Today the Catholicos of All Armenians His Holiness Karekin II, RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan, as well as the president of ARDA charitable foundation American Armenian philanthropist Mr. Steve Lazarian with his family and other honorable guests participated in the official ceremony of dedication of 17 houses built in Taron 3rd district of Vanadzor in the framework of cooperation between ARDA charitable foundation, Vanadzor city municipality and Fuller Center for Housing Armenia for families living in “domik” district.
In June 2009 thanks to the trilateral partnership 16 families shifted from metal containers to ecologically safe houses from Styrofoam blocks. This year that number increased with more 17 happy families.
The idea of eliminating homelessness brought together ARDA foundation, the Municipality of Vanadzor and Fuller Center for Housing Armenia. As the result of this partnership the 33 families (almost 70 people) of 145 from Vanadzor metal containers’ district have already new built homes.
The idea of this joint project belongs to the president of ARDA foundation Steve Lazarian, who sees his mission and goal in supporting families, who were forced to be homeless even before the earthquake of 1988 and since then, are living in metal containers without any facilities. “I want this project to eradicate metal containers from all the communities of Armenia. And I want all the Armenian families could have simple and decent conditions where to raise their children.” said Mr. Lazarian.
Almost a year these families were working hard to build their own homes for their children could move to the new homes as soon as possible. “It is hard to believe that we are going to live under a safe roof at last, we will have separate bedrooms and living room, kitchen, bathroom….all this we use to see in the films only…so many years of a life full of deprivations that sometimes I can’t believe that it’s over”- said Marine Sarukhanyan one of the homeowners.
Many guests shared the happiness with the families who were waiting for their home already more than 20 years, wishing that no more disasters take the childhood of our children, the joy of our youth and the peace of our elders.