FAR Children’s Center : FAR Blog

[FAR Children’s Center]: Gift of Livestock Changes Family’s Life.

April 19, 2012 12:29 pm

By Manane Petrosyan

Two years ago, Anahit Hovsepyan’s family received the gift of a cow through FAR Children’s Center supporter Laoura Avakiants. Anahit and her three children, Mkrtich, 18, Armen, 16, and Zaruhi, 15, live in Artavaz, a small community in the Kotayq region (marz). This donation has helped the family immensely.

Recently, their cow gave birth a baby calf, which means that this family can quickly develop a farming business, and that will also help provide for some of the other families in the community. “The cow’s baby is so cute and she has such a pretty coat,” Anahit said with a smile on her face. “This support means so much for my family. I’m so grateful to our overseas sponsor, and to the FAR Children’s Center.”

“Now we have milk and yogurt to sell. We decided to give a name to this baby. We call him Jeyran,” Zaruhi said. “I’m not always available for my mom to care for the cows because I’m very busy with school, but I try to do whatever I can.”

The children of the family are very driven. Mkrtich dreams of becoming an architect, and Armen has a great love of music. He is taking guitar courses but does not have his own instrument, so the teacher lends him his own. “I very much hope that I will have my own guitar one day,” he said. If all goes well, the additional income will make that possible.

Anahit and her children at home in Koyayq marz

“Taking care of these animals requires a lot of care, but I do it
with pleasure,” said Anahit. “The winter is frosty in our community;
we cover the baby to keep it warm.”

Credit: FAR Staff

[FAR Children’s Center]: Volunteers To Help Raise Awareness about Children’s Center Helpline.

April 2, 2012 12:14 pm

By Manane Petrosyan

Telephone “helplines” and other technology-based support services are now a unique and essential component of child protection. By providing a phone number, which children and their families can call to seek help, 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week, we are providing a path to emergency assistance. Sadly, though, most of the public does not know about such resources like the FAR Children’s Center Helpline. In order to raise awareness, the Center has recruited 30 volunteers who are going to make presentations in schools, community centers and orphanages, etc., to help spread the word about this resource. Volunteers are primarily students from Yerevan State University, Yerevan State Pedagogical Institute and other professionals.

The Children’s Center Helpline Service was established at the end of 2005. It provides an emergency service for children in need of care and protection. Calls are answered by professional, certified counselors who then connect the caller with emergency assistance and also links them to long-term care and rehabilitation, if needed. This toll-free number – 0800 61 111 – is accessible throughout Armenia.

With the support of these volunteers, Center staff seek to identify children and families at risk, and conduct proper interventions before it’s too late. Regular trainings are provided to volunteers by the Children’s Center to better their understanding of this service and to teach them how to present it in an appealing and user-friendly way.

Children Center staff are training volunteers on how to raise
awareness about the Center’s emergency hotline, which assists
children at risk at any time of the day or night.
The slogan of the Children’s Center hotline is:
“Protecting Children is Every Person’s Responsibility.
To you, it’s a phone number. To thousands of children,
it’s a lifeline. To society, it’s a wake up call.” Dozens of
volunteers are going to help spread this message.
Credit: Yerela Harutyunyan

[FAR Children’s Center]: Center Assists Child Who’s Diagnosed with Cancer.

March 14, 2012 12:56 pm

By Manane Petrosyan

Six-and-a-half-year-old Meruzhan was recently diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Meruzhan and his family receive help and support from the FAR Children’s Center through therapy, medical care, donations of food and clothing, in addition to some financial assistance. When his overall health seemed to deteriorate in recent months, center staff assisted his family in taking him to the hospital for tests. Currently, Meruzhan is at the Arabkir Medical Center’s Oncology Clinic, where he’s receiving chemotherapy treatments. All of his family members are hoping and praying for his recovery.

“We are all in God’s hands,” said his mother Valya. “I believe that he won’t take my little Meruzhan’s life. I realize that it is hard to know that your child is suffering and you are helpless, but I want to stay strong for my child, stay hopeful even though I don’t know where I will find resources to help my child.”

Meanwhile, Meruzhan continues to create and express his feelings and desire for life and health through his drawings.

Six-year-old Meruzhan, a Children’s Center beneficiary,
was recently diagnosed with cancer.
Meruzhan often draws as a way of coping
with his illness and hospitalization.
Credit: Margarita Ter-Hovhannisyan

[FAR Children’s Center]: Archbishop Khajag Barsamian and Libbi Heffern visit FAR Children’s Center.

March 9, 2012 12:52 pm

By Manane Petrosyan

Last Friday, the FAR Children’s Center hosted visitors Libbi Heffern, wife of U.S. Ambassador John Heffern, and the President of FAR’s Board of Directors Archbishop Khajag Barsamian.

The Center’s children warmly welcomed Archbishop Barsamian and Mrs. Heffern with a delightful dance performance.

Afterwards, the guests took a short tour around the Center to learn more about the children and the services that the Center provides.

Later, Children’s Center Director Doctor Mira Antonyan gave a presentation about the Center’s programs and also showed a film about the Center’s beneficiaries. Deputy Country Director Margarita Piliposyan presented on FAR’s other program areas, which was followed by lively discussion.

(left to right) FAR Children’s Center Director Doctor Mira Antonyan,
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Libbi Heffern and
FAR Armenia Country Director Bagrat Sargsyan

The Center’s children perform for their guests.

Libbi Heffern, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian and other guests
view the Children’s Center Media Lab

Visitors also saw the children’s playroom

Credit: Margarita Ter-Hovhannisyan

[FAR Children’s Center]: Circle of Friends Member Named Godfather to Center Children.

February 13, 2012 11:43 am

By Manane Petrosyan

Baptisms for the youth of the FAR Children’s Center have been held at St. John’s Church in Yerevan since the beginning of February. Four beneficiaries – Hovhannes Minasyan, 16, Matevos Poghosyan, 13, Eliza Badalyan, 14, and Aghasi Avagimyan, 16, – have been baptized thus far. These children, who receive help and services from the center, now also have another means of support. Arsen Grigoryan, a member of the Circle of Friends major donors group, has been named their godfather.

Each of these children grew up in extremely poor conditions and has come into conflict with the law. Center staff are trying to set them and their families on a better path.

“We are confident that these children will turn to Arsen for support and consultation as needed. He is a positive role model who is ready to support them so they can be rehabilitated and eventually become active participants in society,” said Center Director Dr. Mira Antonyan.

“I have been named a godfather several times in my life, but in this case it is different. It is also a great honor,” Arsen said.

Credit: Margarita Ter-Hovhannisyan