[CASP]: Chinari Kindergarten Receives Christmas Gift from CASP.

  • January 18, 2012 1:22 pm

By Margaret Piliposyan

FAR’s periodic interventions in the Shamshadin region of Tavush help a population that suffers greatly from social and economic hardship. In the most recent development, the Children of Armenia Sponsorship Program (CASP) has made it possible for children in the area’s school to receive healthy and nutritious lunches.

This region has had its share of tragedy, as it is situated along the longest frontier with neighboring Azerbaijan and many villagers have been killed in skirmishes over the years. Meanwhile, many members of the younger generation have left the area in search of jobs and greater stability.

The village of Chinari is located in the easternmost settlement of Shamshadin. Here there is one kindergarten with 25 children, which was established in 1942. Before a new building was constructed in 1990, the school was previously located in several private homes. Over the years, it has been temporarily closed time and again due to Azeri shelling. Its walls are pocket-marked by Azeri bullets.

“When the Azeris open fire I gather the children in this one room for shelter. I close the door and turn up the music so that they won’t hear the shots and get afraid. I’m the one who is most afraid, but not for myself. I’m afraid for the little ones. I’m responsible for their safety. Until they all return home safe and sound, I don’t rest,” says the Principal Aghasyan.

The most serious problem the kindergarten faces today is proving nutritious and adequate meals to children. Lack of adequate financial resources make it hard to ensure healthy, balanced meals for the kindergarten’s children. But recently, funds raised through the Children of Armenia Sponsorship Program (CASP) Advent by Candlelight Program will fund nutritious meals for 25 children at Chinari kindergarten, beginning this week. On behalf of Chinari Kindergarten kids and families, FAR would like to express its thanks to the Women’s Guild Central Council of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) for this benevolent initiative.

“Whenever they shoot towards the fields,
I put on some music and turn it up real loud so the
children don’t hear the shots,” said Parandzem Aghasyan,
principal of Chinari’s kindergarten

Credit: Edik Karapetyan

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[CASP]: Talented Siblings Receive Support.

Vardan Hovhannesyan was a feldsher  and Zarik was a nurse when the two met while working at Agarak’s military hospital in 1988. It wasn’t long before they married and had their first child, a girl whom they named Siranush. Two years later their son Sevak was born. He was barely one year old when his father died suddenly.

After his death, Zarik moved her family to her father’s house in the outer districts of Agarak, which is a small town on the Iranian border. Today 10 people share this space – Zarik and her children, her parents, and her brother and his family. It is not easy for Zarik to earn sufficient money with which she can support her children; year by year the expenses increase. Three years ago, Zarik applied for a CASP stipend. This is the fourth year she has received financial support from the diaspora.

“It’s hard to fully heal the ‘wound’ with this money,” Zarik said. “However, it brings consolation to us.”

Thanks to the stipend, Siranush, now in the eighth grade, attends music school and is learning to play the kanun. Sevak, who is in fifth grade, takes painting classes. The children regularly write letters to their benefactor about their activities.

We found them extremely happy upon our visit, as they had recently received letters from their benefactors Berc and Armine Araz of New Jersey. In their letter the couple praised the children’s achievements and successes. They also promised to visit the children during their next trip to Armenia.

CASP has enabled Sevak to take painting classes.

Sevak

Siranush is able to attend music school and learn to play the Kanun.

SiranushCredit: Levon Lachikyan

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[CASP]: Profile – Davit Tsatryan, Aspiring Agronomist.

Kajaran is a small town located near a huge copper and molybdenum plant, which first opened during the Soviet period. Today, it’s the source of employment for almost all residents of this town, including Sona Ishkhanyan. Born in 1973, Sona was 21 years old when she married Boris Tsatryan and moved to Tashtun, near Meghri in the Syunik region. Five years later they had their first child Davit, who they named after the Armenian national hero Davit of Sasun.

Like the epic hero, Davit was a very handsome baby. He was only 28 days old when his father died from blood cancer and life for his family took an unexpected turn. Without her husband, it was very hard for Sona to stay alone and raise her only child. She decided to return to Kajaran along with Davit to live in her brother’s apartment. She soon found work in the town’s copper and molybdenum plant as a computer operator.

Davit, now 12 years old, is in the eighth grade at Kajaran’s #2 Secondary School. He studies hard and is well liked by his classmates. Twice a week he attends karate classes and plays sports. Unlike his peers, who wish to become businessmen or singers, Davit dreams of becoming an agriculturist and running a cattle breeding farm.

Sona learned about the Children of Armenia Sponsorship Program (CASP)  from a friend. She applied last year and in October of 2011 received financial support from an anonymous benefactor for the first time. Sona has decided to use the stipend for her son’s private Armenian language and literature lessons. She has also said that Davit has some health problems, which will need medical treatment.

