAR has served hundreds of thousands 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.
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For more information on FAR or to send donations, contact us at 630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016; telephone (212) 889-5150; fax (212) 889-4849; http://www.farusa.org; e-mail press@farusa.org.
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