“I wish there were such benefactors for everyone. There are so many talented children who are in need of assistance,” Sona said as we departed.

  Davit studies with his mother’s encouragement.

Davit at training with his motherDavit diligently prepares his homework.

Davit prepares homeworkKarate classes are one of Davit’s favorite after school activities.

Davit during trainingCredit: Levon Lachikyan

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[CASP]: CASP Children Express Their Appreciation.

By helping hundreds of parentless and needy children CASP* carries out an important social mission in our homeland. Because of the difficult economic situation in Armenia, thousands of people are unemployed and in urgent need of supplemental income. Families living in the U.S. who sympathize with those children through this program try to ease the pain and hardships of low-income families living in Armenia and Javakhk. CASP is a lifeline for many of them.

The areas where CASP stipends are distributed grow every year. Currently, nearly 1,200 children benefit from CASP. This year stipends were distributed to 653 beneficiaries in the Araratian region, which encompasses the cities of Yerevan, Ararat, Armavir, and in the Aragatsotn, Kotayk and Gegharkunik regions. Two hundred ninety two beneficiaries from Syunik also received stipends, in addition to 88 from Shirak, 51 from Tavush, and 84 from Javakhk.

Those who receive the CASP stipend always ask to pass along their words of thanks to donors. The children are particularly thankful. The following are quotes from thank you letters the children have written to their benefactors:

“I have started to believe in miracles, as people like you live in this world. They way you live enables others to live, too.” – Chinar Indoyan, 16 years old, from Javakhk.

“When I grow up, I will try to continue your kind work of supporting people who are desperate and in need.” – Mariam Bakhtiaryan, 16 years old, from Meghri.

“Of course no one will replace my father, but your financial support helps to ease my mother’s difficulties, the problems my father would be able to solve.” – Sofya Sedrakyan, 14 years old, from Goris.

“After the death of my father and grandfather we felt unhappy and helpless. Your philanthropic support and aid have given us hope. I hardly can express with words the feelings I have toward you.” – Pap Asryan, 15 years old, from Tavush.

*The Women’s Guild Central Council of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) manages CASP in collaboration with FAR.

CASP recipients Sevak and Syune Davtyan from Meghri
light candles in a local church.

(M -003) Sevak & (M- 004) Syune Davtyan From Megri

CASP beneficiary Ani Harutyunyan at her house in Berd,
Tavush marz.

CASP beneficiary (T-020) Ani Harutyunyan's house in Berd town(Tavush)CASP stipend recipients from Kapan.
CASP stipend recipients from Kapan.Every child in the Grigoryan family from Sisian is a CASP beneficiary.

Grigoryan Family from Sisian (all children are CASP beneficiaries)CASP’s Javakhk beneficiaries in front of the local diocese.

CASP Javakhk beneficiariesCredit: Eduard Karapetyan

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[CASP]: CASP Provides Support to the Tavush Region.

Several days ago FAR staff members visited the Tavush region to distribute Children of Armenia Sponsorship Program (CASP) stipends. Support for this program is provided by the Women’s Guild of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern).

Passing through villages, we witnessed the danger in which their children live. In some, Azerbaijani soldiers are positioned just 50 to 100 meters from their houses. Although the danger is always evident, this has become a part of everyday life for most.

We were able to familiarize ourselves with the daily concerns and the troubles of one such family in Verin Tsaghkavan village. Ten-year-old Ashot and 12-year-old Maria Hovsepyan live with their mother Anush and their grandparents. Both children are very dedicated to their studies. Ashot wants to become the village mayor and Maria dreams of becoming a physician. When I asked them why they have these career goals, Ashot replied, “I want to improve life in the village. I will provide all houses with water, fill the streets with light, cover them with asphalt, and in the middle of the village I will build a church.” All his aims are bright and kind.

Later, we discovered that all those goals have reasons behind them. Every day, Ashot carries full buckets of water 300 meters to his family’s home. He has an old bicycle and loves riding it, but in the village it’s hard to find smooth roads on which to use it. And in the colder months, it’s difficult for him to go and play with his friends because lack of streetlights leaves the streets dark.

Anush informed us that Ashot had carefully cut and arranged the wood in their yard. We were surprised to know that it’s Ashot’s responsibility to take the cow to the fields. Feeding the birds is Mari’s responsibility. This is daily life for many children in this village.

“CASP is a great support for us,” explained Anush. “Soon winter will come and with that money we will buy warm clothes and shoes for children, also a bag of flour for baking bread, and more wood for heating as the quantity we have is not sufficient.”

Anush worked part time as a teacher until 2002 at the village school. Later, the number of schoolchildren dropped and teachers were cut. Since then, she has been unemployed. She and her family live off the pension of their grandparents, and the state allowance provided to the children is nearly 200 USD.

“May there be peace, and I wish my grandchildren never will see war. It’s OK to have problems. Those are for humans, and we will work as hard as possible to live,” grandma Marusya told us. Her words were touching and kind. Once again we were convinced that in spite of the hardships, the people living and struggling here are optimistic and love life.

Anush helps Maria and Ashot with their homework.

Mrs. Anush with children preparing homeworkMaria and Ashot help with housework.

Ashot and Mari helping in houseworkGrandma Marusya’s bread is loved by many.

Grandma Marusyas bread is the most tasty in the worldCredit: Eduard Karapetyan

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[CASP]: Beneficiary Profile – Tehmine and Rustam Zakharyan.

The Children of Armenia Sponsorship Program (CASP) was launched in Armenia during the 1990s, when the number of victims in the Artsakh War was climbing. It was urgent to help the children of families that had lost their sole breadwinners, and the Women’s Guild of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) decided to start CASP in an effort to assist. In response to their appeals and encouragements, hundreds of families in the USA and Canada lent a helping hand to these needy families.

It is extremely fortunate that new benefactors have appeared over time. Yet, the number of applicants has also increased over the years. Since the end of the war, many children like Tehmine and Rustam Zakharyan have lost their fathers from various illnesses or accidents.

Their father Zakhar, who was from the village of Halidzor in the Syunik region, died suddenly in 2007. It was a real shock for the family. Tehmine was only 10 years old at the time and her brother Rustam was 12. Their mother Lusine Balyan was left to raise her young children on her own. Since there was typically no permanent work in their village, Zakhar was never able to earn a steady income, and it was hard for him to save any money. And now the state allowance of nearly 70 USD is not enough to survive on.

What is especially surprising is that Lusine faced such conditions without being discouraged; she believes her family to be in a better situation than many of those who live in her town and lack jobs. “To live in the village is easier. In the lot adjacent to the house, we can cultivate fruits and vegetables and avoid hunger,” she explained. She was born in 1977, in the neighboring village of Shinuhayr. She married Zakhar in 1994, and had Rustan a year later.

They also lack their own house. This family of three lives in the home of Zakhar’s uncle. This is the village that ties the world’s longest aerial tramway (5,700 meters) to Tatev Monastery. It is surrounded by a unique natural beauty but an unnatural poverty. Winter is severe in this mountainous region. It is especially sad that there is no natural gas here. They cook on an electric stove and during winter they heat the house with a wood-burning stove.

Lusine’s children were fortunate to be accepted into CASP. Lusine learned about the program from one of the villagers. She applied and it took a year for her children to be included in the program. “I was praying to God that I’d be fortunate enough to be accepted into the program,” said Lusine. “Now, at least one problem can be solved, as the CASP stipend will buy winter clothes and food.”

Lusine and Tehmine at the most recent CASP distribution.
Lusine helps her mother cook.

Helping motherHanging the laundry to dry.

Laundry processMother and daughter at home.

Mother & Daughter Credit: Levon LachikyanCredit: Levon Lachikyan

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[CASP]: Summer Camp Hosts CASP Beneficiaries from Gyumri.

August was a highlight in the lives of 11 orphaned teenagers from Gyumri who are beneficiaries of the Children of Armenia Sponsorship Program (CASP).  Each of them was able to participate in the annual summer camp near Yeghegnadzor, which is sponsored by CASP and administered by FAR. This area is one of the richest in terms of the variety and the quality of sites and activities it offers. The beautiful monasteries of Noravank, Tsakhatskar, Tanahati, along with a number of smaller churches, are all within a half hour drive.

The 20 days they spent at the camp were filled with joy and pleasure as the orphans left their destitute homes and immersed themselves in games, contests and mealtimes with nutritious food. They spent evenings filled with music, song and dance. They met peers from all over Armenia. For most of them, this was the first time they had been outside their provinces and had had an opportunity to meet with other children their age. On August 14, the campers participated in Holy Virgin Celebration Day and the blessing of the grapes, one of five major religious holidays of the Armenian Apostolic Church. A priest came to camp to bless the grapes and preach.

To top it all off, the kids visited the center of the spiritual life of medieval Armenia: Noravank monastery. The impressive structure left unforgettable impressions and instilled a spiritual unity in the children.

During the camp fire party

Kids with Armenian flowers
Mealtime
Camp kids thank CASP
Credit: Gurgen Darbinyan

